rifling marks on my 45 70 reload??

C

czscotia

Regular
Rating - 100%
42   0   0
Location
Grand Prairie
Hi gun nutz,
doing my first ever reloading of 45 70 (so I may have missed something obvious) but I crimped
a new 350 gr hornady bullet into a unsized case just to see how the crimping die worked.
The crimp went into the recesss in the bullet but when I tried the Empty cartridge in my rifles, the
action wouldn't close and the bullet was marked by the rifling.
The case was .015" under the drawing length in the Hornady book. And the COL is .025" under spec in the book so
what am I missing??
Thanks for any info.
 
that means the bullet is seated out too far plain and simple try a different bullet it may be the start of the ogive is too close to the tip of the bullet for your gun
 
I would try seating the bullet farther. If you're using a factory crimp die, you really don't NEED to crimp in the cannelure.

Try this: Start to seat a bullet into the empty case, but don't crimp it. JUST start it a little bit. Put the "cartridge" into your rifle and close the action. This will jam the bullet into the rifling and seat it further into the case. Remove it from the gun, and you'll have a dummy round with the bullet seated to engrave int he rifling. Measure it, shorten .005" or so, and THEN crimp it. Use this dummy to set up your dies, and keep it for if you ever use that specific bullet again.
 
Something is funny here.
There is no way a 350 grain bullet, crimped in the cannalure, should touch the lands.
350 grains is the lightest bullet normally loaded in a 45-70 and it should have a quarter inch, at least, clearance to the lands.
 
Are you loading a bullet designed for the 45-70?
Is it a Flat Nose design?
Or are you loading a spitzer or semi-spitzer bullet for a single shot rifle?
If it is the latter, the cannelure may be too far back for the 45-70 throat.
I have a 38-55 Winchester, Barnes makes 2 - 255 grain FNSP bullets that work in it.
However, the 255 grain bullet originally designed for the 38-55 has the cannelure in a different
position than the later 255 grainer designed for the 375 Winchester.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
thanks guys, I'll post pictures tonight, maybe I have the wrong components or something.
I do have some other projectiles, and can certainly seat further or trim the casings but as you say H4831,
seems funny.
 
H4831 said:
Something is funny here.
There is no way a 350 grain bullet, crimped in the cannalure, should touch the lands.
350 grains is the lightest bullet normally loaded in a 45-70 and it should have a quarter inch, at least, clearance to the lands.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to disagree with you on this.
I had hornady FNSP bullets to load for my Ruger #1. Seated to the cannelure, they wouldn't chamber completely. I gave them away and use Speer bullets with no problems.

Maybe Marlin lever-actions have a longer throat than my Ruger?
 
What is the specific part number for the Hornady bullet you are using? Also what brand of brass case are you using?
 
Here is the pic. I have just tried a bullet barn 350gr with the same result, it hits rifling about the thickness
of the rim before chambering. I cut the OAL of the case to .015" under the spec in the book??
The brass is hornady and remington

SDC12792_zpsbb674737.jpg
[/IMG]
 
Last edited:
I used to load the Hornady #4502 .458" 350gr for my .45-70 I mostly use cast now. Looking at my notes and Hornady book and measuring a piece of once fired brass here is what I found.

Hornady #4503 (your bullet) recommended OAL in Marlin load section 2.545"
.45-70 max case length 2.105" trim to length 2.095" (.010" less than max as usual)
My one time fired unsized Remington Peters case 2.088"

You mentioned this was an unsized but crimped case, for arguments sake have you tried this bullet in a sized, belled, non crimped case?
 
Does factory made ammo work ok? If so then compare measurements maybe something will show then. Sounds like a short chamber.
 
Found out today my reloads will chamber in a guide gun. Also picked up some Remington
405 gr, and they measure .015" smaller than the bullets I'm using at the point they are hitting the rifling.
so ....I guess I need to get a guide gun ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom