Under size chamber ??

[c_latrans]

Loaded up some ammo for the first time for my Handi in 45-70.  First loaded up some bullets cast from a Lyman 457191 which is supposed to drop a 292 grain bullet.  My wheel weight alloy actually dropped at 296-297 grains.  I loaded these over 50 grains of IMR 3031 to a COL of 2.55" .  They made a nice looking round that dropped right in the chamber.

Next I moved on to some cast from a Lee 405 grain mold.  these are closer to 425 with my alloy.  I increased the COL to 2.68" per my Lyman Cast Bullet Manual.  I loaded a couple of rounds and them tried them in the chamber.  With the round as far in as it would go, the rim would not touch the extractor.  I seated the bullet deeper and tried again, same results.  Kept seating deeper until the round would chamber.  At 2.47" COL I was able to get the round into the chamber, but had to push it back out with a cleaning rod.  Bullet was heavily engraved from the rifling.  I'm sure glad I only loaded two rounds before I did a test fit.  Pulling 2 bullets sure beats pulling 50 or more.

Has anyone had a similar experience?  Any and all information or input would be greatly appreciated.  Dale

[rdlange]

That's why I rented the reamer and did both mine.  See top of page for reamer rental.

[LittleJoe]

What were the bullets sized to? Have you done a chamber cast of your gun? Sounds like you might need to go to a bullet with a smaller dia. nose section. It's not a under sized chamber. Compair the nose section dis. of both bullets.

[c_latrans]

Bullets were sized .459.  Have not done a chamber cast.  The Lyman bullet does have a much smaller profile to the nose.  The Lee bullets have a very blunt profile.  Dale

[mechanic]

The chambers are known to be short, just making sammi spec.  All the factory ammo I have tried has worked ok.  I just dummy load a new bullet and let the rifle seat it when closed, then back off a bit and work up loads.  Anything larger than 405 gr. is pretty much undoable in a factory chamber....
 
Ben
 
 

[quickdtoo]

H&R 45-70 throats have been short for many years, they appear to have corrected the problem in ~2008 as far as I can tell, I have seven H&R 45-70s, well only six now that one BC barrel is now a 50-140, but all but two are/were(I throat reamed them) short throated not allowing most bullet 350gr and bigger to be chambered at the SAAMI COL of 2.55" or longer, the last two 45-70s I bought, a 2008 SS Ultra Hunter and a 2011 Talo Trapper both have decent throats allowing larger bullets to be chambered much longer than earlier barrels. As has been suggested, see the GBO reamer sticky for info on renting a throating reamer, there's also a link in the FAQs on throating the 45-70.

Tim

[c_latrans]

Thanks for all the help guys.  Dale

[gcrank1]

You dont need to follow that COL for a single shot! That is for repeaters........that is for repeaters 
Make the load so it chambers up and extracts cleanly, adj. your powder charge as required too. You probably wont see an accuracy change if you are short of jamming it into the rifling either. After all, it is the famous 45-70!