.45-70 reload advice needed!

[Robtattoo]

Who all reloads their own hunting ammo?

I'm just getting started into reloading. I'm not set up for casting, although I do have a supply of 405gn cast bullets. I'd like to stick to jacketed slugs wherever possible.

Looking at the Lyman manual, it looks like there is a huge amount of variation in both powder & projectiles & quite frankly, it's a little daunting for the first timer.

Could any of you possibly share your favorite recipes. If you have both a target load & hunting load, I'd be very interested to hear about them both!

At the moment I'm shooting a .405gn cast bullet over 50.6gn of Varget that a friend reloaded & I'm not that impressed with the accuracy. Out of my 1885 High Wall my best 3-shot, 100yd group is around 3". Not what I'd call stellar!
Now that I have an 1895G in the safe, I really need to work up a good load. I love shooting it, but detest paying factory prices!

 

[44fanatic]

If you are shooting cast, slug the barrel and then use a micrometer to measure the the barrel diameter. You want your cast boolits to be .001-.002 larger than your barrel diameter. This will reduce the lead buildup and increase accuracy.

To slug the barrel, use a lead sinker slightly larger than the muzzle. Lube the barrel and sinker. Plastic mallet and wooden dowels cut 6" in length will allow you easily and safely do this.

Cant give you any recommedations for the 45-70, but I do shoot cast pistol boolits.

 

[quigleysharps4570]

My favorite is the 535 gr. Postell bullet with 45 grs. of IMR 3031 for my smokeless load and same bullet with 70 grs of Goex Cartridge Grade is my blackpowder load.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Lotsa 45/70 info on shootersforum.com. Make sure that you segragate brass from your two guns (mark the head with a sharpie) to improve accuracy and cycling.

You are quite right, book loads for these guns are all over the place, as the SAAMI specs are for the old trapdoor Springfields. I used Starline brass, CCI200 primers, cast bullets, both 330gr and 420gr gas checked cast from RCBS molds, using a 50/50 ww/lino alloy and beeswax/alox lube. 36-42gr of RL7 did the trick and was below most books' max. Great accuracy out of my 1895GS. As with any load obtained from any source (especially internet forums), verify with valid manuals and approach with caution.

Also, 10-12gr of unique using the same bullets, but no gas checks and Lee liquid alox.

 

[Chaneylake]

buy a Paul Jones mould, use 1.5 Swiss Black Powder, use a blow tube or wipe barrel between shots, the barrel wipe method will give more accuracy, I am getting 4-7 inch 10 shot groups at 300 yards, iron sights, once I get it to consistant 4 inch groups I will be moving to 500 yards

your best source of information is the "Shiloh Sharps" site

 

[348Winchester]

If you prefer jacketed bullets you will have a wide array to choose from. Over the years I've tried very, very many different combinations of them in various rifles. Your High Wall should be able to handle any of the trapdoor loads if it's an antique and the mid range loads if it's a modern rifle. The top end loads designed for the Ruger single shots are real punishers and have not given me the best accuracy out of my Handi-Rifle. My 1886 Winchester is one of those rare rifles that performs well with everything I've tried in it.

The powders that have performed best for me are Reloader 7. IMR-4198, and IMR-4895. A 300 grain jacketed bullet and 48 grains of Reloader 7 is accurate and deadly on deer. The Barnes FNX 250 grain and 50 grains Reloader 7 is another good deer load. I use Winchester primers in both loads. A Remington 405 grain soft point over 42 grains Reloader 7 is potent bear medicine.

Get a Lyman manual and a can of Reloader 7. It is a great all around powder for the 45-70 and will do well with a wide range of bullets.

 

[348Winchester]

When loading for my trapdoor Springfield I always use the starting load suggested in my Lyman manual. She was made in about 1875 so I won't chance it with anything but the minimum. She does not get shot much anyway.