Need a load for the lee 450gr in a Rossi lever action 45/70

[AviatorTroy]

Hi guys, I've been loading black powder for Trapdoor use for years but have never shot anything warmer than that in 45/70. A friend aquired a Rossi lever action and I want to load up a box of cartridges for him. Certainly don't need anything hot but just want him to get a feel for what the rifle is capable of with smokeless loads. I have 3031, IMR4895, and of course 2400 on hand. Thanks.

[Lonegun1894]

See if you can get him to bring it over and cycle a few of your loads with the 450gr Lee to see if they will feed through his gun and chamber before you load up a bunch of them. I have been using the 450 in my H&R BC, but it would not feed in my Marlin 1895 and I had to go to a 405gr instead with that one.

[AviatorTroy]

Very interesting, thanks

[AviatorTroy]

I also have the lee 405 HB mold, I'm not sure that bullet would feed in a lever action nor is is designed for smokeless.

[Lonegun1894]

I have a 405gr Lee flat base, and it feeds and shoots fine in both rifles, but I don't have the HB version so don't know if the length is similar enough to feed. As to worries about the skirt, a friend of mine uses the Lee 405HB in his Marlin 1895 and it does very well in his rifle with smokeless, but I don't know what his load is so that doesn't help much beyond I KNOW it is possible. I know he said he doesn't hotrod it though, if that helps any.

[AviatorTroy]

I believe I'll start by trying the 405HB with a published 405 gr load reduced 15% and work it up from there.