Reloading 45-70 Govt

Gunoholic said:

For not much more money (about $60) you can buy the LEE hand press which will accept the same generic dies that mainstream large table mounted presses take.
I have loaded 375 H+H and 416 Remington Magnum ammo with one of these presses.
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You're right about the Lee hand press. I have bought several for friends that want to get into reloading but have very limited space available to them. If push comes to shove those light/impressive presses are as true to their axis as any of their heavier table mounted counterparts. They are so good I used to use one for neck resizing when I shot Hunter Bench Rest. they are OK for full length resizing or partial resizing on standard cases but it would be quite a project to do some of the larger magnum cases.

Good for you for bringing up these little/handy gems GH.
 
Gunoholic said:

For not much more money (about $60) you can buy the LEE hand press which will accept the same generic dies that mainstream large table mounted presses take.
I have loaded 375 H+H and 416 Remington Magnum ammo with one of these presses.
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Thanks! See one of these is wholesale sports this week, wanted to do more research on it.
 
MKFrancis said:
Thanks! See one of these is wholesale sports this week, wanted to do more research on it.
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They work like a charm.
I own 5 of them.
Loaded everything from 30-30 Win to 416 Rem Mag with them.
If you get into competitive pistol shooting it'll be a tad slow. ;)
But for hunting ammo it's all you need and it's infinitely superior to the Lee Loader.
 
First you need a loading manual, and that will tell you what powders could work for your chosen application. THEN you buy the powder. Doesn't work as well the other way around.

Hodgsons has quite a bit of 45-70 load data online. That would be a good place to start. You can choose a powder to suit the bullet/velocity you are seeking. Much simple. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
 
jethunter said:
First you need a loading manual, and that will tell you what powders could work for your chosen application. THEN you buy the powder. Doesn't work as well the other way around.

Hodgsons has quite a bit of 45-70 load data online. That would be a good place to start. You can choose a powder to suit the bullet/velocity you are seeking. Much simple. http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
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Nosler load data http://www.nosler.com/nosler-load-data/45-70-gov-sao/
Alliant (formerly Hercules) http://outdoorwriters.atk.com/resource_library/catalogs/AlliantPowderCatalog.pdf
 
H4831 said:
You have been given some confusing information, including some that is certainly not my view.
Forget about trying to slug your barrel, just shoot the Bullet Barn flat base (no gas check) they sell in 405 grain weight, for a 45-70.
I have never had a Marlin barrel in either 45-70 or 44 magnum that collected any lead in them from shooting standard size cast bullets, with or without a gas check.
Cast bullets do require a bit of a flare, to allow the bullet to go in without shaving lead.
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The voice of reason. Good advice.

I reloaded for a Ruger semi auto in .44 mag for years with the simple Lee tool. Never had an issue. The book I would recommend is the one by Richard Lee - Modern Reloading. It explains the process, equipment, safety, and has all the loads you will ever need.
 
Pulled the trigger on the bullet barn .405 Grain rounds and some IMR powder! Stoked to start loading. Also invested in a Lees reloading manual.

Thanks for all the help everyone.
 
If you're going to get the Lee Hand Press, then you might as well get this instead: http://www.amazon.ca/Lee-Precision-...441744675&sr=1-9&keywords=lee+reloading+press It's the same price as the hand press but stronger with more leverage.

A 45-70 bullet will lead a bore for the same reasons any other lead bullet will cause leading: hardness, size, velocity. If you have the right bullet for your rifle and load then it won't lead. Go outside those parameters you will have leading. I have spent too much time cleaning lead out of a 45-70 bore to say more than that.

OTOH the 45-70 will shoot lead bullets all day long with no leading if you do it right, and it's easy to do it right.
 
Just picked up the Bullet Barn 405 gr flat nose. Loaded them up with IMR4198
Started at 36.5gr up to 39gr
2.550 OAL
The 36.5 gr is a good practice plinking round... The 39 gr packs a punch and is now my bear round.
Just for fun I set up 6 2x4 boards face to face and wanted to see penetration. Blew straight through and left a hell of a hole in the ground.
Gotta love the 45-70
 
Of all the rounds I reload, there is probably nothing else that comes close to the 45-70 with respect to being a "one powder" round. Using one of the 4198's I can load just about every available bullet weight from "powder puff" to "teeth jarring" without the need for wadding.
 
My go.to.powder was IMRSR4759 and the 400gr hollow point
Cast bullet I believe was a lyman mold
For.jacketed I used IMR4198 and IMR 3031
29 GR OF SR 4759 WITH THE CAST 400 put it at about 1380-1420
Fps if my memory served me from my handi rifle
 
daBear said:
Do not use Hornady Leverevolution brass expecting it to be the same as Govt. It is fact shorter than Govt as Hornady uses a proprietary bullet in the Leverevolution ammunition with the crimping groove in a slightly different location. If unsure, measure as the only marking on the brass is 'Hornady' and can be easily mistaken as Govt.
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Any issues with reloading Hornady brass with Hornady Leverevolution bullets?
 
MKFrancis said:
Hey everyone,

Just picked up a Lee's classic hand loader in 45-70 govt. (I'm not looking at buying a press etc. This is what I can afford right now and the volume ill be reloading doesn't justify it)

I have some knowledge of how to actually do the physical reloading however what I'm lacking in is the actual specifics of what powder, bullets and primers I need. Going to be getting a reloading book before I start but would appreciate any "quick start" advise. Wanting to load a 405G hunting round.

Looking at bullets at bullet barn, any idea what the difference between 45-70 RNFP SLG BB and 45-70 RNFP TLG BB is? Am I even in the right ball park? Im shooting a Marlin 1895GLB. I assume all this will be in the reloading book but hey I'm eager to order some and wanted to ask you folks.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Matt.
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I use a lee hand press and lee dies for my reloading.
It accepts standard 7/8" dies and is great for low volume operations like mine.
I use an inexpensive lee hand primer to prime and the lee case cutter and arbor sets for trimming.
My total $ investment is less than $200 for 4 calibers and I can throw the whole thing in a suitcase and take it anywhere.
Used to use the classic lee loader but the hand press is a lot better and faster.
I'm talking loading 3030 308 3006 300 win.
Getting good accurate ammo for about 1/4 the cost of factory.
 
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