Reloading EverythingRotoMetals2Inline FabricationWideners
MidSouth Shooters SupplyTitan ReloadingRepackboxLee Precision
Load Data
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 35

Thread: Any .50-70 shooteers here?

  1. #1
    Boolit Master PBSmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    502

    Any .50-70 shooteers here?

    Just became owner of a Remington Rolling Block long rifle and am not 100% sure of the caliber. However, after slugging the bore and making some measurements at the breech, I believe it might be a 50-70. Anyone here have a dummy round or old case they would care to send along for verification?

    I'd dearly love to shoot this rifle. If it turns out to be a .50-70, are cases available at a reasonable cost?

    Thanks. Look forward to your response.

    PBSmith.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master Bad Ass Wallace's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    1,957
    Starline make new brass and Lyman loading dies. For boolits Lyman has the 515142 (450gn).
    My rifle is a Pedersoli 'Long Range' Sharps which is very accurate with black powder.

    Hold Still Varmint; while I plugs Yer!

  3. #3
    Boolit Master gc45's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    wash
    Posts
    522
    Do a chamber cast to be sure. You will learn a lot more than just dropping a case in there.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master 15meter's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    SE Michigan
    Posts
    2,509
    If it is a 50-70, for an inexpensive mold start with the Lee 2-cavity mold, 515-450-F. I shot it for years over 5744 to good effect.

    Moved on to a NOE 400 grain mold, easier on the lead stash, easier on a 150+ year old rifle and easier on my shoulder.

  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy namsag's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2019
    Location
    north Mississippi
    Posts
    113
    I would be a .50-70 shooter if I could find a nice rifle for it!
    Slavin' away for the Takers - I make it, They take it.

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    SW Florida
    Posts
    718
    Not quite a 50/70 but I have shot a few Swedish 12.7x44R's. Used shortened 50/70 and 50AK brass. 50/70 starting loads. Shot pretty well with the Lee mold. Also tried the Lyman 515139 (330 gr) which was wild in the rifles I tried it in. Have fun.

  7. #7

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
    dtknowles's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Southeast Louisiana
    Posts
    4,858
    Quote Originally Posted by PBSmith View Post
    Just became owner of a Remington Rolling Block long rifle and am not 100% sure of the caliber. However, after slugging the bore and making some measurements at the breech, I believe it might be a 50-70. Anyone here have a dummy round or old case they would care to send along for verification?

    I'd dearly love to shoot this rifle. If it turns out to be a .50-70, are cases available at a reasonable cost?

    Thanks. Look forward to your response.

    PBSmith.
    Your inbox is full and won't accept messages.

    Tim
    Words are weapons sharper than knives - INXS

    The pen is mightier than the sword - Edward Bulwer-Lytton

    The tongue is mightier than the blade - Euripides

  9. #9
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Portsmouth Ohio
    Posts
    356

    I grabbed a nice 50-70 roller over the winter. I have been using light loads for it. The 450 grain Lee bullet cast from pure lead. 45 grains of Swiss 1.5 and some filler. Here is a 50 yard off hand group with that load.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  10. #10
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Concho, Arizona. At home in the White Mountains at last. Formerly living in Mobile Alabama.
    Posts
    1,603
    If it's a Remington it will have the name on the tang. If fifty caliber it's likely a 12.17 x 44mmR or 42mmR. Be sure to check out how much lead is in the barrel. These bores have deep grooves. JB paste an lots of elbow grease.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  11. #11

  12. #12
    Boolit Master PBSmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    502
    Quote Originally Posted by dtknowles View Post
    Your inbox is full and won't accept messages.

    Tim
    Thanks Tim. Cleaned out the inbox. Look forward to your message,

  13. #13
    Boolit Master PBSmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    502
    Quote Originally Posted by MOA View Post
    If it's a Remington it will have the name on the tang. If fifty caliber it's likely a 12.17 x 44mmR or 42mmR. Be sure to check out how much lead is in the barrel. These bores have deep grooves. JB paste an lots of elbow grease.
    Made measurements at breech, slugged the bore. From looking at specs in Cartridges of the World, I don't see how this rifle can be anything other than 50-70. Remington stamp is plain and clear.

    Dropped in an old REM-UMC factory .50-70 round - fits. Stuck an empty .50-90 case in the chamber, right amount of casing sticking out of breech.

    I believe I read that a good number of these rifles in .50-70 were issued to state militias.
    Last edited by PBSmith; 05-28-2023 at 08:15 PM.

  14. #14
    Boolit Master PBSmith's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Posts
    502
    Does anyone shoot the old SR4759 load in these RB's? If so, how much with a 400-grain bullet? If I can get my hands on FFg, I will try the FFg duplexed with a small charge of SR4759. Decades ago I had good luck with that combination of powders in .45-70 trapdoors.

    In the meantime, I'm wondering about a straight 4759 charge.

  15. #15
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    near chicago
    Posts
    7
    I. have 2 NYS my favorite shooters.

  16. #16
    Boolit Mold Cabinfever35's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2022
    Posts
    2
    I will soon to be a 50-70 shooter. Ordered a Shiloh 1874 carbine last January of 2022. The carbines are starting come in according to Bill Goodman who I ordered through. Called last week he got a few in but mine was not one. Any time now. I pick up 100 Starline cases from Midway last year should have bought more because I haven’t seen any more they have been back ordered. RCBS has dies also. I got mine for $38. I have cast 200 Lee 450gr nice looking bullet hope it will be accurate in the carbine. I will only load bp for it.

  17. #17
    Boolit Buddy

    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Location
    Tavernier, FL Fredericktown, PA
    Posts
    455
    I have been shooting a 325gr Rapine 50 cal bullet in my Springfield Model 1870 Trapdoor with 25 grs of IMR 4759 Shoots clover leafs at 50 yards. I size em to .518 That is the groove dia of my rifle. This same load shoots great in my 50-70 Sharps 1868 conversion and 1874 Sporting rifle. The Lyman 515 450gr bullet shoots quite well but the recoil is a little stiffer. Frank Barnes wrote the book Cartridges of the World. He claims IMR 4759 is one of the best black powder substitutes. His book shows a lot of loadings for IMR4759 for many old obsolete black powder cartridges.

  18. #18
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Lenawee County , MI
    Posts
    1,324
    I have several 50-70 rifles and shoot nothing but smokeless in them. I do use the IMR 4759 and 5744 mostly but also IMR 4227, 4198 and when I had some Unique also.
    I shoot mostly the Lee 450 gr. But have used 500 gr. all shoot very good.
    One of my rifles has a .515 groove and the others have .512.

    Sorry I reilized after I posted that this is a black powder cartridge forum .

    Jedman
    Last edited by Jedman; 07-01-2023 at 03:10 PM.

  19. #19
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Jan 2023
    Posts
    30
    Just picked up a model 1870 Springfield trapdoor to plink with but also use for the local straight-walled cartridge deer season. What bullets are people liking for deer? The Lee mold seems less than ideal (smaller flat on the nose) while the Lyman 515142 seems better. Any experience out there?

  20. #20
    Boolit Bub
    Join Date
    Sep 2022
    Location
    Olympia, Wa
    Posts
    39
    The Lee is best at .515. Lyman is like .512. Lee shoots great in my 1866 &1870. 70g 2f, LRP, no crimp.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check