I want to reload 45-70

Insane1_247

Insane1_247

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I am a noob when it comes to reloading. This would be the beginning on my jump down the rabbit hole.
I want to start off with 45-70. So where do I begin? What dies, presses, powder charges, etc do I need. Speak to me like this is a book for dummys on reloading 45-70 lol.
Thanks fellas
 
No either are needed for reloading. I anneal with a torch after a few firings of the same case. And if you want cleaner brass keep it clean and or wipe it down before you resize.

They are great tools to have but lower on the list.
 
Evanguy said:
No either are needed for reloading. I anneal with a torch after a few firings of the same case. And if you want cleaner brass keep it clean and or wipe it down before you resize.

They are great tools to have but lower on the list.
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Thanks, Would you have any specific loads for said caliber?
 
Insane1_247 said:
Is a tumbler and annealer necessary?
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Tumbler is strictly speaking, not necessary, but I wouldn't be without one again. Brass gets really filthy with a few loadings and no cleaning. They are harder to inspect, sticky in the dies, sticky in the chamber.

Annealer, no way is that necessary. Straight-wall cases rarely, if ever, need annealing.
 
Insane1_247 said:
Thanks, Would you have any specific loads for said caliber?
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Pretty certain this was already answered. Yep, first two words, and they are fully CAPITALIZED at that, in the following reply:

Hmatt said:
RELOADING MANUAL .458 bullets, Imr 3031 , large rifle primers, 45/70 govt dies and press. OR 4570 Lee loadall instead of dies and press
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I started with a Lyman Tumbler, Lee Challenger Press and RCBS Hand Primer and dies and LEE Modern Reloading.
Simple and basic to learn on. You can get more ambitiou$ and more $ophi$ticated later and if you start loading other cartridges.
YMMD.
(Too bad Trail Boss is no longer available here. It was great to load and pleasant to shoot!)
 
I started reloading with 100 primers, 20 once fired brass, 50 interlocks, a pound of h4895 and a lee loader. I was reloading 303 British. I now load for over 20 calibers. From 297/230 morris to 500 jeffery

Then moved on to other tools once I realized the value in doing it your self.

For the 45-70, depending on the loads you want the best powders would be hodgdon titegroup, imr4189, h4895 and imr 3031. Cast or jacketed. I reload 45-70 for a double rifle and even though it may not be needed I always anneal after 4 firings on all my rifle cases . Nothing to lose and maybe more consistent bullet grip to gain.
 
With the 4570 there's 3 loading levels. Trapdoor. Modern. And ruger #1 levels of pressure.
Depending on the rifle it will fall into one of these 3 groups. Buy a loading manual and figure out which bracket you're in with your given rifle. Choose a bullet weight. Generally between 300 to 500grs. Cast or jacketed follow the manual
I use a lee press. I believe it's the challenger series or something to that effect. I have a rcbs press as well but haven't taken it out of the box
I load for a double rifle so my loads can't really be played with but for a single barrel gun you can load it like a big pellet gun or a shoulder thumping mule. For mid to big game a 458 diameter bullet doesn't really need alot of velocity to punch thru an animal. If you're loading for fun that's another story
I tumble all my brass because I like shiny brass
If you don't flare the mouth very much annealing is not needed. I'd say a crimp die is more important especially if loading a lever gun
Reloading isn't hard and a basic press can do what you need to do.
Buy a set of lee dies they come with a very simple instruction page. It's written in a way to be understandable by anyone who doesn't eat crayons and lick windows
The 4570 is a loaders dream. Super simple really basic and a huge variety of loads.
 
Insane1_247 said:
Would you have any specific loads for said caliber?
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As a newbie you should NOT be taking load data off the internet, with the exception of the Hodgdon load data centre.

Buy yourself a paper reloading manual and read it .... TWICE. Then have it handy as you go about setting up your dies and making the first rounds.

DO NOT buy powder first, no matter what anyone on this page says. Get the loading manual and maybe peruse the Hodgdon load data site and then choose a powder from one of those sources. EVERYTHING starts at the load manual and moves outward from there. You don't start with a component and then go looking for data.
 
One of my favorite cartridges. Get the Lyman reloading manual. Lyman has great data for jacketed and cast bullets. Read all of the how to section, and read again. Only other suggestion is Campro plated bullets if you are not going to high on velocity end. 45-70 doesn't need to be pushed hard.
 
To get started with the most basic/starter reloading set up, you will need this:

1. Press (single stage) O frame
2. Scale (beam scale) for weighing powder charges and bullets.
3. Priming tool (some presses come with a priming tool, LEE for example)
4. reloading die set for your chosen cartridge AND shell holder (LEE dies come with shell holder)
5. trimmer (not needed for most handgun cartridges) use the LEE handheld trimmers for about $15
6. powder funnel
7. loading block (easy to make it yourself with a piece of 2x4 and a drill)
8. case preparation tools (inside/outside neck chamfer, large and small primer pocket cleaners)
9. caliper (digital or dial)
10. bullet puller, because you will need one eventually
11. reloading data - online and manuals (Lyman is good)

This is a basic setup that will make quality ammunition and is all that many shooters will ever need. At some point you may want to add a powder measure and some kind of brass cleaning machine but you don't need it right away. An experienced reloader can make 50-100 cartridges per hour with that setup.

Reloading isn't terribly complicated, it just seems like it when you 're starting. Read manuals and watch videos, but you won't really understand it completely until you do it yourself. Get a press, a die set, and brass, then deprime it, trim and chamfer, seat a bullet. Practice setting the dies with dummy rounds before you start reloading live cartridges.

The Lyman Reloading manual is very good. Gun Digest made some online videos that are worth seeing:

episode-01-basics-reloading
episode-2-tools
episode-3-case-resizing
episode-4-primers
episode 5 Powders
episode-6-bullets
episode 7 specialty brass
episode-8-troubleshooting
episode 9 Primer Assembly
episode 10 cartridge assembly


hHickok45 Reloading Basics
 
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Handloading .45-70 for years downed Moose, Elk, Bighorn Sheep & Deer works great for me. Doing up a batch this morning for my Marlin GBL 400gr HP Sierra & 400gr Barnes Buster @ ~1600 fps mv. Got Hornady dies, Lee case trimmer & Lee factory crimp die.

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OP, I just jumped into this rabbit hole a few weeks ago and heeded the advice of many to buy a few books/manuals and watch a bunch of videos before jumping in feet first. First off, all the information gleaned has been fascinating in its own right, but there are so many different theories and opinions that it is helpful in understanding the process. It has also, I hope, helped me not purchase things I will regret.

I picked up the Lyman 51st edition and the Glen Zediker's Top Grade Ammo book. The latter I have found particularly helpful as Glen wrote it in a more conversational style that I find helps make the important concepts really stick.
 
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