The Handloaders Bench > Metallic cartridge reloading > Blackpowder Metallic cartridges > Reloading BP Metallic Cartridges |
The Handloaders Bench > Metallic cartridge reloading > Blackpowder Metallic cartridges > Reloading BP Metallic Cartridges |
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Slingshot Moderator 
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Hello all, I am about to venture into some unknown territory. I have limited experience with BP, mostly with muzzleloaders. I wish to reload 45/70 goverment for my Sharps Replica rifle 32" barrel. I am not really impressed by the BP substitues so I plan on using the real deal. Any storage suggestions? I do not plan on storing my BP in my smokeless powder cabinet and plan on only having a pound or 2 at one time. What kind of BP 2F, 3F? I have read a few books and still have some questions. Most say to let the powder flow down a tube approx. 24 - 32" into the case, why? what advantages does this have? Besides dropping around 150.00 for a black powder measure, is there an easier way to measure BP? I am mainly loading a 500 gr. bullet so what load should I use? mainly shooting 100 to 200 yard range. I know 70 grains of BP is max, and I dont really feel like killing my shoulder with max loads so what is a good mid-range load? Fillers? I have heard many different things such as cotton, paper, pillow stuffing, corn meal, cream of wheat etc. etc. Now lets say I get a load in there around 50 to 55 grs of BP, I put a cardboard wad on top, then what? Should I use one of the fillers above? and if so what kind of compression should I be looking for when I seat the bullet? Tight, loose, med? Should I use regular Large rifle primers or magnum? UGH! any information would be great. Or if you know of a good BP loading manual that you could suggest. The ones I have are from my fathers books and they are dated in the 1960's. thanks in advance, Jeff / Slingshot |
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Ranch 13 Handloading Master
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2f is a good choice for the 45-70. I do prefer Goex Cartridge tho,with Grafs 2f a very close second. Don't worry about storing bp, as long as its in the can and you're not checking the level of powder in the cans with a match its no more problem to have around than smokeless. There's no shortage of folks loading and shooting 1000's of bp rounds everyyear that use regular powder measures. Drop tubes help to settle the powder in the case, making more room to start the bullet and the wad. You can get plenty of room in the 45-70 case by just pouring the powder slowly thru the powder funnel. You'll want to place a wad from something as simple as punched from milk cartons , wax paper or tablet backs, to buying some .030 fiber wads, between the powder and the bullet. The main thing is to make sure that the bullet makes firm contact with the powder. With most 500 gr bullets that means probably no less than 65 grs of bp. "fillers" are bad juju with bp, if you need to take up more space in the case then you need to use cork or felt wads, or grease cookies. The recoil from even as much as 75 grs of 3f won't be bad to handle in your rifle. You'll also want to make sure the bullet are at least .001 over groove diameter, and are lubed with a quality blackpowder bullet lube. Large pistol or large rifle primers either one are fine. Magnum primers really are a waste with bp. |
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Mike Williams member
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Jeff, I agree with Ranch 13 about his suggestions on reloading. I would add that you just make your own droptube using copper tubing for the droptube. You will also need to compress the bp in the cartridge after using the droptube so you need a compression die. I use a .030 wad, 65 grains of 2F Goex, Lg winchester rifle primers and starline 45-70 brass. I weigh my powder charge for more consistanly. I very slightly bell the brass to seat the lubed bullet and set the bullet on the wad leaving no air space. I iron out the bell in the cartridge with a full length resizer die after removing the primer punch. You need to experiment with the OAL of cartridge, powder charge, and possibley bullet weight. I use the Lyman 520 gr govt bullet. I get acceptable accuracy at 100 yd and 200 yd 's. Not BP silouette accuracy but hunting accuracy. You may want to check out Mike Venturino's web site for his reloading the 45-70 rifle. Great infor. Have fun shooting the 45-70 with BP. Reloading with the BP is interesting and traditional. Good shooting, Mike |
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DavidVanVorous member
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Slingshot wrote: Hello all,Simplest way to reduce recoil is to go with a lighter slug like the 420 gr Lyman 457193 (weight varies with alloy from 405 to 420). But BP isnt nearly as annoying on long strings as the recoil is more of a push in comparison to white...  One of my more accurate loads is said slug in front of 70 gr 3f and a .06 wad ignited by a Fed 215M. Just dont compress the load with the slug and it will need to be compressed so I use a compression widget I install in the seater die prior to seating the slug. D. |
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