Just starting out in casting for 45-70, Pedersoli sharps. I got a 405 gr, .459dia Lee mould. Its a hollow base. Is there a prference to solid base or hollow? Also if bullets are .459 dia from mould do i still have to size them with the luber/sizer?

Most people prefer solid base, but the Lee hollow base 405gr bullets shot quite well for me. It's a pretty accurate copy of the black powder era 405gr. bullet. Was shooting an original rolling block, so kept to black powder. Most find that the hollow base bullets are not the best choices for pushing to higher/smokeless speeds.

If they fall out of the mold at .459", if they seat in the case and chamber easily in your rifle, no reason to size them at all. Depending on the alloy used, mine would cast a bit bigger than that, but still worked un-sized just fine.

I agree, the Lee 405 grain HB bullet is a good one. It is a very close copy of the original bullet. We shoot it as cast either handlubed or tumble lubed.

I cast and shot a wide range of bullets for the 45/70;from 550 grains,down to the "collar button"bullet.I never tried the hollow base,though.
My understanding is that it was for the .457 dia bullet in bores that were usually larger in diameter.The hollow base would expand into the grooves.If you shoot larger dia bullets,I don't see any advantage to the hollow base.
I also don't see any disadvantage,either.
Frank

I'm not a caster (yet), but isn't the hollowbase design dependent upon the bullet being soft (pure lead)? Velocities would be limited to 1400 fps or thereabouts?

Would linotype obturate properly with this design?

In my experience lead as hard as Linotype is too hard for most .45-70 shooting. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
I have cast hollow base Minnie balls for my .58 cal. muzzle loader from very hard lead alloy and while they had acceptable accuracy they tended to lead the barrel as they did not seal the bore.

I have used both the solid base and hollow base Lee 405 gr bullets cast from wheel weights with a bit of tin in several rifles. In some the hollow base seems a bit mor accurate, the solid base is equal to it in most rifles. Work up your loads and either will shoot well.

I'm not a caster (yet), but isn't the hollowbase design dependent upon the bullet being soft (pure lead)? Velocities would be limited to 1400 fps or thereabouts?

Would linotype obturate properly with this design?

It is not so much velocity as it is pressure. Hollow bases with heavy loads particularly with smokeless powder can blow skirt at muzzle and effect accuracy a lot. Thickness of skirt plays a roll too. Hollow bases "minnies" where real popular with muzzle loader because it allowed bullet to be a little undersized for easy loading in a dirty barrel in battle and yet expand and fit bore fairly good when shoot with good accuracy. Cleaning grooves on these minnies also helped "scarp" fouling out from previous shots so extended shooting in battle without cleaning was possible. If you ever run across a original Lyman Black Powder handbook made in mid 70's, the have some pictures of minnies leaving muzzle of different designs and load levels and you can see what happens to a hollow base bullet when pushed to hard for its design.

It is not so much velocity as it is pressure. Hollow bases with heavy loads particularly with smokeless powder can blow skirt at muzzle and effect accuracy a lot.

I'm thinking of my 45/70, which would be the main reason for me to take up bullet casting. I love shooting hard cast 405 to 430gr in the 1600 to 1800 fps range.

I have 100 lbs of linotype and can get more at little or no cost from a good friend. From Midway's catalog, RCBS has a gas check design that appeals to me, but the mould is made of steel (which probably isn't an issue, but I'd prefer aluminum). Lee has a hollow base design, but I doubt the base will flare linotype at my target velocities.

So from what you're saying, I should probably go with a gas check design?...

So from what you're saying, I should probably go with a gas check design?...

For the velocities you are suggesting I would go with gas check design.

I find the Lee hollowbase to be a good all around bullet for "low chamber pressure" loads. Now my mold casts six thousandths over when using pure lead, but casts smaller when using wheelweights. My most accurate cast bullet comes from a Lee 405 plainbase and 46 grains of 3031, it shoots into a single hole at 125 yards!

i Have both the lee 405 plain base and hollow base. I shoot both in my guide gun, loaded to 1500 FPS or so. Both are accurate and I do not size them just lube with liquid alox.