45-70 loading

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  • Melnic

    Ultimate Member
    MDS Supporter
    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    45-70 reloading

    I got a single cavity mold almost a year ago for $26 (back when you could just order what you wanted pre pandemic). With the acquisition of the Sharps, I decided to start my own powder coated reloads. I do have gray and gold so I can change the colors on the next batch but I just picked red this time.
    405gr with hollow base.

    I only did 2 loads for the first time to see where the velocity was. 12.0 and 12.5 of Unique. They were 1130 and 1155fps


    This was 12.0gr @ 50 yards

    5855c96abed51d4865e0fae8a12c7b40.jpg


    1e8a9e15647754da0a9a4ada0ea1e0cd.jpg


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    Last edited:

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
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    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
    HoCo
    Nice.

    What distance was that group shot at?

    oh, sorry, 50 yards. That's where i usually start my rifle reloading at, then move out from that. With the iron sights, its hard to hold tighter groups than that for me anyway so it may be even better than that.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
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    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
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    Still not bad.

    Is that coating on the target from the bullets? Is that normal? Didn't think it came off much at all, but I don't shoot a lot of it to know.

    no, that is a previous target under it that is orange (see the thread in the Black Powder section)
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
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    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
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    Outstanding!!!!!!!!!!

    Did you use any filler between the Unique and the bullet????

    No, I have heard of people using fillers but I also hear lots of others saying you don't need it with Unique.
    By the way, here are the Chrono readings on that 3 shot group
    1129,1134,1131
     

    byf43

    SCSC Life/NRA Patron Life
    No, I have heard of people using fillers but I also hear lots of others saying you don't need it with Unique.
    By the way, here are the Chrono readings on that 3 shot group
    1129,1134,1131

    Nice. Really nice velocities.

    Several years ago, a guy at my sportsman's club, had a Trapdoor in .45-70, and he was shooting 405 cast with Unique and also had loads with 2400.

    I remember the Unique loads, and he said that he used "cream of wheat" on top of the powder, and seated the bullet on top.

    My youngest son was about 12 or 13, then.
    He shot the rifle off of sandbags, and they were quite mild.
    Brad called them 'bunny farts', but, the bullets really "Thwaaaaaaaaped" the 24" gong at 200 yards.
    That gong weighed over 100 lbs, and that slug moved it.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
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    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
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    Loaded up some with the Amazon powder that is gray. I think it’s more a stealth traditional look than the red.
    349b7bdf57f23a8c7c0ec053d5ee70c0.jpg



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    Trigger Time

    Amazed
    MDS Supporter
    Feb 23, 2013
    1,231
    Some good looking Boolits !! Another good lite load with the 405's is 13-14 grains of Trail Boss, slightly compressed, it's a lot of fun to shoot out of my 1895 guide gun.
     

    C.Alls

    Active Member
    Nov 9, 2013
    237
    Some good looking Boolits !! Another good lite load with the 405's is 13-14 grains of Trail Boss, slightly compressed, it's a lot of fun to shoot out of my 1895 guide gun.

    Great advice! I have never shot a 45-70 that didn't shoot amazing with that combination.
     

    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
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    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
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    Had the Sharps out today and the wind was nasty ONLY while I was shooting :(

    Wind moving and gusting from left to right and I could tell. Wind knocked my target frame over on the first group. This is the group with the thinner gray powder coat.
    I’m going to coat the next batch with the gray and load them and have it back on a less windy day. I need to stop testing these low velocity loads in the wind


    813b234f746d3f2e50fc91fc58ee0701.jpg



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    Melnic

    Ultimate Member
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    Dec 27, 2012
    15,282
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    Groups were good at 50 so I took it to 100
    I need to put my RX glasses on by the time cause hard to see the black dot and align it right. 2.5” group.

    e2685971047ee3b777e2c461dfce404e.jpg



    I’m wondering if I should develop a stronger load that gives me more velocity for longer distances. I’m still I believe subsonic right now though.

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