I e been thinking of buying the dies and stuff for this but It's only going to have maybe max 100 rounds a year down it. It would take some time to save any money at this rate. The accuracy is good with 300 grain Remington's and 350 cor bons. Can I expect better by the time I invest a few hundred in loading supplies. Most bullets I would want from Midway are back ordered or on a special run occasionally. Don't plan to put in a great deal,of bench time with it. Kicks a great deal with the cor bons but drops them dead.
Reloading 45-70
- Thread starter Wendyj
- Start date
If you didn't already have a reloading set-up for other cartridges, I'd say you needn't bother, and will be well-served with just factory stuff. Since you DO have a reloading set-up, you'll only be out dies, cases, and projectiles. Since the .45-70 can be reloaded with powders as diverse as Alliant Unique to IMR4895, you probably already own a propellant that will work.
My 45-70 has never seen a factory round. I saw a price of $36 for a box of 20 many years ago and decided the payback time would be pretty short. My buddy paid $48 for 20 a couple weeks ago. Yes, you want to reload for the 45-70. You will shoot more if you start reloading and you can tailor your loads from mild to wild. You save even more money if you cast your own bullets.
Did you ever think of going cast and slowing things down a bit?
http://www.montanabulletworks.com/BB_45_caliber.html
Use AA5744 and run 1,200fps (trapdoor speeds)
All the range you need, for anything that walks
Not at all unpleasant to shoot.
http://www.montanabulletworks.com/BB_45_caliber.html
Use AA5744 and run 1,200fps (trapdoor speeds)
All the range you need, for anything that walks
Not at all unpleasant to shoot.
I hadn't given it a lot of thought. Those cast bullets look cheap enough. It's my husbands so he will keep everything full throttle. I do have the powder to load. Just need bullets dies and primers. May give it a try. Bought one box of 300 grain today. Have about 50 cor bons from long ago. Can just reuse the brass.
Cast bullets are generally fine for 1,600 fps without leading or accuracy loss, so you can start approaching 458 Win Mag levels of energy and recoil very quickly with stout 45-70 loads if you gas check the bullets.
I say "generally" because with cast bullets you never know until you test it out in your rifle, sizing, alloy hardness, and a dozen other things come into play.
Jimro
I say "generally" because with cast bullets you never know until you test it out in your rifle, sizing, alloy hardness, and a dozen other things come into play.
Jimro
kilimanjaro
New member
That straight brass will last you forever as long as you don't hot up your loads.
A die set will run you the price of a single box of shells, so payback is going to come quickly. At 100 rounds a year, you'll pay for the dies and 250 bullets, and work on your primers, powder, and brass the second year.
A die set will run you the price of a single box of shells, so payback is going to come quickly. At 100 rounds a year, you'll pay for the dies and 250 bullets, and work on your primers, powder, and brass the second year.
You save a bunch per bang. Like a buck fifty if you have the brass. Health issues have me looking light. Varget 58/ 300 Hornady JHP was very effective last year and I'm now out of book down to 56, Cronoed at 1617-1678 fps. They shoot fine for me, YMMV. I cronoed an old unknown factory JFP at 1260 fps.
If you are loading on a Dillon or maybe other progressives it is a bit quirky. Long powders like 4064 take too much force to cut and the case mouth will occasionally over expand (Bottle necked rifle have no expansion ball). Less with 3031 and so far, least with Varget. I took both powder dump springs off per-Dillon. This is with the really old powder dumps. Not sure om the newer but it took me "awhile" to figure it all out. My first loads were with 4198 and I did not notice this problem then. If I could just find some trail boss...
Oh, coated lead loaded hot is minute of water buffalo. I think because it is too fast to grab the rifling, I don't know but they do not like to be real hot in my 1970 Marlin.
Dialed back it is fun to shoot. I bought 250 pieces of brass, it is all loaded so I'm up $375 already - right? Please convince my wife.
If you are loading on a Dillon or maybe other progressives it is a bit quirky. Long powders like 4064 take too much force to cut and the case mouth will occasionally over expand (Bottle necked rifle have no expansion ball). Less with 3031 and so far, least with Varget. I took both powder dump springs off per-Dillon. This is with the really old powder dumps. Not sure om the newer but it took me "awhile" to figure it all out. My first loads were with 4198 and I did not notice this problem then. If I could just find some trail boss...
Oh, coated lead loaded hot is minute of water buffalo. I think because it is too fast to grab the rifling, I don't know but they do not like to be real hot in my 1970 Marlin.
Dialed back it is fun to shoot. I bought 250 pieces of brass, it is all loaded so I'm up $375 already - right? Please convince my wife.
bbqncigars
New member
I reload 45-70 for everything from a T/C Contender to my replica 1874 Sharps Creedmoor. What an extremely versatile (if you reload) and fun cartridge! You can shoot cast for virtually any application, but the jacketed loads can shoot a bit flatter. I'd advise the RCBS dies with a Lyman M die if you want to delve into cast boolits. You really need to tell us what gun(s) you're going to load for. My Sharps likes 535gr Postells, but the Marlin 1895CB prefers a 405gr LFP with a heavy crimp. Neither gun likes the others load.
Dragonflydf
New member
Since you are reloading for a modern rifle, you have lots of options with the 45-70. I cast and load for my trapdoors and they only see blackpowder loads. I would hate to see my 142yr old carbine blown up by a load of smokeless.
I've been loading the .45-70 since 1983. The RCBS 3 die set (and shellholder) are plenty, you don't need an "M" die to load cast bullets, or at least I never needed one.
The Lyman "M" die is just a universal die body for a case mouth expander, and the 3 die set (any maker) has that expander die as part of it.
I personally don't recommend using a Dillon or other progressive loader for the .45-70, at least until you are experienced with both the round and the loader.
It loads like a large pistol round (straight case, 3 die set). Proper crimp is needed for the lever guns like the marlin. The Marlin also has a max length, which will feed through the tube, and there are some heavy (500gr+) slugs that are too long for that, but the slugs you are talking about using should be no problem.
I had a Siamese Mauser, and a Marlin 95, which I eventually passed on to others as surplus to my needs. I have a Ruger no.3 and a Contender, and am fairly well acquainted with .45-70 loads for modern rifles, from mild to wild.
Save the heavy loads for hunting (& sighting in), the .45-70 is a lot of fun to shoot with 400gr or less slugs at blackpowder speeds (12-1300fps) or less, and recoil isn't all that bad, more of a shove than a sharp kick.
Higher speeds, expecially with heavy bullets WILL kick the SNOT out of you. Approach with caution!
Jimro this one is a Remlin with Ballard rifling in 22 inch barrel. Our older ported Marlin made guide gun has the micro groove. The Remington made seems to beat the Guide gun in the accuracy department. Was hesitant to buy it last year and just gave it a try. Also has a Henry in the 45-70. Lever is a lot slicker on the Henry but can't tell any difference in accuracy. The Guide gun and the Henry are partial to the 405 ammo. Neither do very well with the lever revolution ammo. havent tried it in this one. Got to get a tang sight for it.
44 amp all our loading is done on single stage press. I'm kind of the Reloader. Just something I like doing. Like anything up to 308. Anything bigger I get to flinching. He said he would get me some trail boss if I ever wanted to reload and shoot it.
44 amp all our loading is done on single stage press. I'm kind of the Reloader. Just something I like doing. Like anything up to 308. Anything bigger I get to flinching. He said he would get me some trail boss if I ever wanted to reload and shoot it.
condor bravo
New member
Re above:
Or adjust the reloading dies accordingly when jumping between the shorter and longer cases. This would include the flaring and seating dies in particular. Probably unnecessary to adjust the powder charge.
Or adjust the reloading dies accordingly when jumping between the shorter and longer cases. This would include the flaring and seating dies in particular. Probably unnecessary to adjust the powder charge.