45-70 guard loads.

[Jcord]

I have a .452 semi wadcutter 185 grain that i use for 45 acp. I was thinking of setting a screw in the base of one then coating it with valve lapping compound and putting it back in the mould. I could spin it with a drill to open the mould up a little. Then use my resizing die to get it 458- 459. Any thoughts on this?

[POed]

I came to this thread more than a little late, but I do have some small experience in these matters.

Though I have not, personally, lapped a mould to enlarge the cavity, I'm told by folks who have, that lapping a mould will only open it up about .0005. That's 5 ten thousandths, and not 5 thou. However, a mould for a .452 bullet will probably cast a bullet of about .453-.454. If you have a .458 size die, just bump the as cast SWCs up .004-.006. Softer lead bullets bump up easier than hard cast, but either one will work.

Just a thought, but you might get less nose deformation, on firing, by loading those SWCs butt to butt, rather than nose to butt. However, loading them nose to butt might bump them up on firing? Dunno, but it's worth a try.

I also had problems with soft lead bullets fusing to one another on firing. That was solved by inserting thin cardboard wads, made from cereal boxes, between the balls/bullets, and a wad of the same material under the bottom ball/bullet to protect the powder from becoming contaminated from bullet lube, from possibly undersized bullets.

Good luck, and let us know how this works.

[Cosantoir]

I had given some thought to ultra-cheap light loads for use in .30 and .303 caliber rifles, and found that sections of 5/16" lead wire might be an option, especially if passed through a die like the Lee cast bullet sizer. A wood chisel shouldn't have any problem making relatively clean cuts in small diameter lead wire. Fabricating a cutter, similar to the sprue-cutter on a mold, from a piece of steel or aluminum with a suitably-sized hole for the wire and a pivoting steel cutter would be very easy.

Was also looking for a cheap simple wadcutter-like bullet for creating a more effective multi-ball load for the .410 Musket cartridge used in the Indian Lee Enfield police muskets, but couldn't find anyone selling 7/16" or 27/64" lead wire. Corbin, the bullet swaging company, sells lead wire in a number of sizes, but nothing close enough to .410" to work.

Might be an option for .458" as well, if there's a source of suitable wire or round stock. 29/64"? Largest Corbin carries is .430". Smallest round stock I've seen is 5/8" though.

[barnetmill]

IIRC correctly some alloying materials used in lead will cast larger than some other alloying elements. I think it is antimony that cause a larger diameter. Does anyone here remember how that works. You maybe could paper patch the undersize balls to get good engraving of the rifling also.

[Jcord]

I really haven't had any time to experiment since I started this thread. I will say that the coyote I shot at approximately 50 yards acted as if hit in the head with a sledge hammer. All tree balls hit him with about a six inch spread. All passed through his chest cavity and exited. This is really what I was after. A load good for low light and thick brush around my cabin. Now if I can get it to feed reliably from the tube I will call it success. I haven't loaded any with a semiwadcutter for the front projectile yet. My hope is that will solve the problem with feeding.

[barnetmill]

This thread has gotten me to thinking about applying this to other calibers for close loads. Perhaps three .31 caliber balls in a .32-20 or .30 US Carbine. Could go 000 buckshot for .357. The low velocity with ball shot of low ballistic coefficient should limit the range of such loads, but at close range three multiple hits should put your target down.

[Jcord]

For the 357 i have tried 000 buck and it worked well. My favorite pest load is a cci shot capsule with number 1
buck. One or two of those then fill with number 8 shot. The load is good snake medicine and is decent on squirrels to 25 feet or so. I keep a couple in my model 49 when woods walking on my land.