I've been toying with the idea with loading some 45/70 ammo with black powder. I have a H&R Buffalo Classic single shot and I have read some articles about loading black powder for this rifle, but it seems I've long trashed that magazine and can't remember what it said. Has anyone done this before? Any suggestions? What velocities could I expect?
45/70 blackpowder
- Thread starter telkev
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NYLES
Well-Known Member
Cant help from here could if I was at home, but why use blackpowder when you dont have to?
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
45/70
It's realy very simple
If your not familiar with black powder I would recomend
finding a black powder reloading manual from someone
like Gun Digest.
They have lots of info on the subject.
You will find that 70grs will not go in the case, so if you want
top loads you may want to go with Triple 7 and use ther data
it performs well in my 45/110 and is very clean burning and easy
to clean after shooting.
By the way 777 has lots of smoke like black powder.
With my 45/110 I could only get about 98 grs of black powder
but with 777 94grs works out to equal around 110 of FFG.
They are a lot of fun and work well for hunting.
Good luck and have fun
J E CUSTOM
It's realy very simple
If your not familiar with black powder I would recomend
finding a black powder reloading manual from someone
like Gun Digest.
They have lots of info on the subject.
You will find that 70grs will not go in the case, so if you want
top loads you may want to go with Triple 7 and use ther data
it performs well in my 45/110 and is very clean burning and easy
to clean after shooting.
By the way 777 has lots of smoke like black powder.
With my 45/110 I could only get about 98 grs of black powder
but with 777 94grs works out to equal around 110 of FFG.
They are a lot of fun and work well for hunting.
Good luck and have fun
J E CUSTOM
The great Holy Black
Well good to see you want to use some of the original stuff. As far as "getting 70 gr of 2Fg" into a 45-70 case, no problem. Black is more consistent and brands like Goex like to have "compression" to keep velocity well behaved. Most BP reloaders use anywhere from 0.25-0.5 inches of compression (Fill case with weight of BP and then press the BP with a compression plug to provide room to seat bullet). I can easily load my 45-110 with `108 gr of Fg and compress to seat my 550 gr bullet.
Too much to cover here on BP reloading but MV is 1350-1450 fps for most cartidge/bullet combo's. Look up Mike Venturino (sp?) as a start or go to the Goex website forums for more info as a start. Warning--- BPCR is addictive like any other gun sport!!!
Mule
Well good to see you want to use some of the original stuff. As far as "getting 70 gr of 2Fg" into a 45-70 case, no problem. Black is more consistent and brands like Goex like to have "compression" to keep velocity well behaved. Most BP reloaders use anywhere from 0.25-0.5 inches of compression (Fill case with weight of BP and then press the BP with a compression plug to provide room to seat bullet). I can easily load my 45-110 with `108 gr of Fg and compress to seat my 550 gr bullet.
Too much to cover here on BP reloading but MV is 1350-1450 fps for most cartidge/bullet combo's. Look up Mike Venturino (sp?) as a start or go to the Goex website forums for more info as a start. Warning--- BPCR is addictive like any other gun sport!!!
Mule
Thanks for the info guys, I've hunted with muzzleloaders for 25 years, but never fooled with black powder metalic cart.'s. With the new laws in the state of Mississippi you can now hunt with large bore single shot rifles designed before 1900, H&R handi-rifles are selling like hotcakes here. Why they have done this, I couldn't answer you, but it sure has increased the number of primative weapons hunters in the state. I'm just want to try something different, so I think I'm going to give the black powder a try. I've always had an intrest in the Sharps rifles, but they are too pricey for me. I hope the Buffalo Classic will be a good substitution. With handloads it does very well shooting a cold bore, but it wants to walk high and right as the barrel heats up.
Telkev,
If you have any inkling twords a Sharps pattern rifle, go with Shiloh Sharps. Nothing but the finest workmanship and quality. The are faithful to the originals and just pinch your pennies like everyone else. Never a finer weapon for $ 2500 avg price.
Mule
If you have any inkling twords a Sharps pattern rifle, go with Shiloh Sharps. Nothing but the finest workmanship and quality. The are faithful to the originals and just pinch your pennies like everyone else. Never a finer weapon for $ 2500 avg price.
Mule
I just found this forum today and I know this question was asked last Oct. but it is easy to load BP in a 45-70. First off I would use Goex Cartridge Grade or FFG BP or Pyrodex Select. It does not matter what the weight of the charge is exactly. You need to use a drop tube at least 24 inches long to trickle the powder through. You use 3/8 inch copper tubing for the drop tube. You will need to get some Walters Wads 30 thousands thick, Cabela's has them or do a search to find other places. Trickle enough powder down the drop tube to fill the case up to the point that you can place a wad on the powder and compress the wad down about 20 thousands of an inch and have enough room to seat the bullet to the correct length. Use a hot primer like Fed. 215 and you need to use a bullet lube make for BP cartridge like SPG lube. The lube keeps the fouling soft so the next round will push it out of the way and shoot accurately. When you get done shooting you will need to clean your cases with hot soap and water and use a nylon 45 cal brush on the inside of the cases and let them air dry. Clean your rifle with any BP solvent or soap and water. I have also used Fantastic with orange oil to clean the bore and it works great. Do a search for BP Cartridge shooting to learn more. Long Range BPCR .com Home Page is one place. I shoot a Sharps copy in 45-70 and it will shoot 2 1/2 inch 10 shot groups at 200 yards regularly. This is with a vernier tang mounted open sight 28 inch barrel and a 500 gr. RCBS BPS cast bullet lubed with my own lube made from 50% bees wax 40% olive oil 10% STP oil treatment by volume, 62 grs Goex Cartridge BP, WW case, Fed. 215 primer, 1100 fps.
I have killed deer with this rifle and never recovered a bullet. It will shoot through a deer from chest through the butt and keep going so be careful of what is behind and beyond what you are shooting. A bull dozer does not have to be moving fast to do a lot of damage. Oh! Paul A. Matthews has some very good books on loading and shooting the Black Powder cartridge rifles. SPG lubricants also has a very good book for loading BP Cartridge.
I have killed deer with this rifle and never recovered a bullet. It will shoot through a deer from chest through the butt and keep going so be careful of what is behind and beyond what you are shooting. A bull dozer does not have to be moving fast to do a lot of damage. Oh! Paul A. Matthews has some very good books on loading and shooting the Black Powder cartridge rifles. SPG lubricants also has a very good book for loading BP Cartridge.
Elkhunter1
Member
Blackpowder cartridge is my true love and loading is about as easy as it gets.
The number one rule is zero headspace, pack the case with as much BP as will fit. I even use a compression die to make sure I get a full case. I shoot a 45-90 and load about 80 grains below a 405 FP lead bullet.
When it comes time to clean the gun, 2-3 patches soaked in simple green followed by 3-4 dry and the bore will sparkle.
Just remember, "Once you go black, you'll never go back"
I had the opportunity to shoot at Missoula with Mike Venturino, and many other top BPCRS shooters in '05.....same time I bought my Shiloh #1.
RT2506 pretty much has the process down, but each top shooter has their own little 'tricks' that make them top shooters. What works in one rifle will more likely NOT work in another. So buy lots of different powders, i.e. Swiss 1 1/2, Goex FFg, FFFg, etc. Try different bullet styles and weights, (it is good to have a FRIEND who already has molds and lead), or buy pre made bullets from Buffalo Arms or some such. There are some good sites out there, ask lots of questions, and have fun.
archdlx
RT2506 pretty much has the process down, but each top shooter has their own little 'tricks' that make them top shooters. What works in one rifle will more likely NOT work in another. So buy lots of different powders, i.e. Swiss 1 1/2, Goex FFg, FFFg, etc. Try different bullet styles and weights, (it is good to have a FRIEND who already has molds and lead), or buy pre made bullets from Buffalo Arms or some such. There are some good sites out there, ask lots of questions, and have fun.
archdlx
