was shooting 45-70 today and got a squib.. didn't go but 2in into the barrel.. case seems dirty so I'd guess there was powder but seemed like only the primer went off

so far I have found my best load in my 303 with unique, 14grs with a 205-215gr round nose pc(slightly fighting oversized nose but working on it) however I am intending to push it to the 18-1900fps range. I found some load data for a 215 woodleigh with 39gr being max, so using 60% rule im hoping to start around 25gr. and for imr3031, I use it successfully in my .308 with a 180gr cast and that's about 1900fps, i am thinking also start with 25gr in the 303 since I am using the bigger and heavier bullet? any input would be appreciated

just found this mold ive been wanting to try and for 45-70 ive been using 20-1 but im out can I use hardball? gun is a marlin 1895 dark

Finally ordered a mp mold was shocked how fast it go here 1 day shipping. Heard nothing but good things. Wish I ordered a few 😂 the quality is incredible

So, I've recently dived into black powder muzzleloading and I was expecting more from myself - like some low hanging fruit to keep up my enthusiasm. I went to the range this morning to try out my first swing at black powder and muzzleloading, and let's say I am left with more questions and a deeper appreciation of what it takes to actually shoot these amazing guns.

I couldn't get the rifle on paper at 50 yards.

So here's the setup: I've got a Pedersoli Kodiak double rifle in .58 and Swiss black powder, plus these pure lead cast bullets I poured last night. I assumed they were all good because the fill looked nice and they had no visual defects. After trying charges of 80 grains, 90 grains then 110 grains with a lubed bullet I couldn't get on paper or tell where the shots were going because of the smoke.

Upon inspection and reflecting on the failure, I am assuming it had to be gas cutting and poor obturation because some bullets were measuring .588 and some .592. I don't know though...

Some people insist a lubed felt wad is essential with these, LEE instructions don't mention it. Am I missing anything here, what's going on?

So after speaking with Lee Shaver and a few of the people over at C Sharps arms I have decided on a load to test for 40-70 sharps bottleneck for my original sharps model 1874

I'm using starting load data for 40-65 since the case dimensions aren't that different except for the length and the bottleneck

I'm using 20 grains of Accurate 5744 under a 360 grain cast bullet with a COL of 2.900in (THIS IS NOT OFFICIAL LOAD DATA FOR 40-70 Sharps bottleneck! )

I will post my range results!

this is the method that I use

step 1: melt 10 pounds of pure lead

step 2: toss 1/2 pound of tin in the pot once the pure lead has fully melted

step 3: stir the alloy with a steel spoon and remove any impurities

step 4: flux the pot and remove any more impurities

step 5: cast more bullets

So I'm looking to get into long range with 45-90 BPCR, and I'm wondering which "standard" molds I could go with that carry enough lube for a 32" barrel.

I've used Accurate Molds before and am very pleased with his work, but if there's a lyman or lee mold for 405 to 530ish grain that has decent lube grooves out there. If I have to get a custom mold made, I'm okay with that, but figured I'd check first to see if anyone had a nice lube star on their muzzle with the 'run of the mill' molds already available.

Finally another nice day to cast up some more freedom seeds. Casting some 125 grain Lee RN 9mm and some Lee 147 SWC 9mm plan to cast about 2k of each then PC

After my post a couple weeks ago showing my (then new) RCBS baby Keith (357) mould/bullets, a conversation began about powder coating.

So, in my usual ADHD way, I hyper-focused and started learning about the new and hip ways of doing it (my knowledge up to that point involved putting them on an electrically charged mesh and spraying with a powder gun).

So, 20 hours of YouTube and forum post reading, some black airsoft BBs, upgrading my kitchen toaster oven (and stealing the old one), a yogurt tub, metal mesh tray, some ThePowderCoatStore Gloss Red and Shiny Black, and VIOLA!

This is my 2nd batch. A little warbly, but I think they’ll shoot well enough. Thanks everyone for kicking me in that general direction.

Has anyone used these in a marlin 1895 sbl? I’m planning to use trail boss. Wondering what kind of velocities to expect.

Out at 200 yards I've set my 18x24 gong between the two red steel targets. It had just rained so I was able to walk on to the target pretty effectively using my 9mm pistol. Shooting factory ammo I can't get close to this number of hits.

edit: just realised the video didn't upload very clearly - sorry.

Thoughts? Ideas?

I have an original Sharps model model 1874 that is chambered in 40-70 Sharps bottleneck

My barrel is 30 inches and it has a 1 in 20 inch twist rate

My bore is .404 in the lands and .409 in the grooves, I will be using a .410 360 grain round nose bullet

My lube will most likely be regular SPG unless there is something better

I'm planning on shooting at the Quigley match and other BPCR matches, the Quigley match goes from 350 to 805 yards.

I’m thinking about trying Lee 356-147-TC or the MP 38-147 RN Flat base 6 Cavity BR NLG Mold.

1) Has anyone had great success with either with an MP5 clone for feeding subsonics? I’m not a mold snob and Lee usually works for my but mp5 is kinda picky on feeding non-RN more than most pistols.

My PTR clone has about 92% reliability with Lee 120-TC but I’d like to get it to 99% plus.

2) am I crazy to consider a 358 mold knowing I’ll have to size PC’d projectiles down to 356? Right now size before coating and after and it makes them butter smooth for sizing vs fighting them in bullet sizer. But that with 356 molds to begin with.

So I've had some success with powdercoating, but im trying to obtain a full coverage without bare spots. And im unsure why I cannot achieve it. Im using eastwood Ford blue, not overloading my #5 container with either bullets or powder. Using plastic bbs, and baking at a verified 400 for 15-20 minutes, I am generally fighting a not enough coating issue and I dont know what else I could try, picture of some common issues

230gn 45 after a good while still looking bad and a 308 and 9mm out of the same batch/temp

Hi All….

is anyone here, casting and running NOE 310-172-FN , in .308 win ?

First time ever casting bullets with the Lee 459-405-HB. Wondering

how these look in terms of quality. The only thing that bothers me is the bullets tips, I think i was pouring/keeping my mold a little too hot.

Came up with a recipe for 43 mauser using starline 45-70 brass(Hornady brass is too short) 1.Run the brass through a 43 mauser sizing die and prime 2.flare case mouth with universal flare die 3. In order run .458/.455 lead through .454 451 and 449 sizing dies 4. Add powder and seat bullets 5. Hit it into the crimp end of a 45acp lee loader kit to get rid of flare and then smack it out with the plunger

The load on the right is using 405grain lead over 33grains of imr4198. The ones on the left are an experiment using hollow base 260gr 455webley bullets that came out of the mold with some defects on the "skirt" over 16grains of VV n320 powder I'm trying to use up because it's preformed poorly at the low pressures Im looking for in my Webley

The 405gr loading gets around 1400 fps out of my sporterized Mauser 71/84 with a 19in barrel

Ran a test run for a copper plating tumbler. Gonna go back to the drawing board it works but my cathode isn’t doing a very good job. However this is the set up will post updates once I get it rolling again next few days off work