Yeah, there's a reason that soft points are generally used in hunting. 
Amazing that a 45-70 made it through 14" of hard wood!
Amazing that a 45-70 made it through 14" of hard wood!
Shooting hard cast lead... it really is hard!
So, about 2 years ago I started shooting hard cast lead bullets out of my various cowboy guns. Its cheap, gets failry good accuracy, and l have never gotten leading in my bores from it.
Last week, I helped a freind of mine build a berm on his farm. It was made from a bunch of locust trees that we felled from his property. If you hae never had the joys of cutting and carring locust - it is a very heavy, dense wood. It literally eats chainsaw blades. We were able to get about 10 cuts though 12 - 16 inch trees before needing to swap blades for sharp ones. Afterwards, we did a little shooting. I was using my 45-70 shooting 450 grain hard cast lead at about 1700 - 1800 FPS from an old Marlin lever gun.
After the shooting, we went to go check out the back of the berm we made. Some of those hard casts cut through the berm. I recovered one bullet that was sticking out of a 14 inch log. It went through the center of the log. It was not deformed. The nose of the bullet was still round.
I had been considering using these bullets as hunting bullets. But they are simply too hard. It would pass right through a deer, and would not expand enough for bear. Thats it for me for hard cast bullets - at least in my 45-70.
Zach
Last week, I helped a freind of mine build a berm on his farm. It was made from a bunch of locust trees that we felled from his property. If you hae never had the joys of cutting and carring locust - it is a very heavy, dense wood. It literally eats chainsaw blades. We were able to get about 10 cuts though 12 - 16 inch trees before needing to swap blades for sharp ones. Afterwards, we did a little shooting. I was using my 45-70 shooting 450 grain hard cast lead at about 1700 - 1800 FPS from an old Marlin lever gun.
After the shooting, we went to go check out the back of the berm we made. Some of those hard casts cut through the berm. I recovered one bullet that was sticking out of a 14 inch log. It went through the center of the log. It was not deformed. The nose of the bullet was still round.
I had been considering using these bullets as hunting bullets. But they are simply too hard. It would pass right through a deer, and would not expand enough for bear. Thats it for me for hard cast bullets - at least in my 45-70.
Zach
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a high shoulder shot with those would decimate both shoulder sockets and maybe pierce the heart. but unless your marlin is a sub 4" gun at whatever range you hunt, i wouldnt go for it.
oh, and can you cast hollow points?
oh, and can you cast hollow points?
I don't have a mold for 45-70 hollow points, but they are easy to cast.TheGreg said:a high shoulder shot with those would decimate both shoulder sockets and maybe pierce the heart. but unless your marlin is a sub 4" gun at whatever range you hunt, i wouldnt go for it.
oh, and can you cast hollow points?
I have not had a chance to touch any of my guns since mid june. Need more days in a weekend or somehting like that. Its stupid really. My freind is a teacher with a farm 10 miles from me. Ever year we say we will meet once a week to shoot and keep in practice. Every year I will get there maybe twice in the summer. *sigh*
Zach
I hear that hard cast has to saty under around 1800 fps to stay accurate. Do you make any other bullets?
I want to get a lee 7mm cast...it looks cool, I already have a propane stove and old pot -- Lee loader and measure's, scale.
I want to get a lee 7mm cast...it looks cool, I already have a propane stove and old pot -- Lee loader and measure's, scale.
Take a drill bit to the end of the lead bullets?
Ghetto hollow points FTW!
Seriously though, I will have to control myself tomorrow from buying a Marlin Lever in 45-70. I really really want one. Perfect gun for hunting hog.
Ghetto hollow points FTW!
Seriously though, I will have to control myself tomorrow from buying a Marlin Lever in 45-70. I really really want one. Perfect gun for hunting hog.
so has anyone ever smelted up lead in a spoon forcast?
1 - 7 of 7 Posts
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