Loading Hornady .45/70 FTX

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Has anyone got an experience with reloading Hornady FTX bullets in 45/70? Most reloading dies I've seen are set up for flat nosed bullets, and I'd imagine that they would just crush the plastic tip on these.

I have an RCBS set up, and was wondering if anyone would be able to post their work around for this particular issue?

I've been using the Lever Revolution bullets in my Marlin and it likes them, but now I'm wanting to roll my own.

Thanks so much!
 
I would also like to start reloading for my Marlin 1895GBL, and am planning on using the FTX bullets. I hadn't even thought about this, so now I'm curious
 
Just for general info since you've already shot some factory 45-70 Leverevelution ammo have you noticed that the Hornady cases are a lot shorter than Winchester and Remington 45-70 cases???

I had one Hornady case mixed in with a batch of Winchester and it gave me a WTF moment when I was seating 405 grain cast.
Hornady brass (at least the stuff I have from once fired factory) measures 2.055 rather than industry standard 2.105.
 
I noticed that too, Hornady cases are way too short, so I keep them separately. just for plinking :)

BTW: what powder and velocities do you, guys, have loading cast???
 
These will be the first through the Ruger #3 so I dont really know actual velocity yet.
I pulled the load out of the new Lyman manual using IMR 4198.

Going to try 10 before I go whole hog on an untried bullet.
 
Loading FTX™ bullets requires some specialized techniques in certain
cases. To achieve a high ballistic coefficient we had to lengthen the
ogive, or nose, of the bullet. Sometimes this requires that the cartridge
case to be trimmed shorter than the suggested .010" under SAAMI Max
length that we recommend for conventional bullets. Follow prescribed
trim lengths exactly as presented in the FTX™ data for optimum results.


From the Hornady website. You have to trim it shorter as the article says.

http://w ww.hornady.com/assets/files/ftx_load_data/45-70_1895-marlin_ftx.pdf
 
I have not loaded 45-70 FTX but I have loaded 356 win with the FTX bullets with no issues. if you are worried about smashing down the tip maybe more belling is called for. Personally Iould load as usual and check the final results.
 
FTX bullets that have been loaded into cases that have not been shortened to the lenght recomended by Hornady will not properely cycle through Marlin 1985's.
They will however work fine through a Winchester 1886.
 
I have loaded many FTX into 45-70 and I was getting inconsistant COLs when seating the bullets, and it was driving me crazy, varied by plus/minus .010". I came to the conclusion that the flex tip was compressing during seating. A call to the Hornady Tech guys revealed that Hornady makes a special FTX seating die and stem for loading the FTX bullets, I can't remember the number off hand, but if anyone is interested, can look it up for you. I also use a bit of case neck lube when seating. Case lengths are shorter, so just use factory FXT brass or trim factory brass to FTX length. Hope this Helps, Marlin45
 
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