I have a pedersoli business rifle in 45/70 that is keyholes with 500 gr Lee bullet. I use about 25 gr of Accurate 5744 with the bullet sized to 458 & lubed with a mixture of beeswax & lanolin. Some of the bullets are impacting the target sideways. Id like to stay with 5744. Also I have a CSharps 1885 that I cant get to shoot worth a damn. Any help is appreciated

sportslube wrote on Dec 30^th, 2011 at 11:39am:

Also actual groove diameter.  What diameter are your bullets as cast?  Are you sizing them to lube them or sizing them just because the books say to?  Have you tried pan lubing them unsized?  Tried other lubes?  Some folks have reported problems with too much lanolin in their lube.   

David

32" barrel with 1 in 18 twist

One thing I forgot to ask about...what alloy are you using? 

David

I have a Pedersoli HW in 45/70 and I could not get it to shoot with bullets cast using the Lyman 457125 mold and 20:1 alloy.   Lots of keyholes, so many that it was amusing.   I changed to a Buffalo Arms 0.459 mold at 510 gr and the problem was solved.   I size to 0.459 which means little sizing happens.    I have no experience with wheel weights but they sound hard to me.  I bought some hard cast (Laser) bullets (405 gr) a few years ago and they are not so great.   I use them when friends want to shoot the big Buffalo Gun (ligher weight bullets means less shock when they pull the trigger ).
I mostly shoot  BP but have used some smokeless.   I prefer BP.   

Try slugging or casting the bore.  I understand the Pedersoli is a bit generous in bore diameter and if I recall correctly mine was a tiny bit shy of .458.    

Dave

WW if fairly new are useless for cast bullets.  Old manuals and books that recommended Wheel Weight Recipes were written when they were mostly lead. Now even China won't buy Wheel Weights.

First thing I would do is load the rifles with standard components.  Buy pre cast bullets from a reputable supplier like Oregon Trail.  If they work you have isolated your problem.  Most used powders for 45/70 smokeless are Unique or 4759.  If the won't shoot with Oregon Trails or one of those two powders something is mechanically wrong. Two rifles same cartridge both with trouble might be a loading tool problem. 

Take the cure's one at a time to see what the trouble is.

Boats

frnkeore wrote on Dec 30^th, 2011 at 1:02pm:
I remember that guy. He lives in my house.  Bouncing up there at 600yd definitely helps em go through sideways. Long-range practice without a spotter can be tricky.

With respect to that C. Sharps 1885 that you can't get to shoot well...  I'd advise a chamber cast. I have one that had a large diameter freebore (not a long freebore, but a freebore that is a fair bit larger in diameter than the groove diameter).  Armed with this info I ordered a mould sized closer to the freebore diameter and the difference in accuracy was dramatic.   

Chris.