cast 45-70 loads or elk

[jake2454]

this may not be the correct forum, if so i apologize.
i am curious if anyone has used their 45-70 bc for either elk or white tail using cast loads.if so would you share your data. i am going to buy a mold and i am curious about what works.
thanks in advance for any and all information.
jake

[quickdtoo]

Jake, I'd slug the bore first, then you'll have a good idea what size bullets will shoot best, use a #8 soft lead egg sinker for the bore slugging. All of mine shoot .459" cast bullets best, although .458" shoot ok too.

I think I'd choose a 405gr bullet with a wide meplat pushed about 1500fps if you want to keep the recoil down, bigger bullets don't need the speed, if you go much faster, you'll likely need a gas checked bullet. I know the 405gr Cast Performance has excellent on game performance from all I've read on it, so that weight would be a good one to stick with. If you haven't already, check out the Marlin Levergun forum, lots of 45-70 shooters there that shoot cast bullets in their leverguns, the same loads will work in the BC.

Tim

http://www.realguns.com/loads/4570cast.htm

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm

[jake2454]

thank you quick...will do.

[georgeld]

Jake:
Don't know how they'd fit a case. BUT:  if they will and the bore/slug dia's match up.

Take a good look at the Lee REAL slugs for M/L's.

In my .54 a 300gr will turn a touch over 1800fps.

That's what I'd like to use if the range was within reach.  Since it's not, been using the .300 Win.

IF I ever draw a deer tag again, where we hunt elk there's quite a bunch of nice bucks that are not very wild. Some really fine big racks the last few yrs.  They just stand and watch us, even walking to a stand like they know deer season ended last Friday and now it's elk season so we're not in danger.

Had a 5pt watch while Jess walked about 200yds and set down, then went back to feeding.  Buck wasn't much over 100yds out he claimed.  I've seen several 4pts like that.

That's what I have in mind for the tag once I draw one.  Looks like next year should be assured with 4pts now.  Since they changed it back the way it should be. will go for deer one season and elk the next.  OR that's the plans anyway.

During a bench test I hit first shot every steel target out to 175yds. The 200yd RAM took 5 to hit, but, made a 50 cent sized lead disk, so it's hitting hard enough even that far. But, the range is too far for it. That was my testing to learn the gun and loads right after I got it.  My first M/L.  I went with the 300gr because of the velocity gain over the  400gr.  I figured a 300 gr is more than enough for a bull elk if he's within range.

Lee makes a REAL in two sizes for .45's too.  Shoot fine in my m/l pistol.

George