Thread: 45-70 reloading casts - what is there?

Hi guys,
Looking at reloading casts in my 1895 Marlin 45-70 and was just wondering what everyone is using and what's available in New Zealand. Hoping to load around the 500 grain mark are there any issues and which moulds are best?
Cheers, Logan

Try Hays and associates Carterton.

LYMAN Steel molds, I have a 500 grain and a 450 grain

There are these ones

https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hun...1418159431.htm

I have both lyman steel and lee aluminum ones. The lees are much easier to use and forgiving. Steel takes time to get to temperature and consistently cast with.

Yep but a alloy ones fall to bits!!! I pre heat my molds with gas torch, once up to temp and you have covered them with soot from a candle, they produce quality, I normally cast about 100 at a time

Originally Posted by stug

There are these ones

https://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/hun...1418159431.htm

Expensive!! for 10

from the research i did 500grn is getting a bit to long, taking up powder space in a leveraction, a better balance is around 350grn for useable velocity/recoil for hunting, 500s are better in a singleshot where OAL is not a problem . . . but if ya gotta do it ya gotta do it.

i like the 405grn. RCBS design

try Accurate molds or NOE molds

a little more information on your setup and intended use, your experience would helpful . . . R

Originally Posted by Maca49

Expensive!! for 10

there $15 for 25 which still adds up to $60 for 100 . . . still not cheap by any means

Projectile on the left of the cartridge is what is loaded into it.bottom left is a .457 dia projectile and slightly longer that what I use, bottom right is a swagged projectile, these are my Lyman moulds and handles, nicely made!. Second photo is a closer shot of the projectiles and round

shootersnz where is ya Robert????


oops thats where your link leads......now if that good man is charging $15 for 25 of them....well thats what they be worth.
he sells a plurry great projectile and awesome to deal with.

I use my 45-70 for hunting pretty much only under 200 yards. The reason I was thinking about 500 grains was because I wanted to try pull of some of those legendary 1000 yard shots (despite having the 18 1/2 inch barrel) and was thinking casts to keep costs down. I have only reloaded a couple of rounds using someone else's gear so this is mostly new to me and I have never cast bullets

Thanks for all your replies guys, I'm trying to learn as much as I can before I commit

cheers @LoganRobertson . . . 1000yds is a loooong way out there . . . have you thought what kind of sights you will need

an interesting challenge even if you dont actually do it . . . the how to, will be a good learning curve

R.

It will be an interesting trajectory curve?