Anyone loading these? Picked up a nice Siamese Mauser that was fitted with a Douglas barrel, mannlicher stock, and express sights. Finally found some bullets in stock and ordered them. Only selection available. Have read they don’t like to be pushed too terribly fast(22-2400fps). Thinking something in the 1900-2000fps will be hard on the deer and not too bad on my shoulder.

I have the same bullets, but haven’t loaded yet. Still shooting up my factory loads so I can use the brass. I can tell you that the Winchester 300 grain hps are labeled 1880 on the box and are pleasant to shoot. Those will fold up a hog and completely pass through. I believe the Hornady hps will make an excellent deer load also based on what I’ve seen from that weight bullet and velocity.

Good to hear. Kinda envisioned it as close range pig thumper too. It's got all the looks of a poor man's dangerous game rifle. Wish it was easy to mount a QD 1.75-6 on it, but would require way more work than I want to do to it.

Was that the one from Harvey’s? Beautiful firearm if so

I've got a Handi-Rifle in .45-70 and also intend to load the 300gr Barnes TTSX and 300gr Hornady using IMR 4198. Been hunting with the factory loaded 325gr FTX to great results on pigs. That factory load is going for $50 - $70 per box these days.

Yeah the price of factory loaded .45-70 turned me off, especially since I have a pile of brass. You may know this, but the Hornady leverevolution brass is shorter than standard .45-70 brass. Can't remember how much, but it is noticeable. Don't let it throw you off.

If I can ever find a mold in stock, I will be casting some gas checked lead. Probably have to invest in some powder coating too.

I can’t find a mold in stock either. If you ever find a .459-.460 400-405 gr gas check mold in stock please let me know.

Will do. Over the years I’ve let some pretty good deals (looking back) go on molds and sizing equipment. Every time we hit one of these shortage scenarios I regret it. Metals cost seems to increase every time and not come back down, and the big bores get rough on the wallet buying manufactured bullets.

Thanks, didn't know that. I've got new brass for the handloads and will keep the once-fired Leverevolution brass separate.

I've loaded it for a single shot, where the crimp doesn't matter. It seems to be an issue when loading bullets other than the FTX for use in lever guns, due to the crimp/cannelure/OAL relationship.

https://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=380760

Hornady 300 grain bullets are perfect for close range work on deer, pig, or larger quarry if range is kept to under 200 yards. The round is not typically used for long range except in SIL matches with black powder and grain weight is 400 to 500+. That a horse of a different color. Cast, and gas checked 400, 405 grain at a 20 to 1 alloy running at 1600 to 1800 will drop anything hit properly under 200 yards like a bad habit. Times like this cast is the way to go with big bore shooting.

The lightweight 405 grain cast.








The 500 grain heavyweight. Good at 1300 fps to how much you dare.

For those who want to PC cast, the 45 caliber is a great one to do. Got my PC years ago at HF, a oven from Wally and a few trays with silicone grill pads cut to fit for the oven baking.

Great looking stuff nitro. What sizer are you using? Sizing before or after PC the bullets (pic with loose gas checks looks like after, just confirming)? You're making pretty much exactly what I am wanting to do. Love shooting the .45-70 and wanting to do it more. Lucked into a decent supply of linotype already in ingots, and picked up a melting pot last week. But as noted, no molds out there for the bullets I want to make. Even searching some other forums Classifieds there's nothing.

odocoileus, I size after the PC. Only way to keep any kind of consistency. I size to .459 cause it's the largest the Marlin will chamber. My Browning 1885 will shoot a .460 without issues, but does very well with .459 as well. So .459 for both. I was fortunate to have started working at a small local gun shop in Flagstaff Arizona while working on my undergraduates business degree in 1980. Over the course of the next 30 years as my shooting interests evolved I experienced all of the shortages in every aspect of the sport. Powder shortages along with primers, bullets, cases........on an on. So, when 2011 was just heading into the fall I decided I was close to retirement and had seen enough of the volatile swings in supplies and since my shooting interest would only be availed of more time to do it, but likely less money to do it I bit the bullet and bought every single mold, die sets, presses, casting equipment for all the calibers I shot. Now I've added a few more over the last 7 years or so, and that has been challenging as you and many others have experienced also. As far as where to look for molds, supplies an such you might try castboolits.com if you haven't been there yet. Join the forum and spend time on the selling an swap section. Lots of good stuff there. I'm also found there under the handle of MOA, hope this has helped.

Thanks for the info. I have browsed over there but never joined. I am on Accurate Reloading and typically there is a decent offering of molds (I think some of the guys hit estate sales and resale on there). Do the deer seem to care which color you powdercoat in?

Hee, hee. Yes deer hate red. They heard red means dead.
And I REALLY like dead red too. These 44's are one of my main line-up for medium range deer. The carbine and the 8-3/8" Smith have good range, and velocity is very good. Sweet combo for woods hunting.

What is the main benefit of powder coating? Does it ever leave residue in the barrel?

Lead bullets need a lubricant. You can accomplish this a couple of ways. One by placing bullets on their base in a pan and pouring melted bullet lube into the pan. Then pluck the bullets out, leaving the lube in the grooves of the bullet. Some lube when they’re pushed through the sizing die, filling the grooves with lube. There is also a tumble lube, where you put a bunch of bullets in a container, apply the lube solution, and shake to cover and let dry. Powder coating is a relatively newer way of achieving this. Forms a durable coating that acts as a bullet lubricant. As for the residue, I’ve never shot enough to know, but the whole point of lubrication is to reduce the leading in the barrel.