Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Marlin 45-70 Lee 405 grcast

Recently took a chance & bought a used Lee 45 cal 405gr bullet mold from E-Bay. $18.50 with shipping. Cast from scrap bullets from an indoor range. Bullets cast at 398 grs before lubing. On my LBT tested Bn 15. 17.5 grs of IMR SR 4756 with a tuft of Dacron ( about 2 grs ) to hold powder in place over primer. Velocity 1295 fps. Forgot to mention used a Leupold 4X compact scope. Range 102 yds. Win primers , Rem brass. Marlin XLR stainless, 24" Bbl & Ballard deep grove rifling.

I shot thousands of that bullet out of various Springfield Trapdoor riles and carbines over the years.
Not bad on deer. The flat nose helps, but trajectory is not great. I think that dead-on at 100 is 4 or 6" high at 50

It's not quite that bad. It's a bit worse in PA than it is in MT though. At 1300 fps, with an optic, you should be around 3" high at 50 yds with a 100 yd zero.

That's some fine shooting, Hesp. I've only shot the 350 Lee, and cast in the low 20's BN and pushed to nearly 2000, it shot very well, but not that well. You plan on hunting it, or just amazing your friends and family?

Good day elk, MT. from Superior, Mt. This is a hunting rifle & has been so since I bought it years ago. I have mainly shot the 300 to 350 gr cast bullets with a gas check. They have worked , mainly for deer. I see this 400 gr cast as an very dependable elk bullet. Where I live , our property has an abundance of trees. There is at times a rare opportunity for a 150 yd shot, but overwhelmingly shots will be at 100yds or less. This is where I feel this bullet will shine. I found it a very easy bullet to get to shoot accurately. Very easy. I have for years had a Leupold 4x compact scope on this rifle. I will be changing that today as I have acquired a 2x7 variable which I believe will be more versatile. The 2X setting is where I would hunt.

Nice!

Hesp,
Thanks for your timely post.
Failing to get 300 grain bullets to regulate in my used Beretta 45-70 double rifle, I took a chance on Factory Green Box Remington 405 grain JSP at 1330 fps and darned if they did not regulate! I got two R&L from each barrel into a two inch group at 50 yards! Much better than the 300 grains which would not group well at all. This saved me time and $$ having the rifle re-regulated. 400 grain bullets seem to suit a .458 caliber rifle better anyway!

You just reminded me that lever gunners have putting pork and venison on the table with large slow bullets for over 100 years. Made my day.

Hey there crsheldon. I bet with a little time & playing around with the right powder your double would regulate into a smaller group. The 45-70 loves the 400gr class bullets .

Hesp said_ "The 45-70 loves the 400gr class bullets ."

I am counting on it.
I will get back to testing when I finish dragging and seeding my horse pastures.
,

I use a Lee 405 to cast for my Marlin 1895 and also my H&R 1871 Buffalo Classic. I water quench them. My metal is wheel weights. I have used AA5744 -- 25 grains and was able to snipe empty 12 gauge hulls at 50 yards. I'm a plinker at heart.

[quote=Hesp]Recently took a chance & bought a used Lee 45 cal 405gr bullet mold from E-Bay. $18.50 with shipping. Cast from scrap bullets from an indoor range. Bullets cast at 398 grs before lubing. On my LBT tested Bn 15. 17.5 grs of IMR SR 4756 with a tuft of Dacron ( about 2 grs ) to hold powder in place over primer. Velocity 1295 fps. Forgot to mention used a Leupold 4X compact scope. Range 102 yds. Win primers , Rem brass. Marlin XLR stainless, 24" Bbl & Ballard deep grove rifling. [/quo


Nice shooting.

If you can find it anywhere... SR4759 and the Lee 405HB.