.45-70 Reloading?

Jay, if you lived closer to me or along my path to work around Midland, TX I would give you a Pacific 007 single stage press. I've had it since the early 80's and the only reason I'm not using it nowadays is that I replaced it on my bench with a Redding T-7 turret press. It's basically the same as the present Hornady Lock-N-Load Classic they sell nowadays.
 
Guys I am considering a .45-70 Gov’t single-shot Sharp’s rifle and want to take up reloading and casting bullets for that cartridge.

Now I don’t reload anything else or have plans to, so want to keep the setup as low-cost and simple as possible. I don’t want to have to invest in a multi-stage max-capacity reloading stand to make only a few dozen rounds per week. Buying factory ammo is out of the question, it is prodigiously expensive for that caliber.

I have never reloaded a round of ammo in my life but have read about reloading for years and understand most things about it.

So guys, I am looking for the most basic, simple, and low startup cost to reloading .45-70. High output is not needed, I’d only be shooting maybe 50 rounds per month. Are there lee-loaders or other simple hand presses for this rounds?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated from the reloaders here. Thanks in advance, guys! :)
What IGGY said and you’ll be fine. I have a turret press but still use the rock chucker for 45-70 which is my favorite rifle round.
 
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.

Many Lyman 310 sets are listed on eBay right now at prices much cheaper than that. For a long time when I was shooting .45-70s mine did yeoman service for me in loading thousands of rounds and it was the perfect loader to use while watching TV. All I needed in addition to it was a loading block and a powder dipper. Then there is the historical aspect. Back when .45-70 rifles were high tech in the world of shooting, so were reloading tools similar to the Lyman 310. Presses which are so common today were far, far in the future.
 
Last edited:
Thank you! Can the rock checker be clamped to an ordinary table? I rent, so having a dedicated work bench is not easy.

That is exactly what I did back when I was in college (40+ years ago). I still have my RCBS Rock Chucker, they’re built hell-for-stout and I have no doubt it will outlive me. In fact, it’s about the only thing I have left from back then (after two divorces)...
 
Elmer's load for Marlin 1895's and the 1886 Winchester was 53 grains of IMR 3031and a 405 grain jacketed bullet!
 
I load for my Sharps 1874 Creedmoor repro on either my Lyman 310 or my CoAx. The 310 basically neck sizes only, whereas I use the RCBS Cowboy dies in the press due to their being very cast bullet friendly. The Sharps loves a 535gr Postell boolit over 37gr of Varget. I tried coatings (Hi-Tek & powder) on the boolits, and the gun prefers lube (which is way easier/faster via Star lubrisizer). I started out some decades ago with the original Lee Loader and a hammer, and there is no way I will ever do that again. YMMV.
 
Last edited:
I listed the tong tool company because the OP had inquired about them. I pointed out they were pricey. I did not mean to direct him there to begin loading.
I agree, a single stage press would be best to start. I can’t offer advice on the cartridge, as I have never loaded it.
 
One thing about the Lee Hand Loader...

I believe that they only neck size shouldered cartridges, which is fine for shooting from the same rifle. I'm not sure how a 45-70 is sized being a straight wall cartridge.

With a press and individual dies you can vary the amount of sizing with the die set up and also get full length or base sizing dies if you want. Of course that's money, but it's the best control over how you want to reload.
 
Back
Top