So I'm still working on a load for my #1 .45-70. I feel like it's turning into a soap opera.
I'm using Starline Brass & a 350 grain Ranch Dog Mold.
I decided on 3031 powder because I wanted to fling these Ranch Dog's at or close to 2000 fps and bought a pound.
I dumped 55 grains (below Hogdon's '07 manual "lever action" starting load of 56.5 grains for a 350 grain Hornady Jacketed bullet), using a funnel with a 6" drop tube, and nearly had to stand on the press handle (I use a Rock Chucker, so there wasn't a leverage issue) to get the bullets to seat to the crimp groove.
Matter of fact I had to run them into to die a couple of times because on the first run, when the shell came out of the die you could see the bullet easing back out of the case!
I did trim .050" off the cases to get the Ranch Dogs to chamber in the short-throated Ruger, but I can't see where I would have lost that much capacity.
The same manual lists 60 grains with the same Hornady bullet and 55 grains with a 400 grain Speer, but where I'm at, I can't see how they fit that much powder in the case.
I guess my question is, is this normal with 3031, or does something sound rotten in Denmark? Do any of the other powders in that burn range have a little less bulk?