Gentlemen...
Within the last year I have acquired two .45/70 rifles, a Browning High Wall (not bpcr) and a Ruger #1. Load development has been frustrating. I am an experienced handloader, however, this has been my debut into cast lead bullets in rifles. Both rifles have demonstrated superb accuracy with my jacketed handloads and with factory jacketed fodder. With cast lead, however, I have tried many combinations of three different brands of bullets in weights ranging from 300 to 530 grains, including bevel-base, plain-base and gas checked, with five different powders. Sizing has ranged from .4565 to .459. Both magnum and standard primers have been investigated as recommended by the books. All loads have been within published parameters.
Observations:
1. Plain and bevel base bullets prefer less than 1300 fps in all cases.
2. With all but the gas-checked bullets, severe leading has occurred at all tried velocities, (1200 to 1800 fps)
3. With all but the gas-checked bullets, splattering of lead down the outside of the brass has occurred, most of which has adhered to the brass, requiring alot of scraping.
I am hoping that someone out there has seen similar symptoms. I am at the steep end of the learning curve and appreciate your advice.
Thanks,
Smith
Within the last year I have acquired two .45/70 rifles, a Browning High Wall (not bpcr) and a Ruger #1. Load development has been frustrating. I am an experienced handloader, however, this has been my debut into cast lead bullets in rifles. Both rifles have demonstrated superb accuracy with my jacketed handloads and with factory jacketed fodder. With cast lead, however, I have tried many combinations of three different brands of bullets in weights ranging from 300 to 530 grains, including bevel-base, plain-base and gas checked, with five different powders. Sizing has ranged from .4565 to .459. Both magnum and standard primers have been investigated as recommended by the books. All loads have been within published parameters.
Observations:
1. Plain and bevel base bullets prefer less than 1300 fps in all cases.
2. With all but the gas-checked bullets, severe leading has occurred at all tried velocities, (1200 to 1800 fps)
3. With all but the gas-checked bullets, splattering of lead down the outside of the brass has occurred, most of which has adhered to the brass, requiring alot of scraping.
I am hoping that someone out there has seen similar symptoms. I am at the steep end of the learning curve and appreciate your advice.
Thanks,
Smith