45-70 Reloading Options

tony72cutlass's'

tony72cutlass's'

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Dear All,

I have just acquired my first double rifle (Baikal MP-221 in 45-70) and would like to get into reloading. I've had alot of great feedback from members on here and would like to condense all the good information into one thread

Is a Lee Classic Loader in 45-70 a bad first start to reloading? It's the kit where all that is needed is a hammer and the reloading components. It's only 42 bucks on amazon canada!

41bgukETiYL.jpg


So far i'm hearing that i should stay away from hornady brass (since it's shorter for some reason) and to go with a heavier bullet.

Please share any experiences and tips.

Thanks,

-Tony
 
I cast a few bullets for my 45/70 and I plink with it like it's a .22 so I would have gotten a single stage press at least. Make a few boxes with this one, make it worth it and then you will want to move up.

I'm considering buying the conversion kit for my Dillon 650.
 
A cheap way is the lee C press. They're about $50. The lee loaders work but you will soon hate that hammer. I use the breach lock 50th anniversary press. Love it.
The anniversary kit gives you everything but the dies to start loading. Once you start casting your own slugs a press may help if you want to lube size them
 
My first reloading kit was a Lee Loader in 303 Brit about 45 years ago. They are (were) great kits to start with. However, once you realize how much fun it is (and how much you can save) to load you'll eventually have to get a press, scales, dies........etc, etc. Best of luck with becoming a loader.
 
If you only need to reload just a few shells a year, and aren't too concerned about accuracy it might be ok.

Otherwise, do yourself a favor and invest in a decent single stage press. If you're patient, you'll surely find a RCBS Rock Chucker in a yard sale or local kijiji / craigslist. Sometimes in the EE as well.

The Hornady brass is shorter in order to work with their LEVERevolution bullets, as the FTX bullet is longer than a standard lead bullet. You can also buy standard brass and shorten it to work with the FTX.

Before you buy anything, I'd suggest you invest in 1 or 2 good reloading handbooks and read the how-to section. That might influence what you buy.
 
What reloading handbooks do you guys suggest? there is a couple of them out there.

my father is a huge reloader, i've been watching him do it since i was a kid, so i really would like to get into it.

The Lee single stage press is 180$ on amazon, do RCBS and other dies work with a Lee press??
 
tony72cutlass's' said:
What reloading handbooks do you guys suggest? there is a couple of them out there.

They are all pretty good, hornady, nosler, speer, sierra.

The Lee single stage press is 180$ on amazon, do RCBS and other dies work with a Lee press??

Look around on places other then amazon and you might get a better deal.
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As for hornady brass being shorter it is because it is loaded with their fix bullets and needs to be trimmed shorter.
 
I shoot gas checked bullet barn 390gr in mine with H335 and federal GM215M primers ( its the primers I use in my others so...)

I strongly suggest you get a good kit with a strong press. dont just get the cheapest kit and replce it later. buy once cry once.
I hate lee dies like *** because seating stem dont lock in place. now redding is prety much what I go for.

dies have standard thread ( 7/8 NF ), but some press like forster CO-AX or Hornady lock and load require there own locking rings.
 
tony72cutlass's' said:
Dear All,

I have just acquired my first double rifle (Baikal MP-221 in 45-70) and would like to get into reloading. I've had alot of great feedback from members on here and would like to condense all the good information into one thread

Is a Lee Classic Loader in 45-70 a bad first start to reloading? It's the kit where all that is needed is a hammer and the reloading components. It's only 42 bucks on amazon canada!

41bgukETiYL.jpg


So far i'm hearing that i should stay away from hornady brass (since it's shorter for some reason) and to go with a heavier bullet.

Please share any experiences and tips.

Thanks,

-Tony
Click to expand...


I have great little kit. Also have the press and dies.
Nothing wrong with either of them.

My only suggestion is that you carefully do your research and put a list together.
You'll have a better idea of how much time and money you will be spending and decide if that's something you are willing to tackle.

Now, for Hornady brass, if you're using their bullets, not a single issue.
If you're casting your own, use starline.

I have both type of reloads. I'm happy with what I've got.
 
tony72cutlass's' said:
What reloading handbooks do you guys suggest? there is a couple of them out there.

my father is a huge reloader, i've been watching him do it since i was a kid, so i really would like to get into it.

The Lee single stage press is 180$ on amazon, do RCBS and other dies work with a Lee press??
Click to expand...

I think you must be looking at the "O" press, not the "C" press. It's $65 on ebay, I bought one for $30 online a couple years ago.
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Lee-Breech-L...807629?hash=item1a17677c0d:g:OJoAAOSwAvJW~qgz
 
Start out with whatever feels right. If that's the Lee Loader, then do it. I started with a Lee Loader 30-06 because the price was right and I couldn't justify spending more, or so I thought. :) If you discover that you like reloading then you'll be spending a lot more later.

I'm scared to tell you how much I spent on reloading gear since I got my first Lee Loader, just in case the wife is reading this. :)
 
jethunter said:
Start out with whatever feels right. If that's the Lee Loader, then do it. I started with a Lee Loader 30-06 because the price was right and I couldn't justify spending more, or so I thought. :) If you discover that you like reloading then you'll be spending a lot more later.

I'm scared to tell you how much I spent on reloading gear since I got my first Lee Loader, just in case the wife is reading this. :)
Click to expand...

Man, I tried to find some stuff on Kijiji out here but Halifax seems to be pretty dry for used reloading equipment. I'm sure whatever you spent will pay itself back in no time. Only problem is i think with cheaper ammo, i'd just shoot more lol

I really do like the idea of getting a reloading press (which would allow me to load .380 and 45-70). But even if i bought a classic loader in the meantime, i could probably recoup the cost of a couple boxes of ammo pretty quickly.
 
Go to gunshows..........I've seen RCBS Rockchuckers in nice shape for $60.......not a fan of Lee or aluminum anything....Harold
 
I agree with the poster recommending the Lee anniversary kit as a good starting point. Inexpensive, and gives you what you need to get started. Lee equipment will give you good value for your money. I prefer their dies.
 
I load .45-70 on an old Lee turret press. I just use it as a single stage press and turn the turret to the next die when the batch I'm working on is ready for the next step. I have the Lee loader for .44 Mag but stopped using it and just bought the dies shortly after acquiring it (this is going back at least 10 years now) due to a primer detonation while using it.

I farted around with several loads using various bullets and powders before settling on a 350 grain Hornady round nose and a near max charge of H4198. Granted, it's a tad stout for casual plinking, but it is the load I use for hunting, and is suitable for everything I can hunt here short of Titanotherium.

EDIT: Typo with powder
 
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Budget shooting supply
X reload
TradeEx
Those are my top choices for supplies
I use lee 2nd ed and Lyman 49 th manuals
Lyman cast manual is great source of info for cast loads
 
Tony 77, that Lee classic will do just fine, and in .303 Brit at least, it loads some reasonably accurate ammo. The classic by itself only allows for one charge volume, as it comes with just one scoop. That limits your ability to sample lighter or heavier charges of whatever powders you have, which is probably the biggest shortcoming of the Lee Classic. If you want to try a slightly lighter load, or get a little closer to book max, you have to buy either the Lee powder scoop set, or a scale and some way to dispense the powder. Get that far, and might as well buy a Rock Chucker and some conventional dies. Oh, and a lube system, (Lee case lube on your fingers works just fine) case trimmer, powder measure, yadda yadda yadda! Skip the bottom shelf presses. Buy once, cry once.

Yup, I've had a primer go off when seating it with the punch. Blackened my finger tips, but, sanely following the manufacturers instructions, my thumb and forefinger holding the priming punch were the only part of my anatomy in line with the mouth of the case, and since I use my strong hand to swing a hammer, I only scorched my support hand anyway! No biggy, no harm, no foul.
 
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