Henry Rifle Forums

Hello everyone,

Some of you have probably reloaded and fired lead bullets ...

in your opinion, what is the optimal hardness in brinell for 45-70 bullet ?

we often see people talking about a hardness of 14 to 18 br ...
Do you think it's ok?

Friendly,

BruniX

we no longer use cast lead bullets .... back when we did, we used Missouri Bullet Company and Oregon Trail bullets .... Missouri Bullet Company list theirs as 18 .... couldn't find that data for Oregon Trail

JEBar wrote:we no longer use cast lead bullets .... back when we did, we used Missouri Bullet Company and Oregon Trail bullets .... Missouri Bullet Company list theirs as 18 .... couldn't find that data for Oregon Trail

thanks jebar !

is it forbiden to use lead bullet ? or another reason ?

Bullets ciontaining lead are only banned in California and only for hunting.
I think JEBar is saying he shoots only Cooper jacketed lead bullets.
Softer for slower, harder for faster up to 1500- 1600fps. Coated or plated for faster up to 1700fps and gas checked for up to over 2000 fps.
I shoot 45-70 in competition out to 200 meters and try to keep my muzzle velocity down to 1150 to avoid transonic instability.
Tim

thanks, Ojaileveraction,
in this direction, are barne's bullet (full copper) the fastest bullet ?

Barnes should be shot at leveraction pressures for best performance.
But it is a big wide meplat to begin with.

Laser Cast 45-70 bullets have a Brinnell hardness of 24. They shoot great out of my 1888 Trapdoor and the rifle was built in 1890.

https://www.laser-cast.com/#!/45-70-Cal ... y=25376421

BruniX wrote:is it forbiden to use lead bullet ? or another reason ?

Tim ===> is correct .... first, folks who know and understand much more than I do, say its best not to fire cast and jacketed bullets out of the same barrel .... when it comes to a general practice, I like faster muzzle velocities because they give me flatter trajectories and higher bullet impact .... by their basic construction, jacketed bullets almost universally can be loaded to higher muzzle velocities than their cast counterparts .... with that being the case and wherever possible prefer to practice with the same ammo I hunt with, I only load jacketed bullets

I prepared 30 pounds of ingot for one pound and half a pound ... all in brinell 18,
to follow what Lyman does with its alloy No. 2....

The grease is also ready, consisting of one-third of beeswax, one-third of paraffin and one-third of lithium grease
I am waiting for receipt of the mold lyman # 457193 405 Grain ...(order to hwww.midsouthshooterssupply.com)

Then casting, recalibration and greasing ... 680 bullets ...

to quote an old American saying, You've come a long way, baby ! .... thanks for keeping us informed along the way