Not sure how I feel about Cowboy loads...

[220]

My 45/70 has only ever fired 5 jacketed rounds, 3 for me to see where it was shooting from the factory and one each by my son and a mate that were with me at the time.
For plinking loads I use lee 340gr at around 1200fps have tried 3 different powders and 2 of them will put 5 shots under 1.5" at 50 the 3rd wouldn't do better than 3" no matter what I tried.
The other load I have uses a NOE 405gr, as a HP it weighs 370gr driven at over 1600fps it has proven adequate for any game I hunt. It will put 5 shots under 2" at 100 with either the HP or FP

[Kissmybrass]

And the winner is...
Hornady Leverevolution. These will put meat on the table! Problem is I love the cowboy loads that kick way less but couldn't keep them within a 8 inch group at 50 yds. I'm determined to start reloading so I need advice on a happy medium here. The Hornady bullets are expensive and forces me to use the shorter cartridge. Don't like that. I have a bunch of normal 45-70s so need to figure out a decent bullet and powder combination.

64817192169__05357626-2B2B-4FAE-9E8D-4139A0BB972F.HEIC.jpeg (166.73 KiB) Viewed 1007 times

[Vaquero]

heck check out the reloading section, you may find what your looking for in there.
If not ask and I'm pretty sure one of the many that load for that cal. will speak up.

RP

[John E Davies]

For sure, bullet diameter is very important with lead!!! Undersized bullets or improper alloy can destroy accuracy. At the very least slug your barrels with a dead soft round ball, there are instructions online.Unless you are very lucky, one load is not going to work well in all your guns. Here is a source for oval fish sinkers if you don’t want to look locally… https://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulle ... n=slug.htm

I like cowboy loads for casual plinking, using Trail Boss so I cannot possibly get a double charge. OTH I don’t like using lead for a lot of reasons. I don’t like handling it or being exposed to fumes when shooting. This is a purely personal choice…

If you shoot a .45/70 more than a couple of boxes per year you need to reload. I quit that caliber because of shoulder pain, and switched to .44 Mag.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[BigAl52]

Agree on slugging the barrel if you want to shoot lead. What powder do you have available in your area?

[Kissmybrass]

Just getting started in reloading so not sure what powders but I'm just outside Seattle and there are lots of Bass Pros and Sportsmans Warehouses around me. Not understanding the "egg" sinkers at all. (Newbie lol)

[John E Davies]

Just getting started in reloading so not sure what powders but I'm just outside Seattle and there are lots of Bass Pros and Sportsmans Warehouses around me. Not understanding the "egg" sinkers at all. (Newbie lol)

LOl, that is why I said instructions on “slugging a barrel” are online. You drive a soft lead slug (round ball or a sinker) through from one end to the other and measure it. You need to get a reloading 101 book, I really like the “ABCs of Reloading”, but there are many others.

https://www.amazon.com/ABCs-Reloading- ... 245&sr=8-2

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Bake]

I'm a shooter, not a hunter! Find an LGS ( local gun shop ) In your area that leans toward Skeet & Trap and talk with them about recoil reduction. When I first started out in "C" class I was shooting "Wally's World" 1&1/8 oz. loads in a stock Browning BT-99. By the time I was promoted to "AA" my loads were reloaded Winchester "AA"s 7/8 oz. and my gun had gained about a pound of lead shot in the butt...