Mold for 45-60

[Bonanza69]

Hi,
i am looking for a mold for my new Uberti 1876 in 45-60.Can somebody give me an advice?RCBS 300 or 325,or something else?

[black river smith]

I would stay with the original Lyman 457191 - 300 grain(actual 292 grain) bullet. It was Winchesters originally designed grain weight for the 45-60. Going to the larger 325 or 350 grain bullet size, which is meant for the 45-75, will require you to cut your brass even shorter than the 45-60 length of 1.89". You still have to maintain the OAL of the cartridge at 2.25" for cartridge lifter to work properly.

Another option is to watch for an Original Winchester mold on Ebay.

Neither of these two bullet molds have a crimp groove, if that makes a big difference to you. If you want or need the crimp groove, I would then look at Accurate molds. I would stay within the 290(something shaped like the 45-290H), 295 or 300 grain range. The bullet length become significant to getting to the 2.25" OAL.

If you need the Lyman 457191 and /or Winchester bullet overall lengths, as a guiding factor, let me know and I will measure my cast bullets.

Do not know what the RCBS 300 grain bullet looks like.

PS -- Here read through this link of 11 pages to see if it can give you an idea of what types of bullets to use. https://www.cascity.com/forumhall/index ... ic=36384.0 Yes it does go to a different website forum.

BRS

[veeman]

I use Accurate molds for my 45/60, the 46-350DL and the 46-305C. I use these bullets in all three of my 45 rifles, 45/60, 45/70, and 45/75. My 45/60 really prefers the 350 grainers. I do not have to trim my brass shorter for these bullets.

[Shasta]

The Lyman 457191 292 gr. is the original .45-60 bullet, but being designed for black powder it has no crimp groove. The RCBS 45-300-FN shoots best in my .45-60, but does require the use of very expensive gas checks. The Accurate 46-300B is a 300 gr. plain base with a crimp groove and is the primary bullet I use. It is plenty good for my chosen sport of NRA Lever Action Silhouette.

Shasta

[black river smith]

Well shoot when I posted my first response, I did not look at the drawing of that 45-290H to see that the diameter was the WRONG 45 at 0.452". Sorry about that. Did not think about the higher diameter being listed as a 46-XXXX.

So I went back into Accurate catalog and found what I should have quoted in their 46-292L or LP bullet design.

Again sorry.

As far as Veeman's comment about not having to trim his brass when using a 350 grain bullet, I am surprised. I thought I read posting in there and on that site, back in the beginning days, that any weight past 320's need to have brass trimmed. I do know that some went even up to 405's. Pitchy who posts here, use to post over there in the general 1876 forum section, when he first got his 1876, talked about trimming brass down to make it work with bullets he tried. Veeman(King) how did you get so lucky with that 350 grain?

[veeman]

Easy, the crimp groove on both bullets is in the same place., more lead below the crimp groove on the 350, same amount on top.

[black river smith]

Here was a posting I found from back in 2007 about the RCBS 325 grain bullet. Don't know if this is the mold you have but...

"In both my 45-75 and my shooting pardner's 45-60 we are using the RCBS 45-325-FN-U bullet with good results with both black powder and smokeless.

Out of No. 2 alloy, this bullet drops from my mould at 335 gr +/-.

When crimped in the crimping groove this bullet gives an overall cartridge length of 2.250" in both cartridges.

The RCBS two cavity mould produces bullets at a pretty good rate to support both of our shooting habits."

[Bonanza69]

Thanks for the infos.I will order the RCBS 45-300 FN,it‘s the only one in stock here in europe and the price is ok.What alloy you will use with a gc?I will use 5744.

[Shasta]

I cast my RCBS 45-300-FN bullets using wheel weight lead with 2% tin added. The bullet registers as "7" on a Saeco Lead Hardness Tester, which is about 10.7 BHN. The load velocity is in the 1,400 fps range. I am not getting any barrel leading at all, but it is a fairly slow velocity.

Shasta