Just got a new mold and need advise.

[grubbylabs]

I just got my new mold from Tom at Accurate. It is a 400 grain RNFP that I will be using in my 45-70.

I have 3031 on hand but I am not opposed to picking up something else.

So what are some of your favorite loads for a 400 grain boolit.

[crabo]

Air cooled 50/50 pure lead and WWs, 40 grains of 3031, Starline brass, WW LR primer, and a tuff of dacron. The dacron makes a difference for me.

[Jailer]

Air cooled 50/50 pure lead and WWs, 40 grains of 3031, Starline brass, WW LR primer, and a tuff of dacron. The dacron makes a difference for me.

This is what I am trying next. I tried 40gr of 3031 and had a bunch of unburnt powder in the barrel and lousy accuracy. I'm going to add a small bit of dacron and see how it does.

IMR 4198 or SR-4759 have shown the best results for me so far.

[725]

I use 30 gr 4198 with a touch of dacron in a .45-70 for a 415 gr boolit. Nice mild load. Just about one hole accuracy out of a Buffalo Classic. (Long barrel)

[grubbylabs]

Is the Dacron just a filler?

[pdawg_shooter]

54.0gr AA2495 under a 430gr paper patch cast of AC WWs works for me.

[Dale53]

There have been a number of ringed chambers from using dacron as a filler. This has been confirmed.

I prefer to use a powder that doesn't require a filler. I have had excellent results with RL-7 in a number of black powder rifle cartridges including the 45/70. Ken Waters, in his book "Pet Loads", has some of the best information available on the 45/70 including the three strength levels of 45/70 rifles. I recommend it without reservation.

FWIW
Dale53

[pdawg_shooter]

I too use Reloader 7 in mine when I feel the "Need For Speed." H322 works well for speed too.

[grubbylabs]

OK so here is an update.

I just loaded a few and tried to follow the Speer data from the 13th manual.

They only list a 400 grain bullet.

The powder I have chosen is 3031

Their load data

COL 2.540
IMR 3031 49.0-53.0 grains
LRP

I had to load for a COL of 2.458 in order to get reliable feeding.

I have several loaded up at 49.0 grains and the 2.458 but what concerns me is that powder comes up to the base of the bullet.

Should I be concerned?


Second issue
My gas checks seem to come of very easy. I can push them on and run them through my Lee .460 sizer and they don't seem to have crimped on. Is this a problem with the sizer where its not crimping them tight enough or is there another issue?

[Dale53]

grubby;abs;
You don't mention what rifle you are loading for. That is extremely important with the 45/70 as the rifles range from weak actions (Trapdoor Springfield, to medium strength actions as exemplified with the Modern Marlin lever Action, to the strong actions like the Ruger #1. Ruger #1 loads are apt to destroy a Trapdoor Springfield.

Dale53

[grubbylabs]

It is a Marlin Lever Action.

[Dale53]

Lyman's #3 Cast Bullet Handbook shows three levels of loads for the 45/70 (just like Ken Waters' Pet Loads does). They are pressure tested in Lyman and I have used that data successfully in my Marlin 1895 (modern) with excellent results. Frankly, the top load for the Springfield Trapdoor has been my "go to" with the Marlin. Those loads are tolerable to shoot and my Marlin gives me 1.5" groups at 100 yards with that (457193 Lyman bullet 420 grs ahead of 33.0 grs of RL-7 to a maximum in the Trapdoor of 41.0 grs of RL-7 giving 1467 fps at 13,300 fps. The Marlin lever action has a maximum allowable of 48.5 grs of RL-7 behind the same bullet for 1828 fps.

I will tell you that the heavy load for the Marlin is SERIOUS recoil (you can dern near feel your retina's detach).

The first thing I did with my Marlin was to have a good recoil pad installed. That was a big help in every way.

Considering that the Marlin is never going to be a long range rifle, but more of a short range (max of 125 yards or so) stopper, I never felt short gunned by those Trapdoor loads. 60,000,000 Buffalo were eradicated with loads of that level.

Lyman also gives data on pressure tested duplex loads (small smokeless charge over the primer and the rest with black powder). I have shot thousands of duplex loads in BPCR Competition (where allowed) and have enjoyed them a BUNCH. You can literally shoot all day long without cleaning, just like with pure smokeless.

Another bullet that works well in the 45/70 is the Lee 340 gr (.457-340-F) with the 41.0 gr load of RL-7. This relatively light bullet offers excellent accuracy, lighter recoil (than the heavier bullets) and a bit of saving on lead.

The best advice I could give for reloading the 45/70 is get yourself Ken Waters' "Pet Loads" and read it carefully. I would also seriously recommend you pick up an old copy of the Lyman #3 "Cast Bullet Handbook".

FWIW
Dale53

[grubbylabs]

Dale thanks for the response.

It looks like I jumped the gun a little. I was able to do some digging around in my 4th edition Lyman cast book and my complete reloading manual for the 45-70 book. In the past I have had good luck substituting Speer's bullets with my cast boolits. But in this case it looks like I am starting at max load and even going a grain over. I am glad I did not load a bunch this way, although these pull fairly easily.

[TXGunNut]

1895 level loads are fun but the Trapdoor loads are more comfortable and seem to be very accurate. I agree with Dale53 and recognize that I don't need rhinorollers to hunt Texas deer and hogs.
Love that 4th Edition Lyman manual, were all the others this good?

[Dale53]

I have three Lyman Cast Bullet manuals. The 3rd is undoubtedly the best, but the 4th is quite useful. I am pleased I have them all and refer to them often.

Dale53

[mooko]

OK, grubbylabs,
I have reloaded 45-70 in my original Sharps-Borshardt for many, many years. I have used a Lyman 385 gr. gas check bullet with 50 gr. 3031 as a standard load. Don't worry about whether the powder comes up to the bullet. That means it's 100% density. It's not a max load because I also load it behind a Lyman 457125 bullet at 512 gr.
Impresses both deer and metal gongs. Just put a good crimp on the catridge, and you shouldn't have unburnt powder.
Enjoy.