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On my list of things to do this Spring is to slug barrels. My .45/70, .44 and .357 Marlin levers and my SW .44 and .357 mags.
I definitely want to find good cast plinking loads, and maybe.... maybe dip my toe into casting my own.
Cast Bullet Association has a lot of good info on the website.
For revolvers, just check that the cast bullet is a slip fit in the cylinder throats. Very easy. If they drop through rattling, they won't be accurate and will probably lead.
For the rifles, fitting the chamber throat is the key, not matching bore size.
Pay attention to proper handling of lead and dress appropriately to handle molten metals, eye protection, a face shield is not IMHO overkill, nor is a leather welding or shop apron. Long pants *outside* of boots, such that any spilled lead can't go into your shoe/boot (sounds funny to talk about it but it's not funny at all if it happens in real life...) Good ventilation.
Like most aspects of shooting, serious mistakes in bullet casting can have serious consequences.
Fine Firearms has both in stock but not cheap. Check Calguns for San Diego often and you'll see guys dumping stuff. I can't part with primers but if you need powder cheap let me know.
So what happened? I know the 45-70 is not as versatile as the .270 to .30-06 family of cartridges, it's not exactly cheap to shoot, even handloaded with a home cast bullet, like the .22 rimfire. Back in the early 60's Magnum Craze, well, it was not a Magnum. It's far from ideal if ranges will be out beyond say 200 yards. And it does kick some with heavier bullets and more or less "full" loads. Speaking of "full" loads, in the Ruger #1 rifle it can be loaded to rival the .458 Winchester Magnum, and in Marlin lever guns not quite that hot but hot enough for most any reasonable use.
Offhand am actually thinking about adding that Ruger built Marlin to my collection.
Short answer is that it's primarily a lever action cartridge and we became a bolt action country.
It's a small niche that both appreciated the qualities of a bolt action rifle (or didn't benefit from longer range, spitzer bullets) and needed more horsepower than what they could get with a 30-30 or .35 Remington.
But, it does fill a niche well and that's why its persisted.
The .410 shotshell fits the chamber of a .45-70 but must not be used with black powder guns; it is versatile. The .45-70 began as a single shot rifle cartridge for the 1873 Springfield. It has been called the gun that really won the West. It was an outgrowth of the Allyn conversion, never envisioned as suitable for a repeater. That came much later.
I was thinking about the 60's and 70's, when the .444 Marlin came out. Then sometime in the last 20 years or so, somebody decided that one could sell ammo for the 45-70 that was definitely NOT safe in the old Springfield, and that would be OK.
Whatever, I'm glad it's back!
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