Light bullets in 45/70

[loophole]

Howdy, fellas,
I'm looking for a bullet mold to cast 375--425 gr bullets for my C. Sharps 45/70 carbine. I'm looking for less recoil for informal target shooting at 100--200 yds. I think the Lyman 405 was designed for smokeless--lube grooves look too small for black .
Any ideas? Also, anybody had any luck with even lighter bullets?
Loophole

[Don McDowell]

The 457124 lyman bullet doesn't do to bad.

[Mike]

A buddy of mine took a fine black bear with Lyman's #457122HP, the 330 grain hollow point, loaded over 70 grains of black powder. That did a fine job. And for your carbine be sure to try #457124, as Don recommended, over 55 grains of black powder to reproduce the old military carbine load. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Nuclearcricket]

Loop, take a look at Accurate molds, I think that they have something you might like, here is a link to a page of .45 bullets on the lower weight range, http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=10. Mold number 46-375B, http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_deta...375B-D.png might be what your looking for.
Sam

[Nuclearcricket]

Something else, Hoch, (Colorado shooters supply) also makes a light weight bullet for the .45. Its mold 458330. I have that mold, it has 3 nice sized groves, but I have not played with it enough to say how well it shoots. I picked it up used and the guy I got it from said it didn't shoot all that well. I am thinking that perhaps a bullet that short would need a 20 or 22" twist barrel to shoot well.
Sam

[Cody Smith]

I shoot a 350 grain 45-70 bullet from a buffalo arms mold. A pipe broke and flooded my basement, so all of my stuff is in a pile in my garage with a sheet over it. Son of a #$%!@!!! If I could find it, I would give you the model number, but you should be able to find it off of the Buffalo arms website. It works very well for me. I use it for my hunting bullet in my nine pound Shiloh #3 as my normal 540 grain bullet kicks the snot out of me in that gun. I have shot multiple antelope out to close to 200 yards with it, and a couple elk. It has always exited, even when going through an antelope at an angle from shoulder to off hip! Accuracy will hold without blowing or wiping for 7 or 8 rounds with SPG lube.
Hope this helps, Cody

[Mike]

Hey Loophole, One thing you might try is going to Buffalo Arms (by email) and ordering some cast and ready to shoot bullets in a weight and style you want to try. They have a .457" diameter 325 grain round nose that you will probably really enjoy. They also have a 405 grain hollow base bullet that should do very well with the 55 grains of powder carbine loads I mentioned earlier. If you are on a tight budget, a mould for that 405 grain hollow base bullet is available from Lee Precision for under $30. Lee doesn't make the highest quality stuff but their moulds do work rather well. Anyway, by getting some bullets from Buffalo Arms you could try before you buy. Shoot sharp, Mike

[loophole]

Thanks for all the ideas.

[Mike]

Keep us posted on what you try and how things work out. Shoot sharp, Mike

[loophole]

Any thoughts on Accurate aluminum blocks?