RanchRoper's Reloading Ruminations

[RanchRoper]

Don't know if this will shed any light for you, or if I am off target on what you are looking for.

I hand load 9 different calibers. I just received a 45-70 Henry for Christmas and ordered all of the needed components to start loading. I also bought a box of factory ammo to put rounds down range before I am able to load. Here is how the numbers break out.

Since the 45-70 is a straight walled case, I will be able to get more reloads than a necked rifle round. The numbers are based on getting 5 reloads out of each piece of brass, although I expect to get more. All components were purchased at Midway USA.

Factory Ammo: Black Hills 45-70 20 round box 1250 FPS= $33.86 500 rounds = $846.00

Reloading Components: (reloaded rounds are 1251 FPS
Star Line Brass: 100 pieces = $46.76
Bullets: Hunters 405 grain bullets = $0.36 each X 500 = $180.00
CCI Primers 1,00 = $36.00 500 = $18.00
Powder: H4198 27 grains = 13,550 grains or 2 pounds for 500 rounds = $60.00

Total for 500 rounds:
Factory: $846.00
Reloaded ammo: $304.76
Savings: $ 542.24 savings or roughly 60% savings

Ok I've thought it over. What he said.

[CT_Shooter]

Here's my accounting for the cost of reloading components.

This a screenshot of a spreadsheet I last updated in March of 2017 to chart the cost of my .357 reloads. The cost per bullet is listed in the chart, the other costs are calculated by formulas using the the average prices I paid for powders and primers, which are listed at the bottom. I only use once fired factory brass, so there's no cost for it factored into the cost per round.

Reloading Costs.JPG (70.47 KiB) Viewed 3475 times

[runnin n gunnin]

RR - What I like about your posts is they are short, to the point and Poignant !

CT- Love the spread sheet, and love the Hornady JHP XTPs over H110 for .357, one of my favorites as well !

[RanchRoper]

That's great info guys, sorry PT7 but I would never stay interested in tracking that level of detail for any more than about 2 days...Cowboy A.D.D....just want it to whinny, moo or go bang.

The big $ saver for me is that I will likely never have to buy brass. I have LOTS.

[RanchRoper]

Put 100 rounds through the reloading press today. A good way to enjoy your firearm hobby even when the weather is way below zero...

[RanchRoper]

Question about 45-70; being a straight wall cartridge, how many times are you reloading the brass? What is considered a mild plinking load or is there such a thing? What size lead would that be? What powder are you guys using? Curious.

[Mistered]

No experience with .45-70 but Unique would most likely work well for some nice, 'light' loads in it with cast bullets.

I can scan and send you some data from an 'old' Lyman reload manual if you would like that shows several 'lighter' loads for it - including Unique based loads.

Some of these are in the 1200 - 1400 FPS range which would probably be very nice 'shooters'.

[RanchRoper]

I see lots of 45-70 loads in the Lee manual but I am not familiar with that cartridge at all either. Thks

[BigAl52]

That universal powder and a 350 gr Berrys bullet makes a nice plinkin load RR. I use it all the time

[RanchRoper]

Interesting.

[Ojaileveraction]

I only shoot below 1300fps. I've use 300 and 405 cast and 350 plated. Best performance with 350 and 405 grain bullets.
Trail Boss gives me consistent fps over H4198. More a matter of fill % than anything else.
At the Trail Boss pressures I expect the brass to last a long time.
Of course there are many that are happy using nothing but Unique or Universal.

Question about 45-70; being a straight wall cartridge, how many times are you reloading the brass? What is considered a mild plinking load or is there such a thing? What size lead would that be? What powder are you guys using? Curious.

[BigAl52]

That 300 gr Nosler Bullet that Jim uses to works well for a Hunting load. Ive shot some of those with 4198 and RL7. Recoil with those isnt that bad. I know you dont do much hunting or I dont think you do.

[Grunt67]

I've been reloading since 1968, pistol, rifle, always picked them up by hand ( clean hands ), never had an issue. Yes, I've put one in upside down, mashed it up good, no explosion. I take what I read on the 'net, with a few grains of salt. I'm old school, still weigh each powder charge on my scale ( checked with check weights before starting.)
The only round I've ever had fail to fire, was a factory load Winchester 30-06. none for reloads.

[RanchRoper]

Might as well reload some stuff tonight, the wife is watching the oscars.....YUCK.

[BigAl52]

Ya my wife and Neighbor right now are watchin the preliminary to it and some of the language thats comin out of there mouths with comments on the costumes is makin me think i might be in a construction workers enviroment

[CT_Shooter]

I agree that watching the Oscars ceremony is YUCK. Watching Oscar nominated films is usually way better. I'm watching The Green Mile tonight. It's a great Steven King book and an oscar nominated Tom Hanks movie. Love them both. But reloading 45 Colt might even be a better way to pass the evening.

Might as well reload some stuff tonight, the wife is watching the oscars.....YUCK.

[BigAl52]

Im gonna watch the Hockey game here in just a few minutes.

[Grunt67]

I haven't done any actual reloading today ( yet ). Did go by the Reloaders Bench store in Mt. Juliet,TN today & picked up a copy of
the 10th Edition Hornady manual & the 50th edition Lyman manual. Looks like some good reading.

[RanchRoper]

Thoughts on these loads for a 45-70? 300 gr LFN bullet. Min/max powder in bold type.


Hodgdon Varget .458" 2.465" 45.0 1,276 17,800 CUP 55.0 1,530 20,600 CUP
Hodgdon H4895 .458" 2.465" 45.0 1,326 14,400 CUP 51.0 1,464 15,500 CUP
Hodgdon H4198 .458" 2.465" 30.0 1,175 14,400 CUP 35.5 1,418 16,100 CUP

[BigAl52]

Keith can you get Berrys Plated bullets up there?