Let's talk 45-70 moulds.

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I kinda like that 345B.
Run it with a load of 2400, maybe start at 24 gr, and go up a bit. bet somewhere around 25-26 gr works well.
 

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
Okay, Brad, so what is it about the "B" as opposed to the "A" that you like? Doesn't seem to be a heck of a lot of difference between the two.

Don
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Okay, Brad, so what is it about the "B" as opposed to the "A" that you like? Doesn't seem to be a heck of a lot of difference between the two.

Don
The taper to the nose is slightly different. Is it enough to make a difference? I don’t know but I like the slightly smaller meplat. If used for deer the difference won’t be noticed by the deer’s lungs.
 

RBHarter

West Central AR
I haven't tried everything available to me .
I have , like many of us , 5-6 pistol moulds that will patch up from 141 gr RB on up to a custom .453-350 RNFP .
Proper sizes include a Rapine 458-201@255 gr , Lee 457-340@341 , MP 462-425@417 gr , Lyman 458193 @415 , Lyman NOE version 458132 @535 gr (too long to be more than single fed in 1895 close the bolt it has to go down range) .
I have a host of light and full bore loads with the new to me Rapine waiting for something .
 

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
The taper to the nose is slightly different. Is it enough to make a difference? I don’t know but I like the slightly smaller meplat. If used for deer the difference won’t be noticed by the deer’s lungs.

Thanks Brad. To tell you the truth, I'm leaning that way myself.

Don
 

USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
Having never dealt with this company, a couple of questions if I may.
First, he talks about possible warpage of his brass molds. I have never had to worry about this with any of Mihec's molds. Is this something to worry about with his brass?
Second, I must select a mold block size of either 1.80" or 2.35". Is this the length of the mold in line with the cavities? If so, I am thinking the longer mold would retain the heat better.
Lastly, he doesn't list the alloy I typically use (95/2.5/2.5). I want the bullets to drop at .460" or just a little above.
Thanks.

Don
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I have a couple of his brass moulds. Never an issue with them. The mould in the banner of this forum is his 37-265C for 375 H&H.
If you specify WW and a + tolerance at .460 they will run .460-.462.

Tom‘s moulds drop bullets like no other. I consider them the best out there, not even a question. The fact he makes them to order and you usually have them in 2 weeks is amazing.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Sure do.
This is a 35-120L I just got. No break in needed, didn’t even clean it. Made 1200 this weekend.
 

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fiver

Well-Known Member
on the order sheet you can specify your alloy and a + [up to .002 airc] or zero minus tolerance.

just be careful what you ask for because that's what you'll get.
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I don’t shoot mine much. But I do have a few favorite molds!!

1) is a 430 ish Lyman I don’t remember the number. WFN still feeds and really thumps.

(Cull) 465D40E2-ED61-462D-9D32-648100473E3E.jpeg8BB0725B-1EBD-496B-BDDB-06DB4B3836CB.jpeg
2) is the two Ranch Dogs 350 & 425 awesome bullets
3) is the RCBS 300 fn. just a classic

5744 for plinkers and 4198/RE7 for heavies and I’m all set!

CW
 
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StrawHat

Well-Known Member
You did not mention the rifle you are using nor if you prefer smokeless or black powder. When I used the 45-70, I shot single shots and black. Of the two you specified, I would go with 345A because of the slightly larger meplat. Will it make a lot of difference? Probably not but I am the guy who uses full wadcutters when I can get them.

If you are looking for a lighter bullet proven on game, the Gould bullet, Lyman 457122, is a good one.

Kevin
 

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I FORGOT THAT ONE!! (It’s newer to Me) I also have never loaded or fired it in a 45/70 yet! :embarrassed: But I have in my 450 Bushmaster!

79544768-77E5-48C0-9A9A-BB938DD81D1D.jpeg

E7859D4B-0DF2-4FEE-861A-D1D9C141D6A7.jpeg39F2F6E2-E91E-4064-9247-42AFF0B1CD5D.jpegCD8F6DEE-FDCA-49FD-AC36-8650DC5F7D7C.jpeg47981EC4-9029-4602-95A7-54EE6A5D5DB4.jpeg
I had two different molds and they had different pins.
Last pic is my two fav 450 bullets. Both Lyman molds 300 & 330g

CW
 
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USSR

Finger Lakes Region of NY
You did not mention the rifle you are using nor if you prefer smokeless or black powder. When I used the 45-70, I shot single shots and black. Of the two you specified, I would go with 345A because of the slightly larger meplat. Will it make a lot of difference? Probably not but I am the guy who uses full wadcutters when I can get them.

If you are looking for a lighter bullet proven on game, the Gould bullet, Lyman 457122, is a good one.

Kevin

Will be using smokeless. The rifle is Uberti's version of the Winchester 1886 to which I have just recently added a Lyman receiver sight.
Model 1886 45-70.png
Loads will be relatively light using IMR4198 and IMR3031. Can't wait for the weather to break (we got snow yesterday) to get outside and shoot it.

Don