Author Topic: 45-70 boolit ?  (Read 1362 times)

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Offline BUFFALOW red

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45-70 boolit ?
« on: October 18, 2008, 01:16:22 AM »
ok im casting a 45-70 400 gr lead boolit ? is how much weight varance
seems mine are running 396-400 gr weight on a didgatial scale
is this to much?
should i be seperating them by per gr or per 4gr?
should i be weighing them after sized & lubed?
am i beeing to pickey?

Offline bilmac

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2008, 01:47:49 AM »
I have never weighed my 45-70 bullets just shot them, maybe if I was into target shooting with it I would, but all the deer that have died didn't seem to notice. Now that I think about it, I did take my 45-70 to a shooting match one time and won a prize.

Start shooting them and see how they work.


Offline Lone Star

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #2 on: October 21, 2008, 04:56:28 AM »
How many cavities in the mold?  If more than one, then I'd segregate them by cavity - if it matters.  Light weight bullets might contain an air bubble which can really open up groups if it is near the surface by unbalancing the bullet.  Do this:  Find 10 bullets that all weigh 400 grains and load them.  Then take 10 random bullets and load them.  Fire two 5-shot groups with each load and compare the groups.



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Offline NFG

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #3 on: October 21, 2008, 08:20:21 AM »
A few things to think about.

Digital scales can have a variance of up to 3 grains in some models and is stated in the fine print that comes with the scale.  I have 3 different digital scales and each will weigh the same bullet differently.  Try comparing to a balance beam scale...and those even have a few tenths variance unless constantly adjusted.

4 grains isn't much in a 400 grain bullet.  1/100th, 0.010th of the difference.  Unless your gun is perfect in all respects and will shoots into one hole and you can hold it that well, you're comparing Mt. Everest to a pimple on a flea.

Take the heavy bullet and shave off the 4 grains and see the actual amount...have a magnifying glass handy.

Besides...think about what you do to size and lube those bullets...even if you balance an as cast bullet to a precise weight as soon as you run it through the lubrisizer you just messed all your work up and have to start again...not to mention the fact that as soon as you touch off the round the flame will burn off a bit of weight, roughness in the barrel will scrape of a bit, the lub will come off and there is no way you can determine the weight of the bullet as it exits the muzzle...and each bullet will loose a different amount. 

I'm always surprised just how accurate cast lead OR jacketed bullets really are in today's world.

If you want to be consistent...do what Lone Star says...weigh separate your cast bullet into weight groups and shoot 5 round out of each group to see if you can find any difference in the groups.  Unless you weigh each powder charge to less then 0.001 gr, weigh your brass, primers, point the ogive touches the lands, lock the rifle down so it doesn't move at all and all the rest of it, it would be hard to distinguish a 10 gr difference in some rifles.

Benchresters that have almost perfect rifles and do unimaginable things to keep consistency have a hard time getting perfect bullets even with bullets that are made as perfect as possible.

Cast away and don't get too persnickety...it will make you crazy.  Enjoy your rifle and your loading and keep things in perspective.  Weigh separating your components and being consistent can lead to better accuracy, but the consistency part is the most important...consistency in all aspects of how you reload will produce much more accurate ammo.

Offline BBF

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #4 on: October 21, 2008, 12:57:19 PM »
checking my commercial cast(Magma Mold) 350 gr. boolits I find as much as 4 grains difference. I can't tell you how this affects the groups shot, the rifle doesn't like that bullet at all and throws them all over the place.
What is the point of Life if you can't have fun.

Offline BUFFALOW red

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #5 on: October 27, 2008, 12:49:06 PM »
OK THANKS GUYS I SORTED THEM( opps ) i a pile from 400 to 396 & loaded some at 100 yards there realy good in my trap door looking forward to trying at 300

Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #6 on: October 28, 2008, 11:33:34 PM »
4 grains isnt enough to worry about. If it was 10 grains id say you have a void somewhere in your bullet. I never sort bullets anymore. If they look good and especially if they have a well filled out base they will shoot fine at any range your going to hunt with a 4570 at.
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Offline HL

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2008, 01:47:07 AM »
I can agree with Lloyd. I used to weigh bullets and saw no difference in impact point where the bullets differed by 5-10 grains. Most of my cast come within 3-4 grains of each other.

Don't waste time weighing them, just shoot them and enjoy!  ;D

Offline Badnews Bob

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2008, 01:58:29 PM »
I've found that for the most part as long as the base is right it'll shoot just fine. 8)
Badnews Bob
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Offline BUFFALOW red

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Re: 45-70 boolit ?
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2008, 02:27:49 PM »
ok thanks for the responses great info