Bullet Casting???? - The Firearms Forum

slk · 02-26-2010, 01:11 PM

I just called Uberti and asked what the bore diameter was on the 1874 Sharps Down Under model in 45/70. I was told it was .450........I thought 45/70 was supose to be .458.. Am I mistaken or do you guys think it very well could be what they stated??????If it is so I will really have to resize my bullet castings.

Thanks
Steve

Popgunner · 02-26-2010, 03:38 PM

I would think since you asked them for the "bore" diameter they gave you just that, the smaller diameter that on the 30-06 is .300" & .308" groove dia. The question you wanted to ask them was what the "groove" diameter is wich I believe on the 45-70 is .458".

JLA · 02-26-2010, 07:39 PM

just slug your bore and measure the slug with a dial caliper. The easiest way is to get some old soft round balls for muzzleloading and drive one into the muzzle with a rawhide mallet. Of course you will need to get a round ball that is bigger than .458" so get some .490 roundballs designed to be used with a .010" patches. they are dead soft and will swage down and enter the bore rather easily with the mallet (use some good bullet lube or case resizing lube on the ball) then just drive it back out with your cleaning rod and measure accross the grooves with a caliper...

slk · 03-01-2010, 09:41 AM

Uberti sent me a note stating that the grove diameter of their 45/70 Sharps Down Under was .456. If this is so what size mold do I need to get for casting bullets.

Now that being said I thought most 45/70 's were .458-.459 for a groove diameter. Does this mean that I will have to be choosy as to what factory loads I buy???

I will do a slug test to make sure.

NuJudge · 03-01-2010, 07:18 PM

Are you shooting smokeless or Black powder in this?

For smokeless, I like having bullets be .002" larger than groove diameter, in general. For rifles with really huge throats (a certain Hungarian straight-pull of mine in 8x56 comes to mind), I like a bullet even bigger.

I refuse to shoot Black any more, but when I did, I initially tried bullets about .002" over groove diameter. Frequently, Black powder was expected to exert such a shock to the base of a soft, undersize pure Lead bullet, that it would upset to fill the grooves. I used to have a pair of .43 Spanish Remington rolling blocks that had .446" groove diameters, but would not chamber a cartridge with a bullet larger than .441", even in ancient Berdan-primed brass.

Rifle barrels are frequently mighty particular about their likes and dislikes. Can I suggest you buy some commercially cast bullets in popular designs, in several different sizes, and see what the rifle likes?

There is a Single Shot Rifle Association, with a discussion forum. You might want to find it and ask for experience with your rifle make and model there.
http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

mikld · 03-02-2010, 11:25 AM

I would suggest your first purchase be Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. Lots of good info. for casting/loading/shooting lead bullets. Not much in the Lyman Handbook about slugging, but look here: http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2007/1...sy-way_07.html

JLA · 03-02-2010, 07:49 PM

slk, Lee precision 500 gr bullet mold and a .457 sizer die. should have you blowing the bullseye out of your targets

02-26-2010, 01:11 PM	#1
slk Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	Bullet Casting???? I just called Uberti and asked what the bore diameter was on the 1874 Sharps Down Under model in 45/70. I was told it was .450........I thought 45/70 was supose to be .458.. Am I mistaken or do you guys think it very well could be what they stated??????If it is so I will really have to resize my bullet castings. Thanks Steve -->

02-26-2010, 03:38 PM	#2
Popgunner Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Contributor Posts: 1,764	Re: Bullet Casting???? I would think since you asked them for the "bore" diameter they gave you just that, the smaller diameter that on the 30-06 is .300" & .308" groove dia. The question you wanted to ask them was what the "groove" diameter is wich I believe on the 45-70 is .458".

02-26-2010, 07:39 PM	#3
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Bullet Casting???? just slug your bore and measure the slug with a dial caliper. The easiest way is to get some old soft round balls for muzzleloading and drive one into the muzzle with a rawhide mallet. Of course you will need to get a round ball that is bigger than .458" so get some .490 roundballs designed to be used with a .010" patches. they are dead soft and will swage down and enter the bore rather easily with the mallet (use some good bullet lube or case resizing lube on the ball) then just drive it back out with your cleaning rod and measure accross the grooves with a caliper... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-01-2010, 09:41 AM	#4
slk Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 9	Re: Bullet Casting???? Uberti sent me a note stating that the grove diameter of their 45/70 Sharps Down Under was .456. If this is so what size mold do I need to get for casting bullets. Now that being said I thought most 45/70 's were .458-.459 for a groove diameter. Does this mean that I will have to be choosy as to what factory loads I buy??? I will do a slug test to make sure.

03-01-2010, 07:18 PM	#5
NuJudge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 38	Re: Bullet Casting???? Are you shooting smokeless or Black powder in this? For smokeless, I like having bullets be .002" larger than groove diameter, in general. For rifles with really huge throats (a certain Hungarian straight-pull of mine in 8x56 comes to mind), I like a bullet even bigger. I refuse to shoot Black any more, but when I did, I initially tried bullets about .002" over groove diameter. Frequently, Black powder was expected to exert such a shock to the base of a soft, undersize pure Lead bullet, that it would upset to fill the grooves. I used to have a pair of .43 Spanish Remington rolling blocks that had .446" groove diameters, but would not chamber a cartridge with a bullet larger than .441", even in ancient Berdan-primed brass. Rifle barrels are frequently mighty particular about their likes and dislikes. Can I suggest you buy some commercially cast bullets in popular designs, in several different sizes, and see what the rifle likes? There is a Single Shot Rifle Association, with a discussion forum. You might want to find it and ask for experience with your rifle make and model there. http://www.assra.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl

03-02-2010, 11:25 AM	#6
mikld Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oregon Posts: 573	Re: Bullet Casting???? I would suggest your first purchase be Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. Lots of good info. for casting/loading/shooting lead bullets. Not much in the Lyman Handbook about slugging, but look here: http://carteach0.blogspot.com/2007/1...sy-way_07.html __________________ My Anchor is holding fast. Last edited by mikld; 03-02-2010 at 04:11 PM..

03-02-2010, 07:49 PM	#7
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: Bullet Casting???? slk, Lee precision 500 gr bullet mold and a .457 sizer die. should have you blowing the bullseye out of your targets __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!