45-70 brass - what is your choice?

[ndnchf]

I started out shooting 45-70 in 1981 using a M1884 trapdoor. But I soon got hot and heavy into other more exotic black powder cartridges and left the venerable old soldier in the closet. I dug into my loading notebook to see when I last loaded 45-70. It was July 2nd, 1988. Wow - where did the years go?

Fast forward to this week. I realized I have another M1884 trapdoor that I've never shot. Well it's time to give it some exercise. I dug through my brass stash and found about 50 rounds of ancient brass marked "UMC" with an "S" and an "H" for solid head. This stuff probably dates to the 1890s. I may have used it back in the 1980s when new brass was hard to come by. But being originally primed with mecuric primers, I consider it fully retired. I found a small stash of newer Winchester brass, but not enough.

So this brings me to the question - what new 45-70 brass do you prefer and why? I want to buy 100 rounds of new brass and would like to hear your thoughts.

[Vann]

Without a doubt Starline. Winchester 2nd, 3rd Remington.

Remington seems to brittle. It may just be me but I think Starline is the best brass you can buy for the price. Last I saw it 25.00 per 50.

[rfd]

starline for me, very robust, the brass in the loads below have been fire formed and reloaded over a dozen times ...



... but ww brass tends hold a tad more powder.

[tinhorn97062]

I guess I'm the oddball...I prefer R-P. That said, I can't stand FC brass and usually give it away or trade for ANY OTHER brand.

[country gent]

I use alot of starline brass in 40-65, 45-70, and 45-90. It is very good brass. There is a tag or note in with the black powder calibers that when loading black powder cases should be annealed at start before loading. In 45-70 I also like winchester it seems to have a little more capacity than rem, fed. or norma. The last hornady I got was on the short side for length. Alot of times with these calibers its not what you want but whats available at that time.

[labradigger1]

It's all good except nickel coated. Btw, I have a full original box of that SH UMC loaded ammo. 70 grains black and a 500 grn rn boolit.

[Don McDowell]

Remington is good brass, the rp nickel brass shoots extremely well in one or more rifle around this place. Winchester is also pretty decent. I'ld like to try some Hornady component brass if I can find some.
I have at the moment 4 different 45-70's up and running here, so mainly I try to keep one brand/type of brass for a specific rifle.

[ndnchf]

Thanks fellas, appreciate your thoughts. All the major brands seem to be available. That's a far cry from how it was back in 1981 when I started shooting this round.

[Don McDowell]

Must of been a regional thing. We could get Winchester and sometimes Remington brass out here back in the 60's and 70's.

[dave roelle]

Be aware that the hornady stuff used in the "lever evolution" is too short for BPCR work ( just in case someone offers some)

Remington is good stuff, been using the same lot for 5 years worth of silhouette shooting, Winchester if you want to max out the capability of the 45-70, it has the highest case capacity.

Norma basic cut to length works nice to Paper Patch a modern chamber

Stay safe

Dave

[EDG]

I prefer either RP or WW - which does not matter much.

Starline is hard right out of the bag and needs to be annealed which I do not care to do before the first loading.

[kjorgy]

I always been a winchester man. Starline is too hard & stiff

[boommer]

win for me, seals, more volume and you take care of it will last !!

[alg3205]

Starline works great in my 1885. Very little sizing and good seal.

[texasmac]

I posted this in August & it's relevant to this thread.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ighlight=brass

Wayne

[osteodoc08]

Starline for me

[ndnchf]

I posted this in August & it's relevant to this thread.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...ighlight=brass

Wayne

Wayne - thanks for the reminder, I forgot about that. Great info, thanks for sharing.

[montana_charlie]

I don't use Starline, but I think others have said that they (Starline) make an effort to produce cases that really are as long as they should be.

[ndnchf]

I don't use Starline, but I think others have said that they (Starline) make an effort to produce cases that really are as long as they should be.

Maybe that's the case with 45-70. But I recently bought 200 Starline 32-20 cases, they are quite short compared to spec.

[texasmac]

I don't use Starline, but I think others have said that they (Starline) make an effort to produce cases that really are as long as they should be.

Nope, as noted in the article I referenced earlier, that's not the case with .45-70 Starline. They're essentially the same length as Winchester & Remington (all run 2.096" to 2.097")

Wayne