Which bullet/mold for .45-75?

[wyldwylliam]

Howdy again, Gents.

I've not had any luck getting hold of some bullets to try out in my new rifle. Everybody up here in Canada wants to sell me heavy .45-70 pills, and I just had an order from Track returned at the border because it had some swaged .429's in it.

So. I'm going to take the plunge and buy a mold, looking for advice.

The two Lyman's I can buy are the 457191 which throws nominal 292 grain bullets and the Gould hp 330gr out of their 457122.

Will either or both of these work in the .45-75 '76, even if not optimal? I've had this rifle for ten days or so and I've got a burr under my blanket something fierce to get it shooting.

Thanks mucho

PS. I figure that those original  molds from Mr. Sellman are long gone?

[Buck Stinson]

Original 1876 Winchester rifles and carbine in .45-75 shoot much better with the 350 gr. bullet.  I don't know about the reproductions of this gun, but I would stay with something as close as possible to 350 gr. without going over.

Buck

[wyldwylliam]

Thanks Buck.

[larryo_1]

Well I suppose that I can put in my two bits here.  I, also, have a 45-75.  I started using BACO bullets at 350 grains but decided to get a custom mold. I now have a Hoch custom mold patterned after the original 45-75 bullet.  I use a 16:1 alloy which is what the original ammunition was.  I had been making my own alloy but have since gone to an outfit called RotoMetals and they sell ingots cast in that 16:1 alloy.  But I still cast my own.  My suggestion for you is to slug that bore before you get carried away and get bullets that may not work.  My rifle slugs at 0.457 and it likes the 0.458 size bullet.  I have played with vaarious types of smokeless but found the best results as taken from Ken Waters book on cartridges.  He states 22.0 grains of 2400 works in both the 45-60 and the 45-75.  I found that 22.0 grain load is pretty good all in all.  As far as BP is concerned--I use that Swiss 1½ as it burns lots cleaner than the other brands and seems to be more consistent.  I have had good luck with a 72.0 grain load and no wad and for the fun of it, 76.0 grains makes for a real kick in the pants.

I don't know if this helps at all lbut at least this is some stuff for you to chew on.  I do know that if you try bullets that are heavier than 350 grains you will not have what you have with what Winchester used and that is the 350 grain bullet.

[Big Zwey]

larryo-1:
Was that 22 grains from Kens book used with a 350 gr bullet or a 300 gr bullet? I plan to get a cast bullet with 20:1 at 335 gr and would like to give that 22gr recipe a try.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Wylde Bill;  The Gould mould works great, and it comes highly recommended as a hunting bullet.  I also have a special order re-print of the 457192 (350 gr.) which looks almost the same with a solid point.

[larryo_1]

That is 22.0 grains of 2400 with the 350 grain bullet.  He also states that it works well in the 45-60 with the 300 grain bullet.  I use it very effectively in my 45-75 with the 350 grain Hoch custom cast at 16:1.

[Big Zwey]

Wouldn't happen to have a drawing of the Hoch Custom Mold you used so I can order one from Hoch would ya?

[Big Zwey]

Sir Charles; Do you know if that Gould HP mold has a roll crimp ring where you can use smokless powders or if the dimensions ahead of the ring (if it has) would be correct for getting the 2.25 OAL that is needed for the 45-75?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Here is a table of all Ideal/Lyman mould designs.  Old blurry photos are from old catalogues, the CAD drawings are current products.  Scroll down to 457122.  there is no crimp groove but I seat the top band outside the case for .45-70 in my BLR/SRC and crimp in the top groove.  In my Chapparal NWMP in .45-75 I crimp over the top band with converted .348 cases over BP.

http://www.three-peaks.net/bullet_molds.htm

[Big Zwey]

Thanks Sir Charles;I wonder if you know what the dimension is for this bullet sticking out of the case when you crimp just behind the last ring as you do for your 45-70. I have to have an OAL of 2.25" to cycle good in the Uberti Mdl 1876 chambered for the 45-75 Win. My goal is to be able to use this bullet for 45-75 Win using smokeless powder and land on that critical 2.25" OAL.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Thanks Sir Charles;I wonder if you know what the dimension is for this bullet sticking out of the case when you crimp just behind the last ring as you do for your 45-70. I have to have an OAL of 2.25" to cycle good in the Uberti Mdl 1876 chambered for the 45-75 Win. My goal is to be able to use this bullet for 45-75 Win using smokeless powder and land on that critical 2.25" OAL.

My NWMP Chapparal will accept 2.35" oal. My LEE dies make a very tight crimp.

You would have to crimp OVER the front band, I think.

[Big Zwey]

Thanks Sir Charles and all others who added valuable info. I am going to get a box of 50, 457122 bullets from Western bullet co and try them out with a few of the loads from the article "Shooting with Hobie" He speaks highly of the Lee Pacesetter 3 Die Set mainly because it has that FCD Die that does a good tight seating that Sir Charles likes as well. I will have the Uberti 1876 45-75 WCF in hand on Wed. Cant wait to get started. Western Bullet Co has several bullets besides the 457122 that may work good. After I slug the barrel, I'll decide which ones for certain to try before I think about getting any moulds. Now all I have to do is wait for Jamison to get into production on the 45-75 WCF brass. Called them the other day and they said 2-3 mos till their 1st run, so I am stuck with paying a high price to get 20 or so Bertrams for now just to do my testing.
Thanks again all!

[wyldwylliam]

Thanks to all you guys, great stuff. I'm going to order the Gould. I was kinda worried about the nose getting all bashed up using soft lead, but I'm thinking that if that happens, I might just be able to grind off the top punch and cast them as solids.

Also, if you think Bertram is dear down in the States, I paid $5 a piece for them up here in the Far Frozen.

Btw, should I anneal the case mouths do you think?

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

Thanks to all you guys, great stuff. I'm going to order the Gould. I was kinda worried about the nose getting all bashed up using soft lead, but I'm thinking that if that happens, I might just be able to grind off the top punch and cast them as solids.

Also, if you think Bertram is dear down in the States, I paid $5 a piece for them up here in the Far Frozen.

Btw, should I anneal the case mouths do you think?

Try MidSouth
Shooters supply.  They ship moulds to Canada, and their prices are very competative

[larryo_1]

Big Zwey:
I am not too sharp when it comes to posting pics on this site but can do one better than that.  The man's name is Dave Farmer and his address is: Colorado Shooters Supply, Hoch Custom Bullet Molds, 910 N. Delaware, Roswell, NM 88201.  The web site is Hochmolds.com.  If you decide to get one be sure that you ask for both the mold and the handles.  The mold that I have is a copy of the old Lyman 457192 mold.  My mold number is "C6491".  He puts ID numbers on all his molds so there is probably data on the one that I have on file there.  Also, again, if you do decide to get one be sure to ask for the "As cast diameter".  I specified 0.459" and told him that I wanted it to cast 350 grains with a 20:1 alloy.  I use 16:1 and it still casts in that weight range so there is no problem with either alloy.  Also his molds are "Nose" pour and they really are nice bullets.  That is all that I use.  I got my picture out of an old Lyman cast bullet handbook so if you have access to one that is where you will find the picture like what I have.  The only other thing that is worth mentioning is that you should slug your barrel to get the proper bore diameter before ordering.  Hope this will help.

[Sir Charles deMouton-Black]

RCBS handles can be adapted to the Hoch nosepour moulds by drilling one clearance hole. If Hoch sells handles at a reasonable price, that would be Plan A. Later this week I can get pictures of my adapted RCBS handles.

[wyldwylliam]

Many thanks, Pards.

[w44wcf]

 For those that want to cast their own and / or for others...

Lou Sellman still has some of the Lyman 457192 .45-75 molds available.  
Lyman had made a run of that obsolete 45-75 mold for him a few years ago.



Here is his current contact information......

Lou Sellman
2003 Ewings Mill Rd
Coraopolis, PA 15108
412-264-1359      

w44wcf

[wyldwylliam]

Thanks a lot for that, I figured they'd for sure be long gone.