350gr+ Bullets

[tikipirate]

I have read that the 45-70 handi should not be reloaded with bullets 350gr or greater as the bullets will touch the rifling due to the short throat. Does this mean all 405gr and 500gr bullets are no good? Ive been looking at some cast ones from Penn bullets but am concerned that they wont work. Can someone explain why they wont work and or what will happen if you do try to load the bigger bullets. Any way around this problem without reaming?

Edit: And why can't cartridges be reloaded to a shorter COAL like the factory Remington 405grs (which clock in at about 2.536 on my caliper)

[Tencubed]

Don't know where you got your information but if you'll look in any of a number of reliable reloading manuals you'll find bullets much heavier than 350 grains can be safely loaded in the 45-70.

Read the many threads dealing with this calibre on this forum for a lot of information on this subject.

Mike

[quickdtoo]

Miost H&R 45-70s are notoriously short throated meaning most 350gr and bigger bullets can't be loaded to the COL listed in data which means loading to shorter COL and increasing pressure for any given load. None of mine could be loaded with some 350gr and any 400gr bullets to a COL of 2.550, so I hand reamed(see FAQs) all 3 of them about .250" longer effectively making them WWG .457 Magnums. 

Tim