BC cast bullet

[Buster95]

I'm interested to cast bullets for my Buffalo Classic what is the maximum size (and type of bullet) for this rifle with the original non reamed chamber?

[Dances with Geoducks]

Define size? Have you slugged your barrel? are you talking about diameter or weight?

and what are you doing with said round?

I have 500, 565, and 600 gr pills.

Id not suggest the 600s, but the 565 are my favs, yet the 500 Postel goes the furthest

[quickdtoo]

By size, do you mean diameter that you can chamber? If so, you'll have to do a chamber cast to determine that, I've loaded .460" bullets with no problems. Length is another matter, most H&R 45-70s have short throats, but not all, so you'll have to just try the bullet you want to load to see how deep it needs to be seated, different ogive contours will change seating depth. There are several bullet mfrs that make heavy bore rider bullets that are designed for short throated barrels, the front part of the bullet is smaller in diameter to actually enter the bore beyond where the rifling starts when the round is chambered.

Tim

[Buster95]

By size I mean bullet weight 

[quickdtoo]

You can use any weight bullet you want, it just depends on how deep you need to seat it, you won't know that until you try it, what fits in one chamber may not fit in another, it all depends on the shape and size of the bullet's nose, basically, anything over 400gr you may have to seat deeper or ream the throat.

Tim

[Buster95]

OK thanks Tim 

[mitch132]

Mine eats 490gr Lyman 457677's cast from wheel weights like they're candy. Clean round holes with no tumbling.

[quickdtoo]

As far as the heaviest bullet that the 1:20 twist will stabilize, I've shot 555gr Saecos in the 45-120 at 1800fps accurately at 200yds. Tyler  shot some 720gr Ranger Rick's in his 45-120 and they tumbled, I figured they would need to be pushed 2000fps to stabilize, that wouldn't be possible in the 45-70, there's not enough room for powder at any sane pressure.

Tim

[kevinsmith5]

What are you going to do with it? JB Young's Crater's and Crater-2's are a good option if you are looking for a serious thump to drop a heavy (moose, bear, T. Rex, etc.) at 150 yards or less. Both are 550 gr bullets. He also makes 420 gr bullets.

[Buster95]

Only target shooting.

[OSOK]

My BC loves the 450 gr. Goex Black Dawg bullets. Using new Starline brass and seating just off the lands the case mouth is about 1/10th of an inch below the crimp groove of the bullet. I have not done a chamber cast or throated the barrel, so I don't know if the seating depth is due to chamber or bullet dimensions.