If I were to...

[stevie_d_64]

Reload a rifle cartridge say...45-70

And I decided on the bullet, say...405 gr. semi-jacketed soft-nose point...

I have the brass saved...

What would be the last two items recommended that would complete getting the rounds reloaded...I can get the press, and the associated dies to work it...

I need a powder and primer recommendation...I think my Dad may even have this info (load-wise) written down in his books on this caliber, but thats a needle in a haystack search...

Just thought I would float this out for fun...

Who knows...I might find a TC contender barrel for this thing...Wouldn't that be a hoot!

[mcub]

One and most importantly: Buy a reloading manual for the current powder manufacture you will use. They do change their product lines over time. You fathers load may not be current, or use a powder thats exchangeable .

Plus the load your father had my have been worked up for a specific firearm, do you know if it's the same one??

Plus you can find powder and primers listed for the load

[SRVA]

Stevie, I have some 405 gr bullets and all the stuff to load 45-70 that you are welcome to use when you are ready.

Steve V.

[stevie_d_64]

Yeah come to thinkn of it, he (Dad) might not have shot the 45/70...So he may not have the info...

Thanks Steve...I'll give you a holler...

All I really know about primers is based upon size, burn-rate, for a rifle or pistol load...

45/70 is an ancient load and caliber, so I guess a large rifle primer that is a sure-fire, but relatively slow but sure burn primer...I assume the modern equivalent powder type would complement that function appropriately...

See, this is just one thing I need to get up to speed on...

Question...How many reloads would one expect to get out of the 45/70 cartridge??? 3-4??? Before tossing it for good...If that even is close...

[mcub]

the 45-70 load data is on Hogdon web site

http://data.hodgdon.com

[stevie_d_64]

the 45-70 load data is on Hogdon web site

http://data.hodgdon.com

Good stuff!!!

Thanks!!! Gives me something to look at, study, and test out...

[ShootingStar]

The best source of information I have seen is the Sierra reloading manual. The other manuals that I have bought only list each caliber in only one gun.

Take the .223 for example, Sierra tested it in a Bold Gun, AR-15, and TC Contender. I haven't looked at what it has for 45-70, but so far, I'm impressed with the amount of information that it has in it for what I load for.

The same load in one gun could be dangerous in another so this could save a very expensive firearm. I'm not an balistics engineer so I appreciate all the work that has been done for me as well as saving my hands/eyes/etc. from ruin as well as the time it saved me loading specifically for my AR. If you can find a gun shop that has it, look it over.
-ss

[Thane]

Question...How many reloads would one expect to get out of the 45/70 cartridge??? 3-4??? Before tossing it for good...If that even is close...

If you're using low-pressure loads, your cases should last a LONG time. As pressure goes up, case life goes down. "Full-power" loads appropriate for the T/C and similar guns are hard on cases; "Trapdoor" loads can be quite gentle on the brass.

Look at some modern pistol rounds for comparison. Some folks have used .45 ACP brass for literally dozens of loadings with no adverse effects; they're being careful not to work the brass too much when reloading (minimal belling before bullet seating), and they're using a "low-pressure" cartridge. The .45 gets the job done with a minimum of fuss and isn't hard on cases at all. I've used range-pickup brass over and over with no problems whatsoever.

Higher-pressure cartridges, like the 10mm or the various magnum revolver rounds operate at much higher levels and exert a tremendous force on the brass, however. Between repeated firings and resizings, the brass can get brittle and/or stretch quite easily. Case life of 3-5 loadings with certain loads is not uncommon.

.45-70 Government can be loaded to either extreme (depending on the rifle, of course). If your primary concern is case life, some light, soft loads at low pressures will allow you to re-use the same cartridges nearly indefinitely. However, if you desire to shoot "grizzly-thumpers," you'll reduce case life significantly.

I need a powder and primer recommendation...I think my Dad may even have this info (load-wise) written down in his books on this caliber, but thats a needle in a haystack search...

For primers, use a simple "Large Rifle" primer. Do NOT use magnum primers, unless you know precisely what you are doing; magnum primers ignite powder significantly faster, and raise pressures accordingly. Every loading manual I've read recommends starting over at the minimum loads and working back up if you switch to these primers.
Pistol primers, both "normal" and "magnum," are slightly different dimensionally, as well as being constructed to different standards. If you use these in a rifle cartridge not designed for them, you run risks of punctured primers and wonky pressures.

For powder, I'd recommend anything in the loading manual in the section appropriate to your rifle; while certain powders tend to do better in certain rifle/cartridge combinations, anything that's listed will be acceptable. Stick with the loading manual, and while you might not get "target" accuracy, you'll get acceptable performance for all but the most stringent of tasks.

[Tom]

the 45-70 load data is on Hogdon web site

http://data.hodgdon.com

Good stuff!!!

Thanks!!! Gives me something to look at, study, and test out...

Stevie,

I have loaded 405, 350, and 300 gr bullets for my .45-70. Unless you really want to punish
yourself (over and over) you might want to consider a lighter weight than the 405.
I now use a Rem 300 gr SP exclusively and have found a really good load.
I also noticed that the Hodgdon site has a similar load to my Speer data sheet.

As far as large rifle primers go, I have used both the CCI M-34 (same as LR magnum) and Win LR
primers with little difference noted in performance.

My current load is:
Rem 300 gr SP, IMR 4895 57.0 gr, Win LR primers, mixed brass.

Pay strict attention to max COL and keep it below 2.550. In my Marlin 1895 anything near and
over that makes for a very tight chamber and causes difficulty in closing the lever.

As for brass life. I don't think that is going to be an issue (for me at least), for two reasons.

1. I have lots of brass;
and
2. the load is on the light side of those listed in the Speer data sheet and also on the Hodgdon site.

This load clocks in at around 1870 - 1880 or so. And it is very accurate.
I have shot some 5 shot groups at 100 yards that made large cloverleaf
patterns, all touching.

And the one pig that I shot, well, let just say that it expired rapidly with most of its inards turned
into to outards.

Good luck and have fun.

Kind Regards,

Tom

[phddan]

Reload a rifle cartridge say...45-70

And I decided on the bullet, say...405 gr. semi-jacketed soft-nose point...

I have the brass saved...

What would be the last two items recommended that would complete getting the rounds reloaded...I can get the press, and the associated dies to work it...

I need a powder and primer recommendation...I think my Dad may even have this info (load-wise) written down in his books on this caliber, but thats a needle in a haystack search...

Just thought I would float this out for fun...

Who knows...I might find a TC contender barrel for this thing...Wouldn't that be a hoot!

We really, REALLY, need to know what kind of rifle your going to be loading for.
There is:
45-70 Colt
45-70 Government Trapdoor
45-70 Government Lever Action
45-70 Government Bolt-Actions and Modern Single-Shots (Strong Actions)
What might be a middle of the road reload for one, could be a catastrophic load for a weaker one.
So, whatcha gonna load for???

Dan

[Tom]

Reload a rifle cartridge say...45-70

And I decided on the bullet, say...405 gr. semi-jacketed soft-nose point...

I have the brass saved...

What would be the last two items recommended that would complete getting the rounds reloaded...I can get the press, and the associated dies to work it...

I need a powder and primer recommendation...I think my Dad may even have this info (load-wise) written down in his books on this caliber, but thats a needle in a haystack search...

Just thought I would float this out for fun...

Who knows...I might find a TC contender barrel for this thing...Wouldn't that be a hoot!

We really, REALLY, need to know what kind of rifle your going to be loading for.
There is:
45-70 Colt
45-70 Government Trapdoor
45-70 Government Lever Action
45-70 Government Bolt-Actions and Modern Single-Shots (Strong Actions)
What might be a middle of the road reload for one, could be a catastrophic load for a weaker one.
So, whatcha gonna load for???

Dan

Dan,

Stevie bought a NEW .45-70 recently and that is the rifle that I suggested the load for.
You are quite correct in that care must be taken in loading .45-70 as there are at least three separate
load levels for rifles chambered in that very old caliber.

Good point, and well taken.

Kind Regard,

Tom

[phddan]

Hey Tom,
I'm dieing to know, what 45-70 does he have?
I reread the post and didn't see it. Do I need different glasses?

Dan

[stevie_d_64]

Hey Tom,
I'm dieing to know, what 45-70 does he have?
I reread the post and didn't see it. Do I need different glasses?

Dan

Marlin 1895 New, no bells and whistles, just a plain jane thumping machine...

As for the reloading advice, it does give me a lot to think about...This would be my first adventure into this subject...

I want to assure that when I do start getting this going, I plan to remain well inside the specs for the loads I want to shoot...I am not a big fan of cram as much as you can and see how much your shoulder can take kind of shooter...

So I plan to stay well within the safety margins for these reloads...

The reason I like the 405 gr bullets right off the bat is that they have given me the best results (as far as factory loads go) and accuracy out to 200 yards...

I don't plan to envicerate hogs at any longer ranges...I want a lot of weight and energy going into them and drop them on the spot...

I also do not plan to scope the rifle either...Call me a purist, or old fashioned...But I did put some Williams FireSights on it, and thats about as high-tech as I am going to go with this rig...

If anything it takes me back to basics, and it is just too darn fun to shoot...

And for $460, I just don't see why anyone with a desire to get back to basics. does not have one of these un-bannable rifles...If you catch my drift...

Winchester, Marlin, Henry, Remingtons, Sharps...An old school solution for a fleeting new age issue...Something just kinda hit me upside the head late last year...And this was the solution..

This kind of system calms me, and keep my head on straight, when everything else is falling apart around you...

[stevie_d_64]

The information I've seen has made a very good point (obviously) about the criticality of not mixing powders (black to the newer smokeless stuff)...The pressures create are way different, and will cause serious problems...Got that covered...

I could shoot some black powdered loads through it, but I do not plan to do that anytime soon...

I think this will be fun to see what we can do with this rig...

[phddan]

Hey Tom,
I'm dieing to know, what 45-70 does he have?
I reread the post and didn't see it. Do I need different glasses?

Dan

Marlin 1895 New, no bells and whistles, just a plain jane thumping machine...

As for the reloading advice, it does give me a lot to think about...This would be my first adventure into this subject...

I want to assure that when I do start getting this going, I plan to remain well inside the specs for the loads I want to shoot...I am not a big fan of cram as much as you can and see how much your shoulder can take kind of shooter...

So I plan to stay well within the safety margins for these reloads...

The reason I like the 405 gr bullets right off the bat is that they have given me the best results (as far as factory loads go) and accuracy out to 200 yards...

I don't plan to envicerate hogs at any longer ranges...I want a lot of weight and energy going into them and drop them on the spot...

I also do not plan to scope the rifle either...Call me a purist, or old fashioned...But I did put some Williams FireSights on it, and thats about as high-tech as I am going to go with this rig...

If anything it takes me back to basics, and it is just too darn fun to shoot...

And for $460, I just don't see why anyone with a desire to get back to basics. does not have one of these un-bannable rifles...If you catch my drift...

Winchester, Marlin, Henry, Remingtons, Sharps...An old school solution for a fleeting new age issue...Something just kinda hit me upside the head late last year...And this was the solution..

This kind of system calms me, and keep my head on straight, when everything else is falling apart around you...

Hey Steve,
Got the exact same 45-70 still with stock sites. Dropped a 3-400lb hog DRT!
That was with the Speer 400gr flat nose. I am getting excellent accuracy with that bullet over 55grs of IMR 4064. That is the max recommended load. And that is with CCI large rifle primers. Those are clocking in on average of 1800 fps. Have reloaded my test loads 5 times, and the brass still looks good.

"Winchester, Marlin, Henry, Remingtons, Sharps...An old school solution for a fleeting new age issue...Something just kinda hit me upside the head late last year...And this was the solution..

This kind of system calms me, and keep my head on straight, when everything else is falling apart around you..."

I hear ya.
Everyone that shoots it is all smiles Including me still

Dan