Author Topic: Finally got my BC!!!!! Lee mold questions (Read 1229 times)

lrrice · « **on:** December 17, 2007, 06:50:19 PM »

Just brought my BC home finally!! Bought 1 box of Remington cartridges...ouch!!! I will definitely be reloading and casting for this one. Does anyone use Lee 45/70 molds? What does your BC prefer to eat? Any particulars on loads, alloy, sized or as cast, etc. would be greatly appreciated. I want to work up a target load that I can also hunt elk sized critters at longer (200yds +/-) ranges with. Plus I want to shoot at big metal critters way out there just for fun. If I didn't live next door to the boss, I think I would call in sick and go shooting tomorrow, the BC looks hungry.

henry1 · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2007, 07:20:39 PM »

Irrice, I have asked the same question many a time, I do know that you will have to slug your barrel to see what size of bullet will work best. This info is in the faqs at the top of the handi forum. theres lots of good info in there and some answers that you dont even have questions for yet.

I still havent slugged mine yet. I still have to kill my deer with mine this year then I will fine tune it to what it likes. Im sure I have left out a ton of info but i figured i would leave it for the rest of the fellas on here as they know a lot more about it than i do!

Hank.

Roudy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 18, 2007, 01:18:34 AM »

I have 3 Lee bullet molds in 45-70. The first one that I got is the 405 grain bullet and have been using it for some time, sized to .459". I use it in two rifles, a Handi with a 22" barrel and a Sharps replica with a 28" barrel. While I haven't slugged wither barrel the .459" sizing must be right because the groups are small.

The second mold is a 405 grain hollow base mold. I've been playing around with this one for a while and haven't seen any advantage to the hollow base yet. It might be better than the solid base bullet but I haven't proved that to myself yet.

The third mold just arrived last week. It is Lee's 500 grain pointed bullet, actual cast weight is about 480+ grains, and it is a whopper! I haven't had a chance to shoot this bullet yet, but hope that it will be somewhat more accurate at longer ranges due to that pointed shape and extra weight. The 500 grain bullet might be just the ticket for shooting steel. At the price, less than $20 each, you can have get both of them.

Slugging your bore is the best way to determine the best size for your bullets, bore size plus .001", but if you are going to guess then .459" is a good place to start.

Roudy

towpro · « **Reply #3 on:** December 18, 2007, 01:35:37 AM »

I have been shooting 405gn @0.459" and it really seems to like it. First I loaded trailboss, you could almost see the bullets flying.
then I went to the min load of H4895, It was pleasant to shoot but after around 30-40 rounds your shoulder knew it was more then a pistol cartridge. Plus I only got around 100 rounds out of a pound (Have a little left).
I have some H4198 to try next. The guy who cast the bullets uses them with H4198 in his trapdoors with great results. I can't recall the charge he was using but it was just over Min. I will call him and ask what the charge was. He said he uses toilet paper cut into 1/4's, then packs one of the 1/4 sheets over the H4198 with a pencil eraser to keep it down at the primer. I also have some 500 grainers to try but Christmas has been keeping me away from the range the last 2 weeks

the 405's cost me $16.00 per 100 sized and lubed. I will start casting once I get moving on the 32 Winchester special, but until then his prices are hard to beat. http://cowboybullets.fortunecity.com/

fernie · « **Reply #4 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:56:33 AM »

Irrice - Good advice from TP and Roudy. I use Lees - 405 HB - great little bullet - doesn't eat up lead, good practice weight, and works well for me on smaller large game.

doc

lrrice · « **Reply #5 on:** December 18, 2007, 04:37:03 PM »

Thanks for all the responses. I appreciate it. I slugged the bore today, and came of with .451 across the lands and .456 across the grooves. I slugged three different places, the muzzle, just in front of the chamber and one all the way through variations between the 3 slugs was < .001. So, I am assuming I need to get a .457 mold?? I have done lots of casting, but only for muzzle loaders and pistols, never for any thing that I was going to shoot any distance, so up till now I have just cast, pan lubed and shot.

lrrice · « **Reply #6 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:19:23 PM »

Never mind, I have read the faq's several times and missed the post on cast bullets several times, but I found it now. Gee nothing gets by me....

chrsm · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2007, 05:28:22 PM »

I shoot the 500grain pointed Lee, I do not size, I use back stop lead to cast.42 grains varget gets it on its way.I think it could stop a moose in its tracks out to 150yrds.Very nice to shot. I have only shot dear with it. Do not shot them 1/4ing, thats all the meat you will have left!!!! I get a 2in group at 100yrds

henry1 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2007, 08:22:23 PM »

Will packing the tp in the shell realy make a difference? I am using 52gr of IMR 3031 under a 300gr laser cast bul. It doesnt leave much room for air in the shell but there is maybe a half inch. You can still here the powder if you shake the shell. How big of a difference will it make?

dodd3 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 19, 2007, 01:15:03 AM »

Quote from: Roudy on December 18, 2007, 01:18:34 AM

I have 3 Lee bullet molds in 45-70. The first one that I got is the 405 grain bullet and have been using it for some time, sized to .459". I use it in two rifles, a Handi with a 22" barrel and a Sharps replica with a 28" barrel. While I haven't slugged wither barrel the .459" sizing must be right because the groups are small.

The second mold is a 405 grain hollow base mold. I've been playing around with this one for a while and haven't seen any advantage to the hollow base yet. It might be better than the solid base bullet but I haven't proved that to myself yet.

The third mold just arrived last week. It is Lee's 500 grain pointed bullet, actual cast weight is about 480+ grains, and it is a whopper! I haven't had a chance to shoot this bullet yet, but hope that it will be somewhat more accurate at longer ranges due to that pointed shape and extra weight. The 500 grain bullet might be just the ticket for shooting steel. At the price, less than $20 each, you can have get both of them.

Slugging your bore is the best way to determine the best size for your bullets, bore size plus .001", but if you are going to guess then .459" is a good place to start.

Roudy

what lead mix are you useing as my lee 5003r cast a 505 grn bullet with a 20 to 1 lead tin mix mine shoots good with .457 to .458.
bernie

Roudy · « **Reply #10 on:** December 19, 2007, 02:49:25 AM »

Henry,
The primary purpose of the TP (or other filler) is to hold small charges of powder against the primer so that ignition is more consistent. I use dacron as a filler, this is just pillow filler that you can get at any sewing supply store, or even Wal Mart. If your case is nearly full the filler is not necessary to hold the charge against the primer.

Roudy

fernie · « **Reply #11 on:** December 19, 2007, 03:01:23 AM »

Quote from: henry1 on December 18, 2007, 08:22:23 PM

Will packing the tp in the shell realy make a difference? I am using 52gr of IMR 3031 under a 300gr laser cast bul. It doesnt leave much room for air in the shell but there is maybe a half inch. You can still here the powder if you shake the shell. How big of a difference will it make?

h1 - you ever chronyed that load? (...or anyone else)

doc

henry1 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 19, 2007, 07:23:30 AM »

Oh, I see... Thanks for the help Roudy! Otherise id be a mite bit lost.

Fernie, I havent, I dont have a chrono yet, If I belonged to a range that was close by I would but still havent goten my membership at the range either.

Im guessing that its pretty slow. Like i said it almost the min load. I would hate to see how the max loads feel! Gosh these ones let you know that they are there!

Roudy · « **Reply #13 on:** December 19, 2007, 01:36:02 PM »

Bernie,

I'm now using lead that I've dug up from our pistol range. Have no idea of what the mix is. Can't seem to find anyone willing to give away or sell wheel weights anymore. Using range lead isn't all that bad though, the weights vary but I just make sure that I keep bullets separated by melt...the weights may vary from melt to melt but as long as they are consistent they seem to shoot OK.

Since my bullets are 20 grains lighter than your I suspect that mine have less lead than yours. Some day I may break down and buy a hardness tester but so far I just refuse to pay the amount of money they want for them.

Roudy

lrrice · « **Reply #14 on:** December 19, 2007, 07:28:02 PM »

Check out this home made hardness tester, just uses things you probably already have around. http://www.mountainmolds.com/bhn.htm

milkman · « **Reply #15 on:** December 20, 2007, 01:26:40 AM »

I have tried several of the lee cast In my Handi and DARN THE LUCK the only one it really likes is the 500g RN, but it really does love that bullet. My favorite load for plinking is 14g of Herco with a dacron filler. It chrono's about 1000fps and is pleasant to shoot multiple times. I did take one deer with that load at 50 yd, and it performed really well, but it drops about 6" at 100yd. 46g of surplus 4895 gives an average of 1490fps and really does get your attention. I went up to 1700fps once but I am fully recovered and have very little permanent damage and as long as I remember to call my wife for directions, can still find my house after work.

l would strongly recommend using a gas check design bullet for hunting velocity. It really does cut down on the leading, allows the use of softer alloys ( I use pure lead for hunting, with no leading) and for me at least, gives better groups.

linwin3000 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 20, 2007, 02:17:23 PM »

My BC is about three years old and shoots Beartooth .459-.460 cast lead bullets well. The barrel slugged out at .4565 which is a might tight for usual. Marshall Stanton over at Beartooth claims that most all of the H&R 45-70 barrels also have an oversize throat which does not contribute to accuracy if using .457 to .458 slugs. His contention is that a .460 slug stabilizes in the throat better than smaller slugs and still shoots ok in .456-.457 barrels. This bears out with me as I've only shot his .460 slugs with good accuracy.

linwin3000 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 20, 2007, 02:21:12 PM »

Also, Lee molds I believe cast out of mold sizes about .457-.458. This would make them unsuitable for my BC.

OldBob · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2007, 12:34:41 AM »

You can make the Lee moulds cast larger diameters by lapping them or by a process called "beagleing". Both are simple to do,require a bare minimum of tools and best of all... they work ! For more information check out Gunloads.Castboolits.com , all the instructions are there and all the help and advice you could want. I've done this with 3 of my 45-70 moulds and some others, couldn't be happier with the results. http://ktsammo.250x.com/castboolits/cst3.html

blackpowderbill · « **Reply #19 on:** December 22, 2007, 05:07:13 AM »

I have a Handi in 45-70 and have found Lees 500gr RN shoots well. I have not cast my chamber yet. The long bore ridding section of the 500 seems to fit my bore just right. I recon that if the throat is large the front of the bullet will keep everything in line. I have been loading 13.2 gr of unique. I was thinking of raising my load but when I chron'd the load (13.2 gr) it averaged 1030fps, good enough for anything this side of the Mississippi.

lrrice · « **Reply #20 on:** December 31, 2007, 07:59:04 PM »

Thanks for all the info. Just got home from visiting the family for Christmas and there was a box from Midway. I am now the proud new owner of a 405gr hb and 500gr rn mold. I took the BC with me and shot up a box of factory shells. Remington 405grs. At 100 yards, the factory sight was shooting 4 in. low so it looks like I'll have to order a lower one, or being the cheapskate that I am, I may just chop this on and file a new dovetail on it. The groups surpassed my expectations at about 2" off the bed of the truck so they should get better with a trigger job and a good rest. Hopefully tomorrow I will get some boolits cast and loaded. I've got Unique, IMR 4895, IMR4831, 2400, and some red dot on hand. Anyone have a favorite load with these?

Blackpowderbill, Do you use any filler like dacron with that Unique load?

Thanks again
Leonard