RanchRoper's Reloading Ruminations

[RanchRoper]

Curious....assuming one had the dies etc....what's different reloading 45-70 vs the 45 Colt. I get that it is a rifle cartridge. But a mild load is achievable I assume?
Just askin'....

[Mistered]

what's different reloading 45-70 vs the 45 Colt.

Essentially nothing - longer stroke on the press handle.

But a mild load is achievable I assume?

Yep nothing different - lots of load data available for the 45-70 - from mild to wild!
Lots of data available using Unique powder which traditionally has been used for reduced loads in a LOT of rifle cartridges - including .45-70.
I currently use 12 grains of Unique with 100-110 grain bullets in 30-30 with excellent accuracy and low recoil and report.

Trail Boss is another powder that is used for reduced loads as well.
Go to Hodgdons' website for reloading data, choose .45-70 Trapdoor loads, choose a bullet weight and click on Hodgdon in the powder catagory and pick Trail Boss. Click 'get data' and you will see reduced data using Trail Boss.

[Ojaileveraction]

45-70 is a lot like reloading pistol calaber cartridges.
No expanding ball to worry about the biggest difference from bottle neck cartridges.
My 26 inch 45-70 like heavier bullets,350 to 405 cast lead and plated best.
Powder choices are different. Many do use some of the pistol powders for 45-70,
I prefer Trailboss right now. But the other blackpowder replacers like H/IMR 4895, H/IMR 4198, and the now discontinued you gotta know a guy SR 4759.

Curious....assuming one had the dies etc....what's different reloading 45-70 vs the 45 Colt. I get that it is a rifle cartridge. But a mild load is achievable I assume?
Just askin'....

[JEBar]

Curious....assuming one had the dies etc....what's different reloading 45-70 vs the 45 Colt. I get that it is a rifle cartridge. But a mild load is achievable I assume?
Just askin'....

as others have responded, they are very similar .... one definite difference is carbide dies that eliminate the need for case lubrication are available for 45 Colt but are not available for 45-70 .... other than that, its mostly a matter of size .... with 45-70 components most components are larger .... the power of loads for both have a range which allows a person to produce mild or full power ammo

[RanchRoper]

45-70 is a straight walled brass case?

[Mistered]

It is slightly tapered (.505 to .480) but for all intents and purposes it is considered straight wall.

[Ojaileveraction]

A Sharps in 45-70 opens up a whole nuther world in shooting long range.
Conical 500gr bullets 11 lbs of recoil absorber.

[RanchRoper]

Just have to find a range to shoot at...mine goes out to 250 yds. Anyhow, I doubt my shoulder would take the pounding for long. That's why I like 45 Colt. I don't see any Sharps rifles in pistol calibers, for good reason I suppose.

[JEBar]

45-70 is a straight walled brass case?

It is slightly tapered (.505 to .480) but for all intents and purposes it is considered straight wall.

after buying our 45-70 I couldn't find carbide dies .... called RCBS and was told that the taper is the reason they don't make carbide dies for it ....

[RanchRoper]

I am excited to get my High Wall and go full Quigley on it at the range. I don't see a 45-70 in my future. Just curious as those Sharps are really nice rifles for sure. If I can plunk a 12" target at 250 yds from 1 knee with a tang sight on my High Wall and a 45 Colt bullet, I'll be a happy cowboy.

[Mistered]

I don't see a 45-70 in my future.

Me either - and I almost bought one - twice - an 1874 Shilo Sharps a few years ago and a Browning B-78 High Wall last year.
I think the .45-70 caliber is what stopped me at the last minute for both.
I decided I did not want to get into a new caliber, components needed etc. and the cost of loading the larger round and to stick with what I already had and concentrate on them!

[RanchRoper]

My thoughts too.


Meanwhile I am like a kid waiting for my Red Ryder at Christmas....

[RanchRoper]

Loaded up another 50 rounds last night. 7.0 gn of Universal 200 gr LRNFP. Inventory looking good.

[RanchRoper]

Shot a bunch lately so this weekend I restocked the cabinets. Loaded a couple hundred rounds. 7.0 gn Universal and some 200 gr lead. That is a real nice round to shoot.

[GaHenryFan]

My 45-70 and my 45 colt are lever guns, but Universal is my favorite powder for both. I don't have a need for anything beyond midrange loads and Universal does that beautifully and it's very economical to boot.

[BigAl52]

Ive had good luck with Universal as well in the 45-70 with Berrys plated 350 gr bullets. Very mild load to shoot.

[RanchRoper]

Good to know. Never know when a Sharps might end up in my gun cabinet....

[RanchRoper]

I have a new least favorite brass to work with. Hornady.

I am used to S&B brass now and make nice rounds with it but the Hornady primers don't seat well. Have to be extra careful with each one.

[GaHenryFan]

Starline has never let me down. I don't really have any experience with anything else except the hodgepodge of 223/556 stuff I pick up at the range.

[RanchRoper]

I have lots of factory so I just use that brass over again. Winchester, Remington, S&B, BH, and others. Bought some Hornady factory a couple years ago. Nice ammo but brass is tricky at times.