I'm a .45-70 Newbstick... need some advice!!

Hungry

Hungry

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Super GunNutz
Rating - 100%
976   0   0
Location
Georgian Bay, ONT
Okay, I've been reloading bottle neck cases for over 30 years now and I needed a new horizon so I'm reloading for a .45-70 .....

FL sizing the .45-70 is easy. Priming the .45-70 case is straightforward. Belling the case mouth... I am getting better, but still need some pointers here.

Seating a bullet? Now this is where I :eek: collapsed several of the necks while attempting to load some Hornady 300 gr JHP bullets.

What am I doing wrong? How can I improve?

Any advice with this dilemma is useful...

Cheers,
Barney
 
Is your seating die set to apply a crimp too? I had the same problem of collapsing necks and had to back the seating die out until it stopped happening. I apply crimp with a dedicated Lee crimp die

Cheers
YRMV
 
I'm using a 3 die Hornady set. I believe that the seater die also applies a crimp. The bullet is jacketed. Smooth edges on the bottom of the bullet. I'm spoiled by VLD bullets with boat tails.

I should not have to lube the case mouth, should I?

Cheers,
barney
 
Have you bevelled the inside/outside of the case mouth? The amt. of flare is enough so it still will enter the bullet seating /crimp die............Harold

Hungry Here: That might be part of it... I'm going to sleep on it and then try gently beveling the case mouth. It cannot hurt.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Perhaps you are not setting your expander die correctly and not applying enough "bell" to the case mouth and thus collapsing your cases, I cant help with the hornady dies set I have the Lyman set, I just followed the instructions and it worked like a charm. Do they collapse as soon as you start seating or later as you get into the operation (right around when the crimp gets applied) if later on maybe you need to back off the seating die.....again not sure how the Hornady die is adjusted....my seating die is backed off a fair bit because I dont' crimp for my 45-70 Bolt gun.
 
Last edited:
Sounds like too much crimp. First ensure all cases are the same length as this will affect the crimp. I expand/bell the mouth JUST enough to get the bullet to sit/start in the case.
I also seat the bullet and crimp in two separate operations but use the same die. It takes a little longer but I get very good consistent results. Crimp just enough to firmly hold the bullet, I shoot lead which has a cannelure out of my Guide Gun. Heavy loads need to be secure as recoil can be stout and rounds to a mag tube will be bouncing into each other. If they are too loose the cartridge length will be effected.

James
 
All good advice....

I will sit down this afternoon and readjust my seater die according to all this sound help/advice. Thanks a million! I'll get back to you..... :D
 
Okay my .45-70 lovers:

It's all solved :D :dancingbanana:

Problem # 1:

I belled out the case mouth so much that it was contacting (adversely) on the upstroke of the bullet seating process. You experts warned me to be on the look out for some case mouth brass bending OUTWARDS. I found the culprit so I reduced the bell, just enough to get the 300 gr Hornady Jacketed HP settled for the bullet seater.

Problem # 2:

I had the seater die screwed down WAY too low, resulting in a crushed neck area after the bullet was started neatly 360 degress, so I backed it off/upwards a few turns. Then as I lowered the handle and raised the ram, the bullet seating process was sweet'ened. :D

Once I had the canellure where I wanted it, I began to back off the bullet seater stem progressively as I lowered the bullet seating barrel to achieve the right amount of crimp.

Have a look at the picture:




Conclusion:

This is one super helpful community. I've learned over the past 8 years that respect really gets you respect and I've received it back to me in kind. Thanks to all of you.

Too bad we still have a few (not a few dozen) ass-hats on here who ruin things for wonderfully helpful hobbyists such as yerselves!! :D

So after all that fuss, it really was a die adjusting learning curve that I had to go through. I am really excited learning new things! :)

I have many of you to be thankful for !

Cheers and warm regards

Barney :evil:
 
Here is another piece of advise.

While I am not a fan of most LEE products their Factory Crimp Die is the cat's ass for crimping 45-70 cartridges.
 
1) You should need almost no flare to seat a jacketed bullet. Do you flare your bottleneck cartridges to seat the bullets? I know I don't. Flaring is really for cast bullets to avoid shaving lead as the bullet goes in.

2) Try seating the bullet and crimping in two separate operations. To do that, you set the seating die body up high enough that it doesn't crimp at all and seat all the bullets that way. You then pull the bullet seater up high enough to get it out of the way (or take it out completely), then re-adjust the seating die body to apply the crimp.

3) The Lee factory crimp die is absolutely the best thing going for crimping straight walled cases without buckling the brass. I have one for .44 Mag and it is indespensable.

Mark
 
Always seat and crimp in a seperate operation. to do this put an empty case in the ram and raise it TDC, then screw the die in until it just touches the case and then lock it down. you can then adjust seating depth without the crimp shoulder pushing down on the case. to crimp just back off the seater stem and then lower the die in the press slightly, a bit at a time until it is giving you the crimp you want. Also before that give the case mouth enough flare to "just " accept a bullet. seat slowly, as soon as you feel the bullet enter the case back it off and rotate the case 180deg, seat a bit more, back off and rotate again , finish seating it. these few things will solve your problem.
 
I slightly flare all my cases with cast and jacketed, but only enough to get the bullet started.

The Lee FCD is the best way to go for crimping the 45-70 rounds. However if you do a seat/roll crimp combo, here is a good way to set it up:

Screw in the seating/crimp die until it touches the shell holder, then take it out 3-4 full turns. Use a empty piece of brass to check and make sure the crimp portion is not touching. Seat a bullet to the proper depth, then unscrew the bullet seating adjustment all the way out. Screw the die in a 1/2 turn at a time until you get the right amount of crimp and lock the die in that position. With the press ram all the way up and a round in the die, screw in the bullet seating adjustment until it touches the top of the bullet. Lock this in place. Now, every following round will be properly seated and crimped in one quick operation.
 
Just got back from the range. I'm shooting with iron sights. No scope yet for this Marlin GG. I loaded up 5 rounds of .45-70, just blasting and plinking loads.

I used 11.5 grs. of W231 pistol powder, Winchester Large Rifle primer and a Hornady 300 gr Jacketed HP. Wow... was this load ever fun! Hardly any kick, big noise and shoots high (point of aim). I began bumping off clay birds on the slope of the 100 m backstop. :D

I'm not hunting with this baby... that's the job for my .308's... This GG is for shzts and giggles. :evil:

Cheers,
Barney
 
Welcome aboard!

Now you need three things:

- 500+ gr cast bullets;
- H4198, Re7 and/or H322 (or WC-735) powder; and
- a Lyman neck Sizing Die.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom