Smokeless powder in the 45-70

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Last Post 07 June 2010

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2frogs posted this 22 April 2009

I have ask this question befor and need some more advice from you guys...Rifle is a Pedersoli sharps and the barrel slugs to .458 inch....What do you suggest is a good smokeless powder to use with the cast bullets...Something that will duplicate the black powder loads as well...It will be mostly for target anyway...So knock down power is not an issue here..Just enough to get out to 500 yards and punch the paper...Thanks-John

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CB posted this 22 April 2009

500 yards with a trapdoor ???? I only go 100 yards and thats work for me.

I cast a 485 gr bullet in .462 for my original trapdoors. Load with 20 gr 5744 powder.

You might want to give it a try.................but not 500 yards.......

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CBA Member

R. Dupraz posted this 22 April 2009

What weight bullet ? Would guess at least 500 gr, for 500 yd targets ??

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AMMOe posted this 22 April 2009

I used to shoot 400 grain bullets from my Trapdoor using 53 grain of H-4831. I got this load from Ken Water's “Pet Loads” and it shot very well and at black powder pressures and velocities. ~AMMOe

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CBA Member

mike morrison posted this 22 April 2009

25gr imr-4198 boolets 500gr to 550gr. have shot this load to 1000yds. works verry well to 550yds. i think this is a little less than start load in most books. doings this from memory. x shooting buddy loaded same boolet saeco 745 with 5744 25 gr. we shoot identical guns browning bpcr and our sight settings were adentical to the ram line. another shooter shot the same load in his pedersoli sharps with good results. give it a try. gota say this-- this is my load and ok in my gun. you are on your own. m

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2frogs posted this 26 April 2009

Never said it was a trapdoor rifle...I said it was a sharps rifle-a far cry from a trapdoor rifle:coffee

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bpd303 posted this 14 August 2009

I've had good luck with Trail Boss in my 45/70 Taylor's Sharps. Other BP cartridges I load with it are: 577/450 Martini Henry 10.4X38R Swiss (41 Swiss) 11.5X57R Spanish Reformado No Fillers to mess with and duplicates BP velocity. It likes Magnum primers and a tight crimp.

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CBA Member

Ed Harris posted this 18 August 2009

I shot thousands of rounds for 200 yard ram bashing from an original trapdoor using 11 grs. of 700-X with a 370-gr. NEI bullet cast 1:25 tin/lead. Velocity was about 1000 f.p.s., pleasant to shoot, mild and accurate. About 13 grs. of Unique or 14 grs. of PB will give the same results. No filler required.

73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia

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Escalante posted this 22 August 2009

I am probably a day or two late here. You asked about smokeless loads for the Pedersoli. I have a rolling block Pedersoli in .45-70. I shoot from 18 to 20 grains of 5744 depending on range and bullet. It has proven to be an outstanding powder for me. Pedersoli rifles are safe to fire with smokeless loads. I can't remember as to what pressure they will stand. Look at the BPCR.net web. Go into the technical info. and it is posted there. Hope this helps.

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Bob 11B50 posted this 23 August 2009

I still use that load, and I'm 72. It works fine for me. In fact, I like that load a lot.

Bob 11B50

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Harp posted this 27 January 2010

I have the same rifle, 74 Ped and for the 500 grain lyman I use 32 grains of 4198 with .7 of a grain of dacron on powder. For the 400 lyman 457193 I use 28 grains of 4759 and .7 grain of dacron on powder. Both are in lymans reloading book and shoot very well. Winchester large rifle primer, and use the full length die after seating the bullet to remove the bell from neck expander. Adjust to remove the bell and no more.

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tominct posted this 27 January 2010

While the discussion is on smokeless in various 45-70's, what loads can the H&R rifles handle? I've not seen any info on it. Trapdoor I would say no problem, but how about the others like the marlin/ 1886 win loads? Thanks, Tom.

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CBA Member

tturner53 posted this 27 January 2010

I have a H&R 45-70, use the Lee 405 PB. Although I don't know what the actual limits are for the gun, I know my personal recoil tolerance limits top out with loads considered safe for a Marlin 1895. I used to have a #3 45-70, load levels were sky high into the African cartridge range but a real bear to shoot well from a bench. The H&Rs and NEFs are discussed in detail on the Graybeard Outdoors site, if you're curious. I know they are now chambered for the .50 S&W, might make a comparison.

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Harp posted this 27 January 2010

The sharps is able to handle up to 28000 cup, but I don't know about the H&R. I keep my loads to black powder velocities which are more then able to give accuracy at 1000 yards or perform in the field. I know the 1886 and marlin can handle higher pressures up to 35000 to 43000 cup. Those hurt from both ends and are for purposes other then normal hunting and target shooting that I do.

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Daryl S posted this 21 May 2010

I'm shooting 45gr. to 48gr. Hodgdon's Benchmark with jacketed 405's in my Itie Sharps. It is very accurate and suggests a load of around 40 to 44gr. for heavier bullets.

So far, I've been very happy with the black powder accuracy with my cast bullets and haven't tried them with smokeless except for Trail Boss.

Years ago, I shot smokeless powder with both cast and jacketed in the .45/70 and other larger BP cases and always preferred the slower powders that fil the case more than-do the low density fast burning powders.

I have found my new Sharps to respond well to trailboss - 15gr. with 385gr. cast bullets, inch and 1/2 accuracy and same poi as BP and the 525gr.

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Catshooter posted this 26 May 2010

I shoot a 365 grain cast over 15 grains of Universal Clays out of my H&R single shot. If I do my bit, it will put three into an inch and an eigth at 100. Runs a bit over 1300 fps.

Cat