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WTB 45/70 Cal (.458) bullets lighter than 405 gr.


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I'm looking for someone who molds .458 slugs in something other than the common 405gr.  For Plainsman I just do not see the reason to use such a heavy slug.

I've used 225 gr that were sweet and even 158gr that were just a nub of lead protruding from the case, both worked fine in Plainsman, both are gone now.  I have a few 300 gr left.

 

I don't need them greased or sized.

 

Thanks, let me know if you are willing to sell some to me.

 

 

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I use a lee mold .454 298gr. mini bullet (hollow base) pushed by 60 gr. black powder with great success.  Also have used the Lee .457 340gr solid base.  If you cast either of these should work well.  steg49

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If you want to go light for Plainsman, try 40gr of FF real BP, some filler, a lubed wonder wad and a .457 round ball crimped at the equator.

I have also used and liked a 210gr bullet or a 180+/- button nose with excellent results. All with 40gr of BP.

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2 hours ago, Chas B. Wolfson, SASS #11104 said:

:FlagAm: Bear Creek Supply sells a 305 grain Molly coated.

Nice bullet for plainsman 

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When I shot 45-70 I used a "collar button" bullet from a lee mold. I think it weighed around 95 - 100 grains.  Very pleasant to shoot.  Don't know if it is still in their inventory.FWIW

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2 minutes ago, AlOvera said:

When I shot 45-70 I used a "collar button" bullet from a lee mold. I think it weighed around 95 - 100 grains.  Very pleasant to shoot.  Don't know if it is still in their inventory.FWIW

My mistake, it was a Lyman mold, and is still available.  Look under Collar Button molds.

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3 hours ago, Abilene Al, SASS #72248 said:

Question: Why can't you use any .458/.457 bullet?

I would think a wad cutter would not be very accurate at any distance other than short...

 

At subsonic speeds, wadcutters are surprisingly accurate Even at long distances.  When below the speed of sound the shape of the bullet nose doesn't matter all that much until you are shooting out past 1000 yards. What counts is the base of the bullet. It has to not have any flaws especially around the edge.

 

Long pointy bullets are required when the bullet is faster than the speed of sound. You have to keep the drag coefficient as small as possible so that the bullet velocity remains above the sound barrier. As bullets transition from supersonic to subsonic they almost always become unstable. (Yes there are a few exceptions)

The distance at which this occurs is typically considered the maximum useable range for a given cartridge as beyond that distance accuracy suffers a lot.

 

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