Loading 45-100

[GARD72977]

I just bought a 45-100. Dies are out of stock everywhere.

For now i just want to try some Accurrate 5744 loads.

I have 45-70 dies and 45-110 dies. I have Lyman M die for 45-70. Is it possible to load with the dies I have?

Im going to do some black powder later this summer. Just would like to shoot the gun now.

[smithnframe]

You might be able to use the 45/110 dies. You’ll find the “holy black” to be the most accurate powder for these cartridges!

[Chill Wills]

I just bought a 45-100. Dies are out of stock everywhere.

For now i just want to try some Accurrate 5744 loads.

I have 45-70 dies and 45-110 dies. I have Lyman M die for 45-70. Is it possible to load with the dies I have?

Im going to do some black powder later this summer. Just would like to shoot the gun now.

It depends.

Do you have brass for it? If so, does it fit in the chamber?
Often new brass will fit into the chamber without being FL sized and often never-ever will you need to size it. It just depends.
If the brass fits, you can get by with your 45-70 sizer (adjusting it up for the longer case) and or can also make use of a "Neck Sizer" in place of the 45-70 case sizer. That just leaves the case expander - assuming greese-groove bullet with neck tension and the bullet seater.
Shooting paperpatch bullets, you can skip all the dies. Maybe. It depends....

[Lead pot]

Using smokeless in a large capacity case like the .45-2.6 is not a good idea, especially when it's being down loaded for a light load because of the recoil.
A light load can be just as dangerous as a overload.

[sharps4590]

I've had; 45-70, 45-90, 45-100 and 45-3 1/4. All were loaded using my RCBS 45-70 dies. I still have the 45-90 and 45-100 and still use my 45-70 dies. I've never owned any other dies. None of the cartridges were ever loaded with anything but BP, save my early, early years with the 45-70.

[Chill Wills]

Gard, If all the above sounds like cryptic answers, it is a little. It is just that like so many things, the details of your specific rifle, cases, mold and tools may have an effect of what you can do. It may take some playing around with it to see what you can do.

Smokeless loads - so you can get started; I am sure you know that the old SR-4759 powder and the current AA-5744 can be loaded in safe and accurate combinations for the large case you are working with.

The black powder loads turn out to only be hard in our mind and then surprisingly easy after we have a little experience with them. Generally, as new BP shooters, we make BP loading and clean-up harder than it really is. In time, we learn what to do and get rid of all the silly hoops (extra steps) low experienced shooters (keyboard experts) tell us we need to do. If it was as hard as some make it out to be, a simple guy like me would fail.

Try BP in another lower stakes rifle and get the hang of it. Apply what you learn and your new comfort level to shooting this fine 45-100.
Get a BP mentor. Doc Lay is somewhere in you area. I know there are many more.

Just some ideas.... Have fun.

[sharps4590]

Gard, If all the above sounds like cryptic answers, it is a little. It is just that like so many things, the details of your specific rifle, cases, mold and tools may have an effect of what you can do. It may take some playing around with it to see what you can do.

Smokeless loads - so you can get started; I am sure you know that the old SR-4759 powder and the current AA-5744 can be loaded in safe and accurate combinations for the large case you are working with.

The black powder loads turn out to only be hard in our mind and then surprisingly easy after we have a little experience with them. Generally, as new BP shooters, we make BP loading and clean-up harder than it really is. In time, we learn what to do and get rid of all the silly hoops (extra steps) low experienced shooters (keyboard experts) tell us we need to do. If it was as hard as some make it out to be, a simple guy like me would fail.

Try BP in another lower stakes rifle and get the hang of it. Apply what you learn and your new comfort level to shooting this fine 45-100.
Get a BP mentor. Doc Lay is somewhere in you area. I know there are many more.

Just some ideas.... Have fun.


I still say we need a like button. Well said!

[Don McDowell]

One shooter I know that uses the 2.6 chamber gets along very well with 78 grs. of Swiss 1 1/2 and one of the iterations of the 535 gr grease groove money bullets.

[indian joe]

Blackpowder + wad + grease lube boolit + go shoot

How easy is that? plus you have a safety margin with black that is not available loading smokeless

Try it, you might be surprised how easy it can get ...........or maybe not ....... for me, successfully loading smokeless in these big old fashioned cases would be much more of a challenge than blackpowder.

[GARD72977]

All good advice. Thanks guys

[HighUintas]

All good advice. Thanks guys

Have you made it out to shoot yet?

I just started shooting a 45-90 a month or two ago.... First time cast boolit shooter, first time BP shooter, etc.

I use a set of Lyman 45-70 dies for my brass and it works just fine for me. I would think it would work ok for yours too depending on what you're doing. The gents above have very good advice!

Eager to hear your progress

[Tar Heel]

You should be able to improvise with the dies you have. Regarding Accurate 5744 and these large cases: as per Accurate emails and existing data, do not use fillers. Know that you are flirting with disaster with that large a case and smaller charges of smokeless. Know that Buffalo Rifle powder works as well and is a "equivalent" to A5744.

As mentioned above, nothing beats holy black in these cartridges. Its performance will amaze you.It has been my experience that a compressed BP charge fouls a lot less than you may think. I can run tube after tube of 38-40, 44-40, and 44 Special compressed charges with a bore wipe after each magazine tube full. The 45-90 Lever Action runs all day with compressed BP charges and kicks like a mule. It kills on both ends.

Have a ton of fun with your iron and be berry berry careful with the smokeless loads!

https://youtu.be/8DPkrY5w6rQ