Powder for 45-70

[thesinfulsaint]

If anyone has or does reload for 45-70, I have very recently acquired a rifle in this caliber and would like to start reloading for it. Seems to be the only way I can afford to shoot it considering off the shelf ammo is in the ballpark of $2.50 a pop.

I have a couple of queries:
- What is the best medium load powder for this caliber which will not break the bank
- Any suggestions on reduced loads as I am hearing a spectrum of suggestions including, unique, trailboss, HS-6 and many more.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

- Saint

[timmy]

IMR 4198
H 4198
IMR 3031
5744

Any of these will work, but light bullets vs heavy ones, and light loads (i.e., "Trapdoor" loads vs. those intended for a Ruger #1 or other modern rifle, or a medium hot load, such as one intended for a M1886 Winchester) will make one better than the others.

For reduced loads, I use Unique, but some use Red Dot or other fast burning powders.

Consider a cheap Lee mould and cast your own bullets to save much more. Here, there is a choice between 350, 400, and 500 grain bullets, depending on what you want to do with the rifle.

Good luck in finding any large rifle primers. They have been unobtainable for several years.

[thesinfulsaint]

Thanks Timmy,

Your information matches to mostly what I have been reading.

As for the LRP i found some at Scheels in case you are looking for some: https://www.scheels.com/p/cci-mil-spec- ... rs#start=1

Not the ones I was looking for but quick research reveals that most folks have seen no difference in this and other offerings from CCI.

[timmy]

As a matter of fact, I was in Scheel's this past Wednesday (we came into the big city from the Big Empty) and noticed those military primers -- $85 per 1000 I think. I can pass on them for that price and will wait for regular CCI, Remington, or Federals (all made by the same company anyway!) I've still got a few hundred and haven't been doing much rifle shooting lately. Hopefully, large rifle primers will soon be available in the $50-$60 range, but I've been saying that for over a year now.

I have not tried 5744 yet, though I did buy three pounds of it awhile back that I'll use -- everyone raves about it for cast bullet shooting in most rifle calibers, which falls into my categories. I also grabbed a couple of pounds of Vihtavuori N130 to try, besides the 4198 (of both flavors) and the 3031 I have. 3031 is slower burning than the others, so it is mostly a high power heavy bullet loading.

As you mention Unique, there is an article that was published in a Guns Digest sometime back entitled "Light Loads for the 45-70" that I copied, but unfortunately I don't have the date or issue for it. I know that it starts on page 204, however. This article covers loads that include Unique, and also includes my mould, a Lyman 457130, which is the famous "collar button" bullet of about 150 grains. These were designed to be used as gallery loads back in the days when the National Guard was equipped with Trapdoors and would practice indoors.

If you go about the internet, you can find articles on light loads and "cat's sneeze" loads that include data for Unique and Red Dot. Generally, most anything about the size of 308 / 7.62 x 51 and larger can be loaded with 10 grains of Unique, but light cast loads for cartridges of the 7.62 x 39 and smaller size must use less than that. I have a very light Husqvarna bolt action single shot that I'm intending to use the collar button bullets in, and it will be used as a 22 plinker. I'e got plenty of 22 LR stashed away, so why I need a 45 caliber plinker, I don't know, but there you have it.

45-70 os a great caliber to reload for and to cast for -- it is very versatile and popular, especially in the cast bullet world. Big store-bought bullets like that get to be pretty expensive, while the kit needed to cast for it (mould, furnace, and small pan to lubricate the bullets) can be set up for less than $100 -- if you shoot more than 100 rounds, you will start coming close to breaking even, if you can scrounge your lead.

Years back, I used to belong to the Wolfe City Gun Club about 60 miles northeast of where you must be. i didn't care for city boy indoor ranges, and was shooting a lot of Mosin Nagant stuff then. There's that place by Mesquite that's supposed to be about 200 acres where you can shoot what you want at what you want where you want, but I never followed through with that; it may not be in operation anymore.

Off topic, but there used to be a "North Texas Indian Fine Art Association" (or something like that) in the area. I saw Alarmel Valli dance Bharatanatyam in Garland twice, and met her as well -- events which made a big impact on me. I still recall Alarmel Valli as one of the most, if not the most impressive individual I've ever met. Are you familiar with any of these goings-on?

[thesinfulsaint]

Thanks for the great info. I have been reading extensively on reduced, mild, standard and hot loads for 45-70. Will start reloading as soon as starline has brass available for it. Got all the other components.

Can’t say I know Alarmel Valli or anyone from the academy. You can attribute this lack of information to my area of interest and fine arts and such are not.

I am myself I am not a fan of indoor ranges, it just is not the same as outdoor range. Not to mention the crazy rules they have. I am planning to go to b-tactical in caddo mills to test and chronograph my reloads, which is about an hour drive from my place. Heard good things about it and they don’t have stupid rules regarding liability of hand loaded ammo. Also, they have ranges from 50, 100 all the way to 400 yards.

If you are ever in DFW area, do let me know and we will hit the range and catch some beers (in that order).

[timmy]

Thank you for the invitation!

I hear you about indoor ranges. The big thing is not letting you collect your fired brass. I can accept not having people crawling around on the floor while others are shooting, but still, my brass is important to me!

Caddo Mills: It was just starting to build up when we left the area. There was a place a couple miles south of town and on the south side of the interstate called Mickey's Ammo Depot. It's been some years since we lived in North Texas and it looks larger than it used to be. But that's where I bought my RFI 2A.

https://www.ammodepottx.com

Alarmel Valli is from Tamil Nadu and was on tours both times when I saw her dance:

http://www.alarmelvalli.org