.45-70 Reloading?

[Bakebfr480]

When I got my first sharps rifle about 15 years ago I jumped into the BPCR game! I initially loaded 1000 45/70 rounds with 65-75 grains of BP and a 550 Hoch Creedmoor cast bullet. All loaded with a Lee hand held press! Now, 15 years and 4 sharps rifles later I no longer use the hand held press but I still use the same bullet and load! I don't mess around with smokeless powders in the 45/70!

 

[JayFramer]

Thank you guys SO much!! I will have to research the Lyman 310, are those still being made?

Also, out of curiosity, does anyone know the cost of a cast and reloaded .45-70 round? Hopefully it’s cheaper than the dollar per round factory stuff!!

 

[Engineer1911]

This is about "What" to load in your 45-70 cartridges: 45 - 70 Frustration

 

[cowboy4evr]

The above suggestion to use 12 grs of Unique is a great load , from all that I have read . Much cheaper than bp . . I would also suggest a LEE mold and use their lubricant , Alox . You can add some Johnsons paste wax to make it stretch further . I use my LEE dipper set , constantly . If you go that route , then I suggest a powder scale to verify their loading data . The LEE scale works fine "IF " you make sure it is setting on a level platform and you use that same base everytime you use it . You can also purchase a set of check weights . I have made many dippers using spent cases . I JB weld a paper clip to the bottom , JB weld a pop sicle stick to the paper clip for a handle . I file the case down till I get the amount of powder I want . The scale will tell you that . Keep it simple , Regards, Paul

 

[Buford57]

Everything from Lee Loaders to single stage presses to 310 dies on E-Bay. Whole set-up for under $100, maybe $50 if you shop right. If you buy 310 dies, I know where large handles could be had.

 

[JayFramer]

Guys thanks!! Now to pick between the Lee loader, hand press, or the Lyman 310... oh, but how to pick??

 

[fortyshooter]

I have the 1885 High Wall .45-70 and also a Marlin 1895 GS and reloading for that cartridge will really open the doors to enjoying shooting the single shot rifles.
I load for other calibers too so my loader is the Dillon 550B.
When sizing the .45-70 case use plenty of lube so case doesn't get stuck in die.
My plinking loads are the 405 gr. hard cast bullet loaded over 13-14 gr. of Unique. IMR 3031 is a good powder too for hotter loads.
When you really want to ring the steel targets try one of the 500 gr. bullets!

 

[The Norseman]

45-70 Government Cartridge Reloading

Very good Topic, Advise, and discussion.

About 8 month's ago I started to Reload for
the 45-70 Govt.

I am an Established Reloader and started in 1979.

All I have ever used is the Single Stage, 1 at a
time, Bolt to the wood top Press. Lee Dies are
most of my Die Sets, I just like Lee, they do what
I need, accurate, and reasonable priced.

My other Press is an Old Used Big RCBS JR.
It resides in the Garage. All Cartridges are prepped in
Summer and reloaded in Winter as needed.

I see Powder's have not been really discussed.
Through my research, IMR 4198 or RL-7, are
the go to Powders. I have been using IMR 4198,
because I lucked out in having 8 pounds of it.

I didn't want to use the big 405gr bullet, so I
started with what I thought was reasonable, the
300gr Hornady .458dia XTP bullets. Currently
I am using Oregon Trail 300gr .459dia Lead
Round Nose Flat Point.

The Lee 45-70 dies I lucked out and found them
New in the Box on Amazon, at a very reasonable
price. They work very nicely with the Lead and
Hornady bullets.

I just picked a middle of the Road Powder Load
running approx. 1300fps. From what I've read
this will kill anything from Gophers to Grizzly's.
That Lead Bullet, 300gr to 405gr Penetrates and
Destroys everything in it's path.

Any way the best to you and your Endeavors.

 

[fredj338]

Thanks so much, all!

Yes either a Lee Loader or Hand Press are more what I am lookimg for. Something cheap and small and simple.

Between those two, which one do you guys think would be better?

The hand press. The lee whack-a-mole is just way too much work for even 10rds. Plus, advance in your reloading & the Hand press can be used to deprime or seat, so not a total waste. The whack-a-mole, total waste. The Lyman, not even close imo. Break it, no one is fixing it for you. Break the hand press, Lee will replace it. & it takes any dies, the Lyman, uh no.

 

[k22fan]

I presume that Fred's criticism is about Lyman's long discontinued 310 tong tool. While the almost antique 310 tool uses long discontinued small diameter dies Lyman's aluminum framed hand press is not significantly different than Lee's. I owned both at the same time. During the 1990s both manufacturers included one for free when you bought something else. That's how I wound up with three hand presses. One of the things Lee included a free hand press with was their reloading manual. To get new reloaders started that was marketing genius. If one of their orange hand presses failed I'm sure Lyman would replace it the same as Lee would.

 

[bigggbbruce]

Also, out of curiosity, does anyone know the cost of a cast and reloaded .45-70 round? Hopefully it’s cheaper than the dollar per round factory stuff!!

Here's the deal.. Only caliber you plan on reloading.

It all depends on how much you "really" will shoot the gun.

By the time you buy everything you need, it will take many rounds to catch up to the cost and become economical.

 

[MarkL_01]

Thank you! Can the rock checker be clamped to an ordinary table? I rent, so having a dedicated work bench is not easy.

When I lived in an apartment, I got a cheap nightstand, reinforced the top with a section of 2 x 12 board, and mounted an RCBS Jr press on it. There was room for the press, a reloading block and a scale. I used it as my reloading bench for years.

-Mark

 

[rwsmith]

The Hand Press......

The Lee Loader would be the cheapest way to go and is perfect for what you are doing, but the loading process doesn't quite teach the way things are done in a conventional press.

The hand press is EXACTLY like a bench press, only not on a bench. You will need dies and a shell holder and a way to prime the case. (I use a Lee Hand Loader. Careful, some hand primers are so safe that they don't work.)

I recommend the Imperial sizing wax also. A very little goes a long way, but if you slick 'em up good, the hand press may be much easier.

There is also neck or full length sizing to consider. PARTIAL sizing with a full length die may work in some guns, but you'll have to experiment. If you use the same gun, you can get by with just as much case sizing as will work for you.

Once I've shot the cartridges, SOME of the ones I shoot, like .44 magnum are very easy to resize. Not sure why. But my Mosin cases size pretty easily, too. Full sizing 30-06 for me can take a lot of pressure. Whatever works for you.

Even if you use the Lee Loader with scoops, READ up in a good how-to section of a reloading manual. It's very useful and needed knowledge, especially being that there are many types of cartridges and some have special requirements. Most straight wall cartridges are 'straight' forward. Some, like 9mm are very touchy when it comes to Over All Length.

There are also rules of reloading, like start low and work up the charge. It's like the basic rules of shooting. Things you really need to know like seating primers and headspace.

Make sure that the powder you choose is suited for the caliber and the bullet you are using. You may want something versatile enough to use in other cartridges.

 

[fortyshooter]

Yes pick up a Lyman loading manual,the 49th or new 50th is good and read up on loading the 45-70. If you are near a Cabela's they have those small manuals for loads on specific calibers with info from many powder and bullet companies.
There are 3 levels of load rankings Springfield,Marlin and Ruger and from what rifle you have I would stay in the Springfield level.

To start off I would purchase 405 gr. cast bullets and work yourself into the loading process.
But first get some off the shelf ammo and see how the gun shoots and you will also have some used brass to start with.

For cleaning used brass I found that a case tumbler using crushed walnut you find at Pet Smart works really well.

 

[k22fan]

Truly minimal .45-70 reloading tools:

1.) home made powder scoop
2.) hand priming tool (This is the only store bought tool on the list.)
3.) pointy implement to tap out spent primers and a hole to work over (The tip of a nail can be filed so that it will pass through the flash holes and a nut will suffice for the hole.)
4.) over powder wads, preferably felt
5.) container that you can scoop black powder out of (It has to have a a lid to keep out sparks. A cottage cheese container will do.)

Shorten one case to where the bottom of a seated bullet would be. Seat a primer. Scoop black powder to fill the case level full. Do not use the same case that you are using to fire the gun because the risk of a smoldering ember left from the prior shot is unacceptable. Put the lid back on over the bulk powder to keep out sparks. Press your over powder wad in with your thumb. Black powder should be compressed a little. Slide your bullet into the chamber with your little finger. Unlike the USS Missouri's 16" guns you do not need a proper rammer but if it makes you happy whittle a piece of wood. The case rams the bullet into the lead. Ideally you want the over powder wad to press the bullet against the lead.

While I had plenty of reloading tools so I did not have to improvise, for a while this was my favorite way to fire trap door Springfields because at the end of the day I only had to wash out one case with hot soapy water. Maybe I could have detected a difference in accuracy if I'd had a scope mounted on the carbine.

 

[nicky4968]

Still manufactures the 310 tong tool.
Not cheap by any means, but will last forever.

Welcome to The 310 Shop Website!

Bought Kake Kutter some years back. Very satisfactory.

 

[glowe]

I must have weak hands, because I never had any enjoyment using a 310. My father had one for 8mm and I found it to be slow, awkward and my hands got tired after loading about 50 rounds. Wouldn't it be even harder to load large rifle calibers like 45-70?

 

[k22fan]

The business nickey4968 linked above is selling both newly made and old 310 tong tools and dies. They want $240 for a .45-70 310 tong tool set. That is a poor place to direct some one who wants to start reloading inexpensively. Tong tools use small diameter dies. It's been a long time since Ideal also made bench presses that fit those small diameter dies. It would be a lot smarter to stick with tools that use standard 7/8" die threads so the dies can be used in all the presses that you buy in the future.

 

[SMSgt]

My two cents worth: I think for any amount of reloading, you'll do yourself a disservice buying anything less than a single-stage press. I use a Lee Hand Press for prepping all my pistol cases, and it would be a chore to try to load .45-70 cases with it. Nothing will turn one off from reloading than to make it difficult or tedious to do.

The Lee Loader and Lyman 310 tools were okay when that's all one had back in the 1800s, but reloading has progressed far ahead of those tools.

With the Lee Breech Lock press costing $55 direct from Lee, it is just as affordable and more practical than the others. It surely can be found for less through other sources.

 

[Ackley1952]

If you know casting is in your future go ahead and buy press cause you’ll need it for lubing and sizing after casting. But I’m like these other guys buy bullets from others as long as you can . After you cast and shoot your homemade just to prove you can you’ll go back to buying and realize what a bargain they are. But idea of reloading is only way to go .