Need some help with my Henry 45-70 loads?

[highmountain]

Hey fellas, so I got into the whole bullet casting ordeal and boy is that fun. Right now I have a noe 460425 bullet mold, it's a brass one, It drops some nice bullets. Anyway after i tried many different loads I ended up close to using 41gr of RL-7, my alloy is just air cooled wheel weights and test at a 12Bhn. It's pushing 1614fps using a chrono. Seems like the faster I push them the tighter my groups are getting. Shouldn't I be getting some bad leading or striping bullets pushing soft bullets so fast? And I'm hesitant to go any higher than 41gr. I do get some leading in the last few inches of my bore I am using BAC lube with bullets sized to .459. Also does anybody else use RL-7 using heavy bullets?

[bradf]

I load 405 MBC with 42gr RL-7 at 1610 fps in my H010. These are coated so no leading. I have gone up to 45gr but the groups opened up significantly. There is really no reason to push it harder. 1600 fps is an attention getter on the receiving end.

[highmountain]

I got back from the range today after loading up some with 40gr RL-7 and 40.5gr RL-7. Accuracy seems to be a real hit or miss, my first group was about 3 inches at 50yds ( yes I know that isnt very good at all). My second load was 40.5gr it measured about 6inches with one flyer that went way high. And I had leading in the last 6 inches of my barrel. I dont know why I am getting leading. I am using BAC lube, I even tried 45\45\10 and bore butter. All with the same results. I actually would like to be down around 1500fps but groups open up a lot when I go that slow. Any you fellas have any ideas at all???? I am really stumped on this one....

[Hack]

Each powder has a band of velocities it works best at. Above or below the band and accuracy falls off. Further outside the band is dangerous.

Squatch has been experimenting with Unique. I have shot his 45-70 with some of his loads (405 grain bullet and 12 grains of Unique) and it kicks like a .22. In other words, you can shoot it all day. Here is one of the posts discussing Unique. http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 27&p=16539

This is the loading data Squatch was using for low velocity. http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Disclaimer: I am just providing the links and make no assertions as to the safety or reliability of the loads

[ditto1958]

As for 1600 fps with lead bullets, that doesn't seem to be a problem. The Lee manual has quite a few loads rated at that speed or faster.

[Jdl447]

Leading at the end of barrel indicates the bullets are running out of lube.
I would try rolling em in Alox after lubing with the BAC just to see if the leading stops.

[highmountain]

That's a good idea, I have a small toaster oven I'm gonna try heat treating them some and give them another go. If this doesn't pan out I might have to go with black powder, I tried a few of these a couple weeks ago and was surprised they held about a 2inch group with open sights at 50yds. Only problem I had was that I was only getting 1230fps. Kinda slow for my liking.....

[Travlin]

Did you slug your barrel?