Hi guys, finally to the point where I'm ready to load for this cartridge. I have a Pedersoli 1874 Sharps that I will be loading the big 535gr Postell boolit (SPG lube) into (boolits sized to .458) and plan on using Graf's 2F or 3F powder. So far I've set the dies up to seat the boolit roughly .005 off the lands and loaded up a dummy round. Dummy round seats fine and the breech block closes with no issues. So before I start pumping out ammo, a few questions, if you would be so kind;
1) Would you recommend 2F or 3F, and why? (or some of each?)
2) How many grains should I be expected to squeeze in the case? (obviously not 70). I don't plan on using a drop tube but do have a Montana Precision Swaging compression die in .45 cal. Or would you consider a drop tube a "must"?
3) I was hoping to not have to crimp but the boolit seems fairly loose once seated. With the dummy round inside, tapping my kinetic puller once on the floor popped the boolit completely out of the case. I have both the factory crimp built into the Cowboy dies and also a Lee Factory Crimp Die for the .45-70. Or am I doing something wrong? This was with factory new (out of the box) Starline brass, unsized or anything. Should I be sizing new unprimed brass before use?
4) How much freebore is recommended on these boolits? I used .005 off the lands as an arbitrary setting, woud more or less be recommended for this load, and why?
Any other tricks, tips or suggestions gratefully accepted also! Thanks in advance!