First time reloading - 45-70 😎

[James1873]

Finally got around to start my adventure into reloading. I went with a lee classic hand loader to start. I only plan on reloading 45-70 for right now anyway so I don't think I need a big $1500 rig yet. 45-70 not a caliber I go out and blast a thousand round anyway.

Anyway I ended up reloading 40 rounds, using .458 sierra jacketed bullets 300 gr. Hp/fn. federal primers, and the starting load of 42.9 grains of imr 4198. Went pretty smooth. Crushed a few cases trying to seat the bullet ��. Getting a good crimp was difficult, maybe I was doing it wrong.

Took some of those rounds out to give them a try. Pretty nerve-racking shooting the first one. But it went well. Recoil was pretty mild, maybe closer to a 30-30 for felt recoil. And I was able to pick off all the pop cans at 50 yards lol.

Pretty fun to reload and I'm saving some money to boot.

Next time I'd like to try to load up some 45-70 with goex, why? Because I want to lol. No real reason other then I think it would be sweet

 

[dthunter]

Just a little advice, if you reload your cases with any black powder, be sure you have a compressed powder charge. Or the air gap will potentially act like the bullet is an obstruction and rupture something critical.

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Slamfire]

A very cool round. You will have a lot of fun with it.

Reminds me I have some Pyrodex to use up in one of my .45-70 rifles. A bit messy but fun.

 

[bearhunter]

Black Powder can turn a ho hum rifle into a great rifle. It isn't nearly as fussy as smokeless but as mentioned, a compressed load is mandatory.

 

[James1873]

Yeah i can't really find any loading data for blackpowder. I guess 70 grains? Lol. If it doesn't fill up the case then I can use cardboard circles or something to fill the gap? Or just fill up the case and compress with the bullet? Either way I love the 45-70 caliber. Something about lobbing big bullets. Can shoot them slow or pretty fast

 

[vagrantviking]

http://www.bpcr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3034&start=15
http://www.bpcr.net/site_docs-results_schedules/documents/bp_cartridge_reloading_dick_trenk.htm

Here's one guide to loading bpcr. Haven't read it all but there are several available online.



If you are crushing cases you need to at least chafer or bevel the inside edge of the case mouth. For cast bullets you also want to bell the mouth slightly.

 

[Slamfire]

Haven't tried black powder in any of my .45-70 rifles, only Pyrodex which is a black powder substitute. How much propellant that can be safely used depends on the strength of your action. Reloading manuals typically list data for 3 classes of action strength: Trapdoor Springfield, Marlin and Ruger No.1.

Note the information from the 3rd edition of the Hornady Handbook in regard to the use of Pyrodex CTG in Trapdoor .45-70 rifles -

 

[Silverback]

Of course the original load was 70 grains of black powder under a 500 grain lead bullet, with a drop tube and a powder compression die it can be easily done. I have loaded and fired such loads from my original Trapdoor Springfield.

 

[c-fbmi]

Actually SB the original load was 70 grains of FFFG under a 405 gn lead bullet.

 

[bearhunter]

Yeah i can't really find any loading data for blackpowder. I guess 70 grains? Lol. If it doesn't fill up the case then I can use cardboard circles or something to fill the gap? Or just fill up the case and compress with the bullet? Either way I love the 45-70 caliber. Something about lobbing big bullets. Can shoot them slow or pretty fast

Don't get me wrong but have you tried Google or some other search engine??? There are sites devoted to shooting black powder cartridges. Especially the 45-70