Oh Gawd, what have I done now?

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

I stopped at Cabelas becasue the primer fairy was there recently.
Managed to find a brick of CCI200, which I use a lot of. Nice.
Then, I made the mistake of perusing the used gun rack. I left a
decent down payment on lay-a-way. Next pay day, a very nice
Buffalo Classic in 45-70 will be following me home
370 bucks seems like a decent price
I've been drooling for a looong time for one of these.
Lyman globe/disc front sight an Williams rear peep.
Beautiful wood, nice bore no marks any where.
Now the hunt for brass and molds begins.
Any recommendations on a mold? The only things I have in 45 cal
is 200rn lee and a 250 grain SWC LBT mold, both for pistols.

the other rifle they had that really tempted me was a very nice
old Remington roller, octogon barrel in 32-20 for 399.
I went for the big bore though, I have a problem with big bores
is there a shooters version of AA?

[Doc_Stihl]

The Lee 405 HB is a fantastic mold. The lee 500 Postell shoots well in my NEF. The lee 405 is a good all around mold. That's a cheap easy way to get started.
I have 12+ 458 molds and those 3 get used alot. The 405's more than anything.

[725]

Look around and try and get a copy of Paul Mathews' "40 years with the .45-70". Fun book with lots of info about the cartridge. I use a 420 gr (actually with my alloy it's usually around 415 grains) 460420. Stunning. Loaded to top trap door levels, it's a never fail. (If I do my part )

[hickstick_10]

Lymans 500 grain government roundnose will probably give you what your looking for the quickest.

It will stomp you some, but it gives alot back in return.

[singleshot]

Jim, you can paper patch up those .451 boolits for some screamin' fun out of your "Big Gov." Nobade has done it and the smile left creases on his cheeks. Hopefully he'll pipe in soon.

[bikerbeans]

I had a 45-70 BC and I only made a couple of range trips with the factory stock set. The curved steel buttplate is noted for making a bloody mess out of your shoulder. I would look for a slip on recoil pad or better yet a leather lace on pad to save your shoulder.

I shot the Lee 405HBs out of this gun over a light charge of Unique (12g) and it was as accurate I as can shoot with the peep sights.

BB

[PuppetZ]

Mine love the lee 450 grain over 70 gn of FFg. Will make one big ragged hole out of 5 shot at 50 yds.

[Reverend Al]

... if it was me I'd go back and buy the .32-20 RB as well ...

[wgr]

Jim, you can paper patch up those .451 boolits for some screamin' fun out of your "Big Gov." Nobade has done it and the smile left creases on his cheeks. Hopefully he'll pipe in soon.

yes you can pp them and have a ball. i use a 300grain lbt swc

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

... if it was me I'd go back and buy the .32-20 RB as well ...

I wish I had the funds for both. I don't. Reality sucks. I did turn a friend of mine on to it tho
and he is all hot and bothered. He's 80 something, I called dibs if he buys it

[Lonegun1894]

Here is another vote for the Lee 450gr FN. Mine casts at .461", and leading disappeared and accuracy improved from g very good to excellent when I quit sizing them.

[Nobade]

Jim, you can paper patch up those .451 boolits for some screamin' fun out of your "Big Gov." Nobade has done it and the smile left creases on his cheeks. Hopefully he'll pipe in soon.

Haha - yep, paper patching pistol bullets in a 45-70 lets you either make it a nice plinker or turn it into something with 444 ballistics if you prefer. Fast and flat, but probably won't hit to the sights with real light boolits. Still, a 45 ACP hollow point boolit at 2400 fps does interesting things to what it hits.

-Nobade

[Yellowhouse]

A #1 RB sporter in virtually any caliber is worth way more than the asking!!!!!

[kootne]

If it's the one that was in Kalispell Cabellas a couple weeks ago, it does have a fair amount of finish but it was not a #1. The one I saw was a #4 and I think it was a takedown , caliber was 32 sumthin', thought it was a RF but don't remember exactly. doesn't mean they couldn't have got another one in since.
kootne

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

WE have a gun show this weekend, brass and loading die shopping commencing tomorrow at 11 AM

[bikerbeans]

If you really want to step on the accelerator with a 45-70 try using Harvestor or MMP 45/40 sabots and 180 to 200g 40S&W boolits. I was able to get on the big side of 3,000 fps with this combo and 32" barrel. Almost forget, the gun was a 45-70 that I reamed to 45-120, but I think you could get a light saboted bullet to 3K fps in a 45-70. Getting it to shoot accurately would be the hard part.


BB

[waksupi]

WE have a gun show this weekend, brass and loading die shopping commencing tomorrow at 11 AM

Gun show this weekend? No body ever tells me these things!

[tacklebury]

You'll love it. I know I do mine. 8)

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

Gun show was a bust, everything 20% over retail

Taklebury, I've seen that pic before, here and Graybeard, I am excited.

I have borrowed a copy of Mathews 40 years w/ the 45-70, friend owns a used book store, its like a library for me
'nother friend has a 500 grain mold I can borrow, and dies. All I need is brass

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

BTW, for you Buffalo Classic owners, what alloy has proven best for you,
and what size did your barrel slug out to?
Shallow rifling, I assume something medium hard, around #2?