45-70 no ignition

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GcG166

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Finally able to get back to casting and loading for my 45-70. Got out today with some low power loads with 350gr projtiles and h335. Loaded a few different loads to test. First was loaded with 48gr. Pulled the trigger and click... then ejected a casing with unburned powder and had the bullet half way down the barrel. What would be the first thing i should do from here? What could o chamge for the next test?

Another note, when i pushed the bullet out of the barrel the rest of the way it seemed easier than i expected. Ised a wooden dowel and was able to just push it out by hand with a reasonable amount of force. Didn't fall out of the barrel but i wasnt strugling to push it. Is that normal? I expected to have to tap the end of the dowel to get it out
 
How many grains of h335? If the load is too light the powder might not build enough pressure to get a good burn.

What kind of alloy are the bullets cast from and what diameter?
 
44gr

Not to sure on the alloy. Im new to casting. Its lead i was tomd is pure lead and i didn't add anything. I think my bullets are coming out to be 0.458 but i will have to double check on that.

Also if you have any other tips that would be great
 
I'm not familiar with h335 in 45-70. Seems surprising you didn't get any ignition at all. The powder was clean, not contaminated or wet? Bad primer? I don't have a good explanation. I'd be tempted to try it again.

Pure lead might be softer than you need for 45-70 but would be ok under 1000fps. I use medium hard bullet of roughly the same hardness as wheel weights, with .459" cast bullets in 45-70, with a good crimp. Crimp should aid ignition too.

If you're using very light loads a faster powder might burn better. I really like imr4198 in 45-70 and it downloads well.
 
I did some Googling and it seemed popular for it. Maybe not the best Choice? I doubt it was wet. Just bought both the powder and primers. There was a little burn on the powder possibly but im not sure as most of it dumped onto the ground.

What could i add to make the lead harder? Other than wheel weights. Id like to go a little faster than 1000fps but my mould isnt for gas checked bullets so im limed by that as well.
 
I've had the exact same thing happen twice in two .45-70's in about 15 years of reloading for the .45-70. Both cases were with H-4198, moderate loads, cold weather. I switched to a magnum primer and haven't ever seen it since.

Chris.
 
Ball powder is hard to ignite.

You should add 5 more grains of powder, use a magnum primer and apply a good crimp. That will ignite that powder.

You would be better off with a stick powder like 4198, or 3031.
 
Ganderite said:
You should add 5 more grains of powder...
You would be better off with a stick powder like 4198, or 3031.
Click to expand...

5 more grains i think i may end up with issues leading the barrel. Ill give it a try and see what happens. I have the powder now so ill do some experimenting with it amd see if i can get something working. Ill get some 4198 afyer this pound of powder and stuck with that
 
GcG166 said:
5 more grains i think i may end up with issues leading the barrel. Ill give it a try and see what happens. I have the powder now so ill do some experimenting with it amd see if i can get something working. Ill get some 4198 afyer this pound of powder and stuck with that
Click to expand...

Your powder is a poor choice for your bullet. Pure lead is not much good unless you are very particular about fit to your particular gun and even then only modest velocity is suitable.
 
Good suggestions here to get you on the path to good ignition. Without having more details I make a few basic recommendations. Be careful handling primers. They tend not to like oils or moisture. 4198 works well and I found it very reliable. Magnum primers are good suggestion too.
Are your boolits gas checked? Lubed/powder coated?

cheers,
 
Northern Amateur said:
Good suggestions here to get you on the path to good ignition. Without having more details I make a few basic recommendations. Be careful handling primers. They tend not to like oils or moisture. 4198 works well and I found it very reliable. Magnum primers are good suggestion too.
Are your boolits gas checked? Lubed/powder coated?

cheers,
Click to expand...

Modern primers are incredibly resilient. You can soak them in oil for a week and they will still go off. Touching them won't affect them in any way.
 
With any reduced load I have found it necessary to have a heavy crimp so the powder gets a chance to build up pressure before the bullet leaves. A magnum powder helps.
 
The Hodgdon 2019 Annual Reloading manual shows lots of suitable loads for 45-70 using H335. 54-60 grains for 400 grainers, 63-66 grains for 325 grain bullets.
Like others here, H4198 & IMR4198 is a better choice. I'm using a medium hard cast 340 grain RNFP powder coated bullet sized to .459 & employing LEE's factory crimp die.
 
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B said:
Modern primers are incredibly resilient. You can soak them in oil for a week and they will still go off. Touching them won't affect them in any way.
Click to expand...

Thats new under the sun..just went and tried it - one drop of oil - loaded in a 45-70 case and no bang.... I do not buy this out at all.... primer are sensitive to all contaminants... so guys..go test this by yourself...easy.

Books - reloading manual - manufacturers back to 1900 says not to handle them by hand..They should know a thing or two about their products...

Stop emulating Trump...
 
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Janeau said:
Thats new to me...just went and tried it - one drop of oil - loaded in a 45-70 case and no bang.... I do not buy this out at all.... primer are sensitive to all contaminants... so guys..go test this by yourself...
Click to expand...

That's definitely odd. I have done it myself plenty of times. Lots of articles on the web too.

I went and tried it with RWS and Russian large rifle primers. ATF, WD-40 and 10W-40 didn't kill any of them. You shouldn't handle primers because they contain a lead based chemical, beyond that your hands aren't going to affect anything.
 
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Well something not working here..just tested it..and they are flat dead..Butch gun oil.. Fed 210 Mag...oiled - one drop - pressed on the oil drop with my finger - loaded and clic.. 45-70..5 in a row..

Was thinking you were making a joke and fell stupid to check it out..

I shoot benchrest with a 6BR and I can tell you that just the seating pressure applied when seating a primer does have an effect..imagine oil or anything else.

For the OP..check if your primers are seated properly...bottomed - not crushed either.
 
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