new to reloading

[musculus]

i

next thing on list find the brass cases, and plain lead projectiles.

************re-post from TD forum***********
the problem is that 99.8% to 100% of the commercial 405 grain bullets aren't worth shooting. In fact, the same percentage of "name" commercial lead bullets of ANY weight in .458 is just Pure-T crapola. If you can keep them inside 5-6 inches at 100 yards it would likely be a two shot group. The 405 in particular is not even that great of a bullet design to begin with if you cast your own perfectly, weight-sorted, etc.

There really isn't much "good" news in the "plain" cast lead bullet realm EXCEPT to MAKE (cast) YOUR OWN.

Cast Performance gas-check bullets are superb, but cost the same (or more) as jacketed bullets. Their 420 grain bullet is easily as accurate as jacketed bullets.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/198...nose-gas-check

Only exception that comes to mind is to try and contact John Flynn and see if he is still making his (superb) 500 grain spire point bullets. VERY reasonable prices and great quality. He uses soft mixture (30-1) and good lube for BP (or smokeless). His 250 grain .452's are all I shoot in .45 Colt. His website is apparently gone, but his contact information is:

cowboybullets@hotmail.com 610-761-7709

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(PS) if you want to make "BPCR" type loads, which shoot very well in a TD rifle, unless you get someone to make you really good cast bullets (like Flynn), you will have to cast your own bullets. The typical lead bullets out there are BOTH too hard and (typically) have the wrong (and/or crap) lube.

Finally, loading lead bullets over BP works a lot better if you use BPCR techniques. This means (as someone mentioned earlier), wads (veggie etc.), drop-tube, compression method/die, bullet luber (or pan lube), molds, handles, lead pot, etc. Don't forget to use some type of "blow-tube"when shooting. There is NO "convenience" in using BPCR loads.

READ THIS (and then decide if you want to go this route or simply buy some jacketed bullets and suitable smokeless powder)

http://www.bpcr.net/site_docs-result...dick_trenk.htm

[Hefights]

Embalmer, based upon my exploration into .45-70 shooting years ago, I have to agree with musculus. Back some years ago, I had no trouble finding .45-70 bullets suitable for smokeless powder loads. IMR 4759 worked great with cast bullets, and other powders like IMR 3031 worked great with jacketed bullets. If you want to shoot the 405 gr lead with smokeless powder, I would hope you could find some decent bullets with correct alloy and lube for smokeless powder, or good gas check bullets which are even better. As advised, good quality lead bullets are not necessarily that much cheaper if at all than jacketed.

If you go into BPCR shooting, then it gets complicated as musculus lays out in part II. For that game, because of the need to deal with black powder ignition and characteristics, you have to cast your own good quality bullets with a good quality bullet mold with bullet dimensions that work in your bore. You have to lube them with a suitable lube like SPG or make you own similar. Or you get lucky and find someone (like maybe this Flynn person) who makes and sells BPCR bullets that will work in your rifle.

Sounds like you are into black powder shooting already, so perhaps casting lead bullets for black powder would no big deal for you. Either way, good luck.