45-70 bullets

[Pulp]

I'm debating putting a H&R Buffalo Classic on my Christmas list.  Y'all got a favorite bullet for this gun, somewhere in the 500 grain range?

[Mako]

Pulp,
Ether the 535 gr Lyman Postell or the 545 gr Jones Creedmor are are great bullets.  Springfield Slim casts one.  His site says 545 gr, but it has the ogive of the Postell.

http://www.whyteleatherworks.com/BigLube.html


Regards,
Mako

[Ranch 13]

 The buffalo classic is a bit light for the real heavy bullets. The 530 gr's will wear on you quick.
We've found the 480 gr saeco 645 bullets to work as well at long range as the heavier bullets, but use less lead and not as much recoil

[fourfingersofdeath]

Too many of those heavy boolits and you'll be re-gluing yer teeth back in, lol!

For general hunting a Lyman Gould 330Gn Hollow Point is BP correct and an awesome hunting bullet! NOE also do a copy of it in multiple cavity with one HP and the rest flat point. I have a dual cav with one HP (or both FP if you turn the pin around). I have just got this mould so I can't tell you the exact weights yet.

The Lee or RCBS in 405Gn are excellent hunting boolits and Darstardly Dan makes a nice 390Gn Big Lube Boolit.

I'd be packing a few 500Gn boolits in my pocket if there are any bairs about, but would generally hunt with a 330-400Gn boolit.

I had a friend with an early Shikari 45/70. He used to hunt sambar (elk sized deer) with his and loaded em up full steam ahead. It kicked like a mule and her bought a lot of meat home. After a few years, his rifle was as loose as a greased goose. I started politely refusing to shoot it, expecting it to come apart one day. I haven't seen him for about 15 years, I don't know how he or the gun are going.

[Dick Dastardly]

There are three Big Lube®LLC 45-70 bullets that would serve you well for hunting.  My first choice would be the DD-45=70 390 grain RNFP design.  It flies very well out to 500 yards but is a genuine game getter inside of 200 yards.  I now have reports of shooters getting 5/8" 100 yard groups with it.  The bullet won't kill your shoulder, but it will definitely kill Elk size game with freezer filling authority.

For more thump you'd find it hard to beat the DD-45-70 500 grain semi spitzer bullet.  It'll thump your shoulder some, but it has great sectional density and a very aerodynamic ballistic coefficient.  Cast soft it will deliver great expansion and still get into the "boiler" room.

Then there's the little DD-ROA Flat.  This one drops from the mold at 210 grains and makes a great camp meat getter.  You can fill the camp stew pot by using this bullet and not shake up the woods.  I shoot it over 30 grains of FFg Holy Black, card and filler.  This also makes a great Plainsman round.

DD-DLoS

[Mason Stillwell]

Dick I like the 390 Gr. Big Lube. I shoot it all the time in my short handi rifle. Even with my damaged neck I can shoot all of these rounds I want to in a day. Still got one or two left over from my casting days.

[john boy]

Pulp, you didn't mention the maximum distance you plan to shoot the BC at.  The excellent designed Postell, Creedmoor and Saeco are proved for accuracy and have been used for decades by a multitude of BPCR shooters.  If you want a lighter bullet for 300-400yd shooting , the 385gr government bullet, Lyman 457124, has been proven to be accurate by many shooters also.

Many haven't shot the Lee 450-500-3R but when Lee screwed up Dick's 400gr mold and I sent it back, which they lost and sent me the 500gr one - it performed well in the BC out to 600yds.  Then I loaded some and shot them in my Sharps @ 1000yd.  Accurate and a low trajectory bullet - close to 10 MOA lower than the Postell or Creedmoor

[Ranch 13]

Johnboy I had trouble with that lee bullet when the range got past 400 yds, especially if there was any wind, it couldn't be counted on to stay stable, but up to that 400 yds it was a good one.

[Pulp]

It's just something I think I'd like to play with, not for competition.  I have permanent targets at 100, 200 and 250 yards on my brother's land.  Due to a deep timber filled draw, the next place I can set a target would be 'twixt 600 and 700 yards.

Actually, the majority of the shooting would be 100 yards, just trying to develop the most accurate load.