Understanding Cast Bullets
What are Cast Bullets?
Cast bullets, in essence, are bullets crafted from molten lead, often alloyed with other metals like tin or antimony to enhance hardness and durability. They offer a distinct departure from jacketed bullets, which feature a lead core encased in a copper or other metal jacket. The allure of cast bullets for the 45-70 lies in several significant advantages.
Advantages of Cast Bullets
The first is cost. Generally, the cost of cast bullets is considerably lower than their jacketed counterparts. This can translate into significant savings for frequent shooters or those who simply enjoy shooting this powerful cartridge.
Another compelling reason to choose cast bullets for your 45-70 is the potential for enhanced accuracy. While it may seem counterintuitive, when properly loaded and sized, cast bullets can deliver outstanding results.
Bullet Types
They tend to be gentler on the rifling of your barrel. Unlike jacketed bullets, which can cause increased wear over time, the softer lead material minimizes friction and wear. This is especially important for older firearms, which may not be designed to handle the wear of constant high-pressure, jacketed bullet loads.
Different types of cast bullets cater to diverse shooting needs. Round-nose (RN) bullets are a classic choice, ideal for general shooting. Flat-nose (FN) bullets are often preferred in lever-action rifles, ensuring safe feeding by preventing bullet tips from striking primers in the magazine. Semi-wadcutter (SWC) bullets are designed with a truncated nose, providing a sharp shoulder that can cut clean holes in paper targets, making them popular among target shooters. Choosing the right cast bullet design is a crucial step.
Important Considerations
Several factors influence the effectiveness of cast bullets, beginning with bullet hardness. Hardness is typically measured using the Brinnell hardness scale. The hardness of a bullet should be matched to the pressures it will experience in your 45-70 load. A softer bullet will obturate (expand to seal the bore) better at lower pressures. Too hard of a bullet may not obturate well at low pressure and will tend to have poorer accuracy.
Bullet diameter is another critical factor. It’s important to know the exact bore diameter of your 45-70 rifle. The cast bullet should be slightly larger than the bore diameter for optimal gas sealing and accuracy. This ensures a good fit within the barrel.
Bullet lubricant plays a vital role in successful cast bullet shooting. Lubricant reduces friction between the bullet and the barrel. Additionally, it prevents leading, where lead deposits accumulate within the barrel’s rifling, which can greatly impact accuracy.
Equipment and Components Needed
Required Equipment
Embarking on the journey of reloading your 45-70 cast bullets requires a specific set of equipment and components. A robust reloading setup is essential.
The core piece of equipment is a reloading press. This device provides the mechanical advantage needed to perform critical reloading operations, such as resizing brass, seating bullets, and crimping cartridges. Look for a press that is sturdy and easy to operate.
Die sets are essential to the reloading process. A standard 45-70 die set typically includes a sizing die, an expanding die, a seating die, and a crimping die. Each die serves a specific function in preparing the brass for the bullet, seating the bullet, and securing it in place. A quality die set is an investment that will contribute to the accuracy and safety of your reloads.
An accurate scale is absolutely vital. It is the tool that helps determine the precise amount of powder in each case. Consistency in powder charges is crucial for achieving consistent velocity and accuracy. Electronic scales offer precise measurement.
A powder measure, either manual or automatic, is used for dispensing the measured amount of powder into the case. It offers a way to streamline the process.
A case trimmer is used to trim brass casings to the correct length. Consistent case length is another key ingredient to good accuracy.
A priming tool, whether hand-held or press-mounted, inserts the primers into the primer pockets. Proper priming is essential for reliable ignition of the powder charge.
Calipers are used to measure the overall cartridge length (COAL). Precise COAL is important to the fit of the loaded cartridge in the rifle’s chamber and for proper functioning.
Additional tools, such as case prep tools, and a funnel, are also important to the reloading process. These tools will vary slightly depending on the stage of the loading process.
Components
In addition to equipment, the appropriate components are also required. You’ll need to select the right bullets. The weight and design of your cast bullets will have a significant impact on accuracy and performance. The weight of the bullet should be matched to the twist rate of your rifle’s barrel.
You’ll also need the appropriate brass casings. Brass cases are reused many times. They are cleaned and prepared for each reloading cycle. Inspect your brass carefully each time you use it.
Primers are small explosive devices that ignite the powder charge. Selecting the correct primer size and type is critical. Consult your reloading manual to find the correct primer.
Powder selection is a critical decision. The right powder will burn efficiently and provide the desired velocity for your cast bullets. Some powders commonly used for cast bullets in the 45-70 include IMR 4198, H4198, and Reloader 7. Consult multiple reloading manuals.
Bullet lube is used to reduce friction and prevent leading in the barrel, it’s an essential component.
Preparing Brass Casings
Cleaning
Thorough preparation of brass casings is fundamental to safe and accurate reloading. The goal is to ensure that the cases are clean, dimensionally correct, and ready to accept the new components.
Cleaning brass casings, either using a tumbler with media or an ultrasonic cleaner, is the first step. This removes any dirt, debris, or residue from previous firings. Clean brass will ensure proper functioning.
Inspection
Following cleaning, a careful inspection of the brass is essential. Examine the cases for any signs of damage, such as cracks, dents, or stretched necks. Any cases exhibiting these issues should be discarded.
The next step involves sizing and de-priming the casings. The sizing die restores the cases to their original dimensions, ensuring they will properly chamber in your rifle. The de-priming process removes the spent primers.
Trimming
Trimming the casings to the correct length is another crucial step. Consistent case length is essential for accurate loading.
Deburring and chamfering the case mouths smooths the edges of the cases. This makes seating the bullet easier and prevents damage to the bullet.
Primer Pocket Cleaning
Finally, cleaning the primer pockets removes any fouling or residue, allowing the primers to seat properly.
Selecting and Loading Cast Bullets
Bullet Selection
The process of loading cast bullets requires careful attention to detail, from selecting the right bullet to achieving consistent performance. The first step is determining the correct bullet diameter and weight for your rifle. The best size bullet will be slightly larger than your barrel’s bore diameter, typically around .001-.002 inches larger.
Sizing cast bullets ensures that they have a consistent diameter and fit properly in the rifle’s barrel.
Lubrication
Applying bullet lube correctly is critical. Ensure that the lube evenly covers the bullet to minimize friction.
Powder and Priming
Choosing the right powder and charge weights is a crucial step. Always start with published load data from reputable sources, such as reloading manuals. Never exceed maximum recommended loads.
Priming the brass casings places the primer into the primer pocket.
Powder charging must be done with precision. Weigh each powder charge accurately.
Seating the bullet involves precisely placing the bullet into the case, adjusting the seating depth.
Crimping
The final step is crimping the bullet. Crimp the bullet securely, but not excessively. A light taper crimp or roll crimp can be used, depending on the type of bullet and the design of the rifle.
Safety Considerations
Safety First
Reloading is a rewarding but potentially dangerous activity. Adhering to safety precautions is paramount.
Wear safety glasses and appropriate protective gear at all times.
Follow all instructions in your reloading manuals.
Never cross-contaminate different powders.
Recognize the signs of overpressure. Flattened primers, sticky bolt lift, or other issues.
Store ammunition and reloading components safely and securely.
Set up your reloading bench to maximize safety.
Shooting and Troubleshooting
Testing
Once your reloads are complete, testing them on the range is the next step. Develop accurate loads through careful testing and experimentation.
You should chronograph your loads to measure velocity and consistency.
Common Issues
You will encounter common problems such as leading in the barrel, inconsistent accuracy, or failure to feed. Troubleshooting these issues is part of the reloading process.
Advanced Techniques and Considerations
Advanced Methods
For those looking to further refine their reloading skills, more advanced techniques are available. Paper patching cast bullets can increase accuracy by allowing the bullet to better fit the barrel.
Reloading with smokeless powder alternatives can provide unique performance characteristics.
Additionally, reloading for specific 45-70 rifles requires taking into consideration factors such as action type and bullet seating limitations.
Conclusion
Reloading 45-70 cast bullets offers a fulfilling and rewarding experience. By understanding the steps involved and adhering to safety protocols, you can create custom loads that maximize the accuracy of this timeless cartridge. The process is also more economical than buying factory ammunition.
Embrace the rewards of reloading, and find joy in the journey of crafting your own ammunition.
Resources
Look into reputable reloading manuals such as those provided by Hodgdon, Lyman, and Speer. Consult the manuals for load data.
Many suppliers provide reloading equipment and components.
You can find online reloading forums and communities.
