45-70 plinking bullets
- Thread starter sam700
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telecaster1981
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I'm not really an expert, but I believe most 45 caliber rifle bullets are
.458 (.459 for cast) and most 45 caliber pistol bullets are .452 (.453 cast). I too have thought about shooting lighter bullets designed for the .45 acp out of the 45-70, but perhaps most of the fun of shooting said round is flinging a HUGE chunk of lead downrange.
.458 (.459 for cast) and most 45 caliber pistol bullets are .452 (.453 cast). I too have thought about shooting lighter bullets designed for the .45 acp out of the 45-70, but perhaps most of the fun of shooting said round is flinging a HUGE chunk of lead downrange.
ReloaderFred
Member
As noted, it won't work, due to the .458" nominal size of the .45-70 bullet versus the .452"/.454" of the .45 acp/.45 Colt bullets, and the modern .45 Colts for the most part use .452" bullets.
You can go down to 300 grains or so with the .45-70, and there may be cast bullets lighter than that which may work. All my .45/70 loads are thumpers, and if I want to just plink, I use something smaller.
Hope this helps.
Fred
You can go down to 300 grains or so with the .45-70, and there may be cast bullets lighter than that which may work. All my .45/70 loads are thumpers, and if I want to just plink, I use something smaller.
Hope this helps.
Fred
scrat
Member
Actually 45 colt cast bullets are usually cast at .454. Colt jacketed are .452.
2 things.
1 your best bet is to purchase a lee mold. you can cast out a whole bunch of 300 grain bullets for a low cost. I know a guy who was looking for plinking ammo Like yourself. What he did was this. Get a cheap lee mold. Cast a bullet in it. When your casting the bullet whack off the spru. Then drive a #2 penny nail inch long down the center while its still hot in the mold. Make a few of them. Then take some wire cutters and cut off the end you hit with a hammer. Now put one in a drill. Spin it your looking to see if you put it in the center if you did not it will vibrate. Once you have done that. Then use some valve laping compound. or even tooth paste. put some in the cavity of the mold. put the bullet in the mold and spin away with the drill for a few minutes. Then cast again and repeat. Except this time mic out the bullet. It may be at .456. IF so do it one more time. until you get to around. .460 You will want it slightly bigger so that you can size it uniformly to .458 or .459. For cast bullets rule of thumb is to cast it a little bigger. usually at .02 over.
2 things.
1 your best bet is to purchase a lee mold. you can cast out a whole bunch of 300 grain bullets for a low cost. I know a guy who was looking for plinking ammo Like yourself. What he did was this. Get a cheap lee mold. Cast a bullet in it. When your casting the bullet whack off the spru. Then drive a #2 penny nail inch long down the center while its still hot in the mold. Make a few of them. Then take some wire cutters and cut off the end you hit with a hammer. Now put one in a drill. Spin it your looking to see if you put it in the center if you did not it will vibrate. Once you have done that. Then use some valve laping compound. or even tooth paste. put some in the cavity of the mold. put the bullet in the mold and spin away with the drill for a few minutes. Then cast again and repeat. Except this time mic out the bullet. It may be at .456. IF so do it one more time. until you get to around. .460 You will want it slightly bigger so that you can size it uniformly to .458 or .459. For cast bullets rule of thumb is to cast it a little bigger. usually at .02 over.
achildofthesky
Member
I have one of the Hammonds Game getter modified cases and use and the green or yellow 22 cal nail setting blanks and 458 round ball to "plink" with my 45/70. It is a great deal of fun. More fun is a big, honking 300+ grain bullet cruising along at about 2000fps. Dramatic and satisfying results on frozen water filled plastic juice jugs. Ka-friggin boom!
Be safe and make lots of noise
Patty
Be safe and make lots of noise
Patty
dmftoy1
Member
+1 on the cheapest way being to cast your own bullets. If you want to spend a little time hitting tire shops to get some wheel weights I don't know of any caster out there that wouldn't trade a few hundred 45-70 slugs for a 5 gallon bucket. Most will probably already have a mold but if they don't then a lee mold will set you back all of $18-$20. I've got a 2 hole Lee .405 Grain "Hollow Base" molde and it pretty easily keeps up with my .45-70 shooting.
FWIW.
FWIW.
MMCSRET
Member
If you don't cast you can get the old 45-70 Collar Button bullet from Western Bullet Co. in Missoula Montana. 150 gr. sized and lubed and a lot of fun. Contact by googling the company name.
Hank Dodge
Member
300 grain LRN sized .459" over 28 grains XMP5744 gives an nice accurate load that is quite mild. Great fun on the range. Holds good over a fair distance as well.
Clark
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