Back to the bench!

[Squatch]

In my experience group size with Unique blows up at 10 grs, Drop down to 8.5 and see what happens.

[DAVIDF]

Update, I spoke to Bob Palermo who owns Penn Bullets. He is making me up 1000 of the 200gr RNFPBB and 1000 240gr Truncated Cone Bevel Base, both at .432 diameter. If I can get some IMR4227 or H4227, I'll try that with the 240gr and use my trusty Red Dot with the 200gr.

[Squatch]

I loaded up some 45/70 with the Trail Boss powder. I'm finished with the cowboy level stuff for now.

300gr MBC coated over Trail Boss. All loads are mid to high mid loads for this powder from Hodgdens web site.




405 gr MBC coated over Trail Boss.




300 gr Berry's plated over Trail Boss.




Ain't they purdy? I still have a few of these but need to order some more MBC coated 45/70. I think I'll pass on the 300's this time and just get 405's.


Next up is to load some with a bit more umph! I have some 5744. In my Lyman book it seems to be the go to for 45/70 lead stuff. I have some Hornady Jacketed bullets for the 45/70 and may even load some hotter lever gun (level 2) loads up. but 1st just some hotter level 1 loads with the same bullets as above.

[BigAl52]

What bullets are you going to use with the 5744?

[JEBar]

will you be able to run your new loads through a Chrony ..?.. I'm really curious to see how they perform and at what velocity

[Squatch]

What bullets are you going to use with the 5744?

For now I'll start with the 405 MBC coated and the Berry's plated. The Berry's are supposed to be good to 1,700fps.

Later I'll try the jacketed Hornady's.

JEBar yes I'll chrono them. The ones loaded above are loaded with a high fill low power powder. I doubt any will be over 1,200 if that. Probably closer to 1,000.

But my shoulder has to heal before I get much range time. I buggered it. Getting old has it's issues.

Bear in mind I'm not looking for the hard core hot hunting stuff you 2 guys are. I'd rather shoot a bunch at the range in one sitting and still be able to use my arm tomorrow! Check the 45/70 data I just posted in this section.

[BigAl52]

I have my hunting round already. I also have the CCH version which has that nice recoil pad on it. I have some 5744 loaded up with the exact same bullet. I think I loaded 25 gr to start. Like you Im just lookin for another fun load to shoot at my bowlin pin target I have made up. Al

[JEBar]

JEBar yes I'll chrono them. The ones loaded above are loaded with a high fill low power powder. I doubt any will be over 1,200 if that. Probably closer to 1,000.

But my shoulder has to heal before I get much range time. I buggered it. Getting old has it's issues.

Bear in mind I'm not looking for the hard core hot hunting stuff you 2 guys are. I'd rather shoot a bunch at the range in one sitting and still be able to use my arm tomorrow! Check the 45/70 data I just posted in this section.

actually, we are pretty much on the same path in developing our 45-70 loads .... the vast, vast majority of our rounds will be used for punching paper, out to 100 yards .... for that, the lighter the load the better and I plan to keep hundreds loaded .... once we find the practice load we will then turn to developing a 100+/- yard deer/boar/black bear hunting load .... I do know that load will be centered around using a 300 gr Nosler Ballistic Silvertip .... once we find that load, I plan to keep a box of 50 on hand .... at this point in my life, its likely I may never again have a need for such a load but, just in case, I want to have one ready .... after that, I plan to progress to developing a powerful dangerous game load .... the odds of me actually needing such a load are even less than the deer hunting level load .... but, here again I want to have one ready to sit down at that press and crank them out and do hope to keep 50 or so loaded and ready to g ... in the balance of things, its almost certain that our Henry 44 Mag with 100 yard paper punching loads will fire thousands, if not tens of thousands, more rounds than our ever 45-70 will ... as you may have read, we are in the process of modifying/upgrading ours to drastically reduce felt recoil .... those mods aren't really needed for firing Cowboy Action or practice level ammo .... in keeping with the possibility (no matter how remote) of having an opportunity to hunt big game and/or dangerous game I want to have our Henry ready to hit the woods

[Squatch]

Just loaded up some more 45/70. These are both level 2 lever gun loads. Not safe for Trapdoor.
Berry's 350 plaled RNFP over 35 grs of AA5744.




MBC 405 coated over 28 grns of AA5744.


I'm running out of 45/70 boxes so I split the box. Completely different looking bullets.


And clearly labeled.


Not bad for a few weeks of occasional evenings with a single stage press weight every charge. I've got a lot of new stuff to shoot for groups and chrono data. Still have a couple of more loads to go.

[Mgderf]

I recently purchased a brand new H&R Handi-Rifle in .45-70govt.
It was one of the last produced before they discontinued the model.

I'm sure it would handle 2nd level loads without a problem, but I am curious if it would handle the Ruger loads.
Anyone have any insights?

Don't mean to thread-jack, but I plan to load my own for the Handi-Rifle soon.

[JEBar]

Just loaded up some more 45/70. These are both level 2 lever gun loads. Not safe for Trapdoor.
Berry's 350 plaled RNFP over 35 grs of AA5744.

what case lube do you use ?

[johnsgwh]

I think reloading is so cool.......maybe someday..............

Don't wait my man. I like reloading do much I shoot just so I can reload Its something you can pass down to your children and grandchildren.

[BigAl52]

Squatch
I also loaded 90 rounds with that 28 gr 5744 load and the MCB 405 gr. I was supposed to go out yesterday and do some shooting but my shootin buddie got held up so we didnt get out. He just bought a CCH 45-70. If your going out anytime soon let us know how those 28 grain load shot for you. Al

[BigAl52]

Just loaded up some more 45/70. These are both level 2 lever gun loads. Not safe for Trapdoor.
Berry's 350 plaled RNFP over 35 grs of AA5744.

what case lube do you use ?

I use a carters ink pad and that good ole rcbs caselube that is like STP. I have tried this Hornady spray and other sprays and I just dont trust that stuff. I put about 8 or 10 drops on the ink pad and even it out with my finger. Then roll 8 to 10 cases at a time on the pad. I never have any trouble that way. I then throw the lubed cases back in the tumbler to clean off the lube. Use a little mothers car wax in the corn corn to polish up the cases. Works good. Al

[Squatch]

Yep I'm also using the RCBS stuff that came with my rockchucker kit. I don't know how it compares to others as that is all I have used. Other than 45/70 my other dies are carbide. I like the back in the tumbler idea. I usually just wipe them down with a rag and some rubbing alcohol.

In the tumbler I use walnut shells and a dab of miner spirits and Nufinish. Makes them shine.

Not sure when I'll get out. The local range is closed till 3-31 for repairs. I'm also waiting for my shoulder to settle down a bit more. I buggered it up a few weeks ago. Old age and arthritis ain't much fun.

[JEBar]

I use a carters ink pad and that good ole rcbs caselube that is like STP. I have tried this Hornady spray and other sprays and I just dont trust that stuff. I put about 8 or 10 drops on the ink pad and even it out with my finger. Then roll 8 to 10 cases at a time on the pad. I never have any trouble that way. I then throw the lubed cases back in the tumbler to clean off the lube. Use a little mothers car wax in the corn corn to polish up the cases. Works good. Al

I tried the Hornady spray on our 45-70's, one stuck in the die and I had a heck of a time (which included saying too many words that I'll probably have to pay for down the line ) getting it out of the die ... decided to go back to the RCBS case lube but haven't had a chance to reload any since

[BigAl52]

Thats what has happened to me and I have had to replace size dies with stuck cases. Its not worth it to me I use what has worked for 40 years and no issues with it. Most of my dies for other calibers are carbide whenever carbide works.Al

[JEBar]

Thats what has happened to me and I have had to replace size dies with stuck cases. Its not worth it to me I use what has worked for 40 years and no issues with it. Most of my dies for other calibers are carbide whenever carbide works.Al

thankfully, I've never had to replace a die but sure haven't missed it by far .... to remove the 45-70 casing I had to re-seat the spent primer and take the primer punch apart .... I then opened the jaws of a bench vice to where the die was resting on the jaws and the casing wasn't touching anything .... got a metal rod and hammer and you can probably visualize the rest ..

[Squatch]

Squatch
I also loaded 90 rounds with that 28 gr 5744 load and the MCB 405 gr. I was supposed to go out yesterday and do some shooting but my shootin buddie got held up so we didnt get out. He just bought a CCH 45-70. If your going out anytime soon let us know how those 28 grain load shot for you. Al

You may very well get them tried out and tested before I do!

[Squatch]

Tested some of the 44 mag here: http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 617#p39617