Smokeless Loads for 45-70 and 45-90

[JCORD1]

Someone have any loads for an 1885 hi-wall single shot?

A friend suggested IMR 4227 with a Styrofoam wad over the charge to keep the powder at the bottom of the shell.

Thanks
Joe

 

[Spitfire1]

Funny that you should ask about the 45-70 , I am thinking of turning one of my Lee Enfields into a 45-70 so any load data will be welcomed by me too .

 

[ceader savage]

look at IMR 4831 SAYS 56 GR WITH 350 GR HORNADY OR H 4895 55GR WITH SAME BULLET

 

[JCORD1]

100 yds. 45-90, 500 LRN,24grns of 4227. 7 rounds  1.681 group

 

[coyotetracks]

There are pros and cons to using fillers, but I've done it for years. Fillers are like yer powder, you have to keep it dry. Moisture is your enemy, but here in Wyoming the air is always dry and it works for me. I shoot the 45-70 with a combination load of 4198 topped off with Cream O' Wheat under a Lee 405 grain .457 bullet that I cast from a mixture of WW and range lead. I place an over-powder vegetable wad to keep the 4198 from mixing with the filler and top to within 1/4" of a full case with the COW. This allows a little bit of compression when seating the bullet to depth and holds everything in place. The load I use Chronys at about 1650 fps. My CVA Apex single shot likes it and groups about 1-1/2" at 100 yds. with a 4.5 power scope, which is about all my old eyes can do nowadays.

 

[Spitfire1]

Looking good Joe ......load and bullet used ?

 

[patocazador]

look at IMR 4831 SAYS 56 GR WITH 350 GR HORNADY OR H 4895 55GR WITH SAME BULLET

Boy, that doesn't sound right. 4895 is fairly fast burning and 4831 is slow. To be almost the same load with either just doesn't seem logical.  :scratch: 

 

[Archie otto]

Most of the modern load manuals designed for smokless powders have three specific levels of load data for the .45-70.  High pressure like the Ruger #1, medium for the marlin lever gun and then some light loads for the trapdoor.  I have not looked for smokeless .45-90 loads.

 

[Spitfire1]

Ah silly me .....never saw the bottom of the pic