[kevinm]

Hi-

  This is my first post here but I have been reading the board's old messages in the hopes I don't ask you too many questions that have not been answered already.
  Two weeks ago I finally got a new Guide Gun in stainless steel. I just love the gun and have only started testing some loads. The first load I tried was a 405gr bullet cast with a Lee mould [457-405-F] over 12 grains of Unique. I realize this is just barely a plinker for the 45-70 but it amazes me the amont of wallop it has and it shot dead on point of aim at fifty yards with really good groups considering the conditions I was shooting under.
  Moving up to 52 grains of H335 with the same bullet and moving the target back to 90 yards I apprehensively touched off a round waiting for a solid whack in the shoulder. I wasn't dissapointed! Nobody is going to fall asleep shooting those type loads;-). To my surprise the bullet hit a 7inch round rock about a 12 feet in front on the target and split the thing in two. I tried a couple of more rounds and all hit exceedingly low as well. Is this normal in the Guide Gun?
  In any case I getting ahead of myself. Some have stated here that a gas checked bullet is more forgiving and not open to as many variables as one without which certainly makes sense to me. The thing is I do not know which to choose. I just started casting last summer and still have much to learn but I thought a 405gr gas check flat nose would be a good all purpose bullet in the 45-70G yet would like to get some advice before I pick one.
  Maybe I should consider a lighter bullet? I'm writting from Canada and with the exchange rate a mould can be farily expensive so I want to make sure I get one that will be suitable.
  If not a gas check mould Lyman's 457193 looks like it might be a good one in this gun. Any advice would be much apreciated.

BTW, I'm totally impressed by the way your faith  has shaped your business practice Mr. Stanton. You don often see that these days.

God bless
Kevin
***********
Truth is not concerned with how many it persuades.
Henri de Lubac
********

 

[kevinm]

Hi guys-

  Sorry for not being more specific on where I'm located. Unfortunately it is a little too far to take you up on your kind offer BCstocker since I'm on the other side of the country in Nova Scotia;-(.
  That .62 dollar certainly does hurt. To give an example to our American friends, in a fit of enthusiasm I ordered 50 cast bullets from a supplier in the U.S which cost $16.00. It cost $16.00 for shipping and customs tacked $8 on for handling and GST. The two $16.00 charges where in U.S. funds so I ended up paying over fifty dollars for 50 lead bullets! Way too much.
  Jack, I never knew that recoil would affect impact like that. I've got five pounds of H4198 on the way because it appears to be a powder that can be used for a wide range of power levels in the 45-70. Would you reccomend it? My prefered velocity will probably be somewhere around 1300 to 1500fps for plinking. And I'll give Steve Kochak a call for sure.
  I was leaning towards the 405gr simply because it appeared to be the traditional standard weight but since I purchased this gun primarily for the pure fun of shooting and shooting a lot I think the 350gr Saeco and 327gr RCBS look promising from what you all say. Is there a significant reduction in recoil by using the lighter bullet? As well, I think I recall Marshall Stanton writing that 95% of Marlin rifles in 45-70 do best with a cast bullet of .460 diameter. Will either of these moulds drop bullets of that size or at least .459?
  BTW, does anyone have any suggestions as to what is going on with my Lee mould. I'm having one awful time trying to get the bullets to fall from the mould. I've smoked it and also tried some stuff called Rapine mould release but have not had much luck. The strange thing is is that the bullet will stick to one side one day and the other side the next. Arkypete, I must say I thought about firing one of those bullets at the thing last night;-)  

That's enough for now I guess.

God bless
Kevin
***********
Truth is not concerned with how many it persuades.
Henri de Lubac
********

 

[kevinm]

Hi guys-

  BCstocker the bullets stick so badly that I have to remove some with a pair of pliers after giving up rapping the hinge. I'll try and clean the thing up again with auto parts degreaser and start over.
  The closest thing I've found to the 327gr is a 300gr RCBS mould is at: http://www.rcbs.com/equipment/moulds5.html
Is that like the one you are using? What do you size them to? Having it in two cavity would be a big plus for sure cause I think I'm going to go through bullets like an IPSC shooter with this gun;-)
  I've got a Lyman 66 receiver sight on a model 94 Wincherster already so am familier with it and agree that it is a great sighting system but I'm not yet decided on what to replace the factory sights with. The sight from Ashly Outdoors looks good to me as well. If your tired of waiting for yours you  can call Lyman direct at 800-22-LYMAN and order the sight right from the company. I did this and it was sent out right away.
  As far as powder goes I order all of mine from Ammo-mart in Ontario. I don't know if you are familier with them but they have the best prices I've seen in Canada. Only thing is that they carry Hodgdon and IMR exclusively.
 
God bless
Kevin
***********
Truth is not concerned with how many it persuades.
Henri de Lubac
********

 

[kevinm]

BCstocker-

  I suspected that the 300 grainer was the mold you were using but it was a surprise to me that the weight would be that much greater than what the factory states. Good to know.
  Hope to pick one up sometime soon. Thanks for the help.

God bless
Kevin
***********
Truth is not concerned with how many it persuades.
Henri de Lubac
********

 

[kevinm]

Thanks to all who offered advice on this thread. After more cleaning and an aplication of Rapine the mold is dropping bullets much easier. It is out of round though by .002 and when it really starts heating up [which is only after a dozen pours] and the bullets get frosty they start separating at the last lube groove. Too bad because the mold starts to fill out much better when it is really hot. Rather that messing with it anymore I'm just going to get a better mold.

God bless
Kevin
***********
Truth is not concerned with how many it persuades.
Henri de Lubac
********