45-60
- Thread starter roundgun
- Start date
I have never loaded for that particular caliber but have loaded for black powder cartridges before. I was told early on that one key safety feature with black powder cartridge is to compress the powder. You don't want ANY space between bullet base and powder. When properly loaded with black powder, a bullet can be pulled and the powder inside will be so compressed that it cant be poured out and must be dug out.
Charlie Foxtrott
Member
I do not have it readily available.
But I will check out some load info for you later on. 30-30 remchester is correct. black powder loads can not have any void space in the cartridge. Actually a compressed load is preferred. Thus the use of a drop tube is also a good way to go.
Additionally Buffalo arms loads and sells 45-60 black powder rounds. Pricey but they do sell them. They are currently out of stock like everything else. But you can get on their notify list.
But I will check out some load info for you later on. 30-30 remchester is correct. black powder loads can not have any void space in the cartridge. Actually a compressed load is preferred. Thus the use of a drop tube is also a good way to go.
Additionally Buffalo arms loads and sells 45-60 black powder rounds. Pricey but they do sell them. They are currently out of stock like everything else. But you can get on their notify list.
I had trouble finding any info other than the cartridge is in the Model 1876 "Centennial" Winchester. There is a 45-60 Peabody round also, but they are not interchangeable.
Cartridges of the World, lists the FL velocity as 1326 fps, which is typical of Back Powder. No Ideal bullet mold number was listed, so I can't even tell you what weight bullet to use.
Midway lists RCBS & Redding dies and shell holders. Brass can be formed from 45-70, but modern brass won't hold as much BP!
Somebody seems to be making ammo as Cimarron is reproducing the 1876 rifles.
Ivan
Cartridges of the World, lists the FL velocity as 1326 fps, which is typical of Back Powder. No Ideal bullet mold number was listed, so I can't even tell you what weight bullet to use.
Midway lists RCBS & Redding dies and shell holders. Brass can be formed from 45-70, but modern brass won't hold as much BP!
Somebody seems to be making ammo as Cimarron is reproducing the 1876 rifles.
Ivan
Don’t shoot smokeless loads intended for modern reproductions in your original Winchester.
The loads I’ve seen were for 210-300gr soft cast bullets backed with 55gr of 2F. Do some online research and be careful.
The loads I’ve seen were for 210-300gr soft cast bullets backed with 55gr of 2F. Do some online research and be careful.
Hang-Fire Hank
Member
CORNMEAL FILLER
Roundgun: If a full case of BP is too much recoil in your '76, try varying amounts of corn meal on top of the BP till it has to be slightly compressed by the bullet. NO AIR SPACE!! I've done this many times with antique rifles/revolvers in various calibers....particularly 44-40 and 45LC revolver loads, where a full load of BP was just too much recoil. Didn't need to kill the target, just knock it over (steel).
Proceed cautiously, keep notes, test before loading any quantity.
Hank M.
Roundgun: If a full case of BP is too much recoil in your '76, try varying amounts of corn meal on top of the BP till it has to be slightly compressed by the bullet. NO AIR SPACE!! I've done this many times with antique rifles/revolvers in various calibers....particularly 44-40 and 45LC revolver loads, where a full load of BP was just too much recoil. Didn't need to kill the target, just knock it over (steel).
Proceed cautiously, keep notes, test before loading any quantity.
Hank M.
Probably the most knowledgeable gun writer on shooting black powder lever actions is Mike Venturino. He wrote a book titled "Shooting lever guns of the Old West" and it can still be found at that one large company that sells everything on line! 
I thought I had a copy, but cannot locate it.
It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun with that gun. When I was shooting SASS, I used to love watching the "old" guys shooting their black powder buffalo guns!
I thought I had a copy, but cannot locate it. It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun with that gun. When I was shooting SASS, I used to love watching the "old" guys shooting their black powder buffalo guns!
BigMuddy
Member
I have a bit of experience with the 1876 Winchester and the 45-60 cartridge. I have one original rifle as well as a Chaparral reproduction. Used the repro to take a bison in KS.
My “Buffalo” load was a 410 grain bullet with 50 grains Goex cartridge grade. Bullet was cast 20:1 lubed with SPG. Velocity was 1250 fps.
The original load had 60 grains 2f powder and a 300 grain bullet. Velocity ran around 1350 fps.
You really need to load with relatively soft bullets and lube specifically for black powder. It takes a pretty good bore to shoot BP well. Rough bores will foul much more than a good smooth one. If you don’t cast there are BP specific slugs available.
I have used smokeless in my reproduction and know people who have done same in originals. I don’t necessarily recommend that, but they use the same powder I do. I shoot mine with 300 grain bullets and 23 grains of 5744.
76’s are really cool rifles. Makes you want to watch Tom Horn��
Dan
Dan
My “Buffalo” load was a 410 grain bullet with 50 grains Goex cartridge grade. Bullet was cast 20:1 lubed with SPG. Velocity was 1250 fps.
The original load had 60 grains 2f powder and a 300 grain bullet. Velocity ran around 1350 fps.
You really need to load with relatively soft bullets and lube specifically for black powder. It takes a pretty good bore to shoot BP well. Rough bores will foul much more than a good smooth one. If you don’t cast there are BP specific slugs available.
I have used smokeless in my reproduction and know people who have done same in originals. I don’t necessarily recommend that, but they use the same powder I do. I shoot mine with 300 grain bullets and 23 grains of 5744.
76’s are really cool rifles. Makes you want to watch Tom Horn��
Dan
Dan
Charlie Foxtrott
Member
I checked Lyman's black powder loading manual.
And also the Black powder reloading guide published by Mike Venturino and Steve Garbe. Neither one of them list load info for the 45-60 round.
But as stated in my earlier post. Buffalo arms loads it for sale. You might call them and see what they can tell you.
https://www.buffaloarms.com/45-60-winchester-305-grain-fn-amobp4560win.html
And also the Black powder reloading guide published by Mike Venturino and Steve Garbe. Neither one of them list load info for the 45-60 round.
But as stated in my earlier post. Buffalo arms loads it for sale. You might call them and see what they can tell you.
https://www.buffaloarms.com/45-60-winchester-305-grain-fn-amobp4560win.html
