reproduce black powder with smokeless buffalo 45-70

[Jagxl1]

So, my dad recently got a Lyman 1878 45-70. He wants to reproduce a smokeless powder load that would best represent the black powder loads back in the day out of the buffalo guns. What powder and how many grains would best do that along with bullet selection. He's looking to get between 100-1200 FPS.

[Yodogsandman]

No experience here but, many seem to use IMR4198. Do either of you have a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook for loads?

[NSB]

Get the Lyman Cast Bullet Manual. I had few Pedersoli Sharps rifles, and all were very good shooters. Pedersoli makes this gun. For the loads you're looking for, you can use a number of powders. Those guns were the least fussy I've ever owned and all my loads were kept in the original velocity range with 400+ grain bullets for best accuracy. I used Unique, 2400, 5744, 4198, Rel 7, and several other powders with excellent results. All were easy on me and deadly on deer.

[Nobade]

You can match the ballistics easily, but the experience is sorely lacking. BP really works best in those rifles and makes them much more interesting to play with.