Best General Purpose Bullet Weight for 45-70

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  • Last Post 12 October 2025
Idahocaster posted this 31 July 2025

I will soon have a handy rifle in 45-70. I have reloading dies and cases, but no bullet molds. What weight cast bullet would you recommend as a general purpose bullet for the 45-70? By general purpose I mean mostly plinking and recreational shooting with a possibility of being used as a deer hunting bullet in the future.

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RicinYakima posted this 31 July 2025

I really like the 400/405 weight for multipurpose use. I load 12 grains of Unique for plinking and 24 grains of SR4759 for hunting. 

Issue is the light weight, as my 500/550 match loads will kick you into tomorrow with a Handi. 

FWIW, Ric

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Eddie Southgate posted this 31 July 2025

Like Ric I shoot more 405's than anything else but I mostly hunt with mine . Were I going to target shoot with the occasional deer I would probably buy a Noe 360-317-RF-AV3 4 cavity RG4 PB mold while he still has a few . It's a nice light bullet with enough thump for average size deer and comes with two HP pins , Cup Point pin and a flat pin for solids. They got a going out of business sale of 30% off of $160.50 normal cost . 

Grumpy Old Man With A Gun......Do Not Touch .

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Aaron posted this 31 July 2025

I have to agree with the previous posts. A 400ish grain bullet would be my choice if I were to have only one mold for the rifle. Having said that, the 330gr Gould Express Bullet (a hollow point bullet) is hard to beat for deer hunting. Lyman 457122.

Lyman Single Cavity Cast Bullet Mould produces Lyman Rifle bullet #457122, .458" nominal diameter, 330 grain, Flat Nose, Hollow Point bullet. This is the famous 45-330 Gould Express bullet designed by John Barlow, founder of Ideal. Made for Mr. Gould, editor of Shooting and Fishing. Great reputation as a killer of large game. Superior performance in all 45 cal cartridges. (Hollow point). Top Punch #191, Item#LYM2786701. Approximate Bullet Dimensions: Bullet Length-.906", Bottom of Crimp Groove to Bullet Nose-.460", Meplat-.283".

Handloader Article

 

With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.

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longhunter posted this 31 July 2025

I had a Ruger #3 in 45-70.  A pleasure to hunt with. Leopold  1.5-7 I think.  I used the Lyman 300 gr. Bullet. Plenty for deer.

Some  bigger game, the 405 is a good choice.

Jon

Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.

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Boschloper posted this 01 August 2025

There is a good article on the 45-70 in the 1973 Gun Digest (if you can find one), I think John Amber wrote it. He covers weights from under 200 to over 500 and what they are useful for. 

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oscarflytyer posted this 01 August 2025

With my first Marlin, I started with the Lee 405 HB and TD load (38.5 gr of I-3031).  Mild/sweet shooting/RN - but, punched thru a deer's shoulders broadside - drt.  I would have never deviated, except I am a huge Ranch Dog fan, and the Marlins, and ran into a pair of RD molds - 300 and 350.  Not tried the 350 on deer, but...  expect it would work great and what I will use if it does.  Will also say that one or two of my now 45-70s may not care for the Lee 405 RN...

 

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Lee Guthrie posted this 01 August 2025

I have the following moulds for 45-70:

Lyman 457122-1  330gr  Gould HP

Lyman 457191-1  292gr  PB  FN       

NEI      405458-2  400gr  SP  GC      

NEI      455458-1  455gr  FNGC      

NEI      458500-1  500gr  FNGC

RCBS  458??-2     300gr  FNGC

RCBS  457405-2  405 gr  FNGC

???       458??       400 gr   FN

I've used several of these moulds on deer, but primarily the 300 gr FP and 330 gr Gould HP.  Out of a Ruger #1 or a TC Contender the recoil from the heavier bullets is SUBSTANTIAL.  Target shooting with the heavier bullets requires light loading unless you are into pain.  

The 330 gr Gould HP was created by Ideal way over a 100 years ago for hunting (factory ammo was denominated as "Express" loads).  

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Glenn R. Latham posted this 01 August 2025

In my Siamese Mauser I have had the best accuracy with the RCBS 45-405-FN (gc). Tried the Lee 340 a little and cut a 325 gr mold that looks a lot like an LBT LFN. Neither of the lighter bullets shot as well as the RCBS which weighs about 425 from WWs.

Glenn

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JeffinNZ posted this 01 August 2025

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Boschloper posted this 02 August 2025

Thanks Jeff for posting the article. I have the book but no way to scan it.

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tlkeizer posted this 18 September 2025

Greetings,

This is actually for Idahocaster.

I have had real good luck with a 405 grain hollow base bullet by Lee Molds.  I usually use 55 grains FF black Powder, CCI 200 primer, SPG pan lubed.  I shoot 2 original trapdoors, one  prefers 500 grain bullet with 70 grains powder, the other 405 grain bullet with 55 grains powder; you can probably figure out which my shoulder prefers.  With original sights I can regularly place 5 shots in under a palm sized group, providing my eyes cooperate; I also swab the bore with a spit patch and dry patch between shots when trying for groups.  I also shoot hardened bullets by dropping them into a large kettle with water and snow as I normally cast during the winter (not hard to do up here in Alaska).

I know this is a bit late, but just got back on the site.  If you call up my name you will find a number of tracks from when I was doing more shooting with the 45-70s and getting them to shoot well.  Also, I have never had much success with good groups using lighter bullets.  Tried a few from friends, but never much success on desired accuracy.  So, stuck with molds on hand.  I have a 440 grain mold I had made that gives good results as I wanted more than 405 and less than 500, and a good meplate.

Good luck, hope to read of good success.

TK

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tlkeizer posted this 18 September 2025

Oh, the above post did not list shooting at 100 yards.

TK

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Bud Hyett posted this 18 September 2025

I have twelve .45 caliber rifle molds and many years of shooting them. I started with the Lyman 335 grain Gould Hollowpoint mold that was very accurate. Ed Doonan made a second plug for this mold that eliminated the hollowpoint. We shot both versions in mainly Marlin 1895 and Siamese Mausers. 

I agree with the one mold choice of the RCBS 45-405-FN. I'll add the RCBS 45-300-FN and 45-325-FNU, preferring the plain-base 325 grain bullet since I also shoot it in the 1876 .45-60. The RCBS molds are double cavity and you get more bullets faster plus they shoot as well as the Lyman 335 grain Gould bullet..

For black powder competition at 600 yards, I shoot the SAECO 1881 bullet. It take several minutes more elevation than the heavier semi-pointed bullets, however I score better with this bullet. All the heavier bullets show great accuracy at 100 yards in testing, but the scores are higher with the SAECO 1881 bullet. 

Farm boy from Illinois, living in the magical Pacific Northwest

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hporter posted this 19 September 2025

I smiled when I read the Op's post about the Handi Rifle.  I had the factory fit a half dozen barrels to my Handi, one of them a 45-70.  The first time out I took some 500 grain BP loads that I shot in my Shiloh Sharps.  That was an eye opener!

I have a bunch of 45 rifle molds, but for the Handi - it is the collar button with a pinch of Bullseye that gets shot the most!

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Bryan Austin posted this 19 September 2025

45-70-405, ever since 1873

44-40 Website -https://www.44-40.org

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creeker posted this 07 October 2025

I used the RCBS 45-405-FN clone Walt Melander cut for me. If I needed to choose one that would be it. I also use the RCBS 45-300-FN some. You Handi will be a handful with anything over 1200FPS using a 400 grain bullet.

Lynn Halstead

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Idahocaster posted this 11 October 2025

Thanks everyone for your input! I have decided on a 405 grain bullet for the time being. Hopefully I will pick up the rifle next weekend. I'll let everyone know how it goes after I get a chance to shoot it!

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Bryan Austin posted this 12 October 2025

405, same as Little Bighorn!!

44-40 Website -https://www.44-40.org

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RicinYakima posted this 12 October 2025

Love reading old shooting and hunting magazines. After the Gould 330 grain HP was introduced, there was a storm and fury for about 20 years. Eastern deer hunters backed the 330 grain for faster knock down so another hunter would not claim the deer. Western hunters who also hunted elk preferred the 405 grain for side to side penetration through both shoulders.  The 500 grain bullet was strictly a military long range deal as it came out after the buffalo hunts were all over. 

Having been a 45/70 fan for many years, I now just cast Lyman's #457193, the bullet they developed for the Marlin lever gun in the 1880's. Good for every rifle you will ever own. 

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Premod70 posted this 12 October 2025

Shooting a light rifle for pleasure and also hunting deer the 330 grain Gould would be my choice. The bullet was designed to work at slow speeds such as 1200fps cast soft for bullet integrity, doesn't need the brutal forces to get the job done plus accurate as any.

Dale Flinchum

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