i'm looking for light loads for my 45/70 using a .457" round ball. I read an article about gallery loads using 5-15gr. of black powder. i haven't made the jump to black powder yet because it is difficult to find . Does anyone one have a smokeless load that they use??? i'm going to use the loads for grouse and plinking. (10-25 yds)

For what it's worth...
I found a 255 grain SWC Lyman bullet mold that threw a .458 diameter bullet.
I used this as a gallery load with 13 grains of Unique. Had the recoil and noise of a 22 rimfire, but would punch thru a 6 to 8 inch tree.
I used a 2 inch square piece of Kleenex to hold the powder against the primer. The burning powder consummed the Kleenex.
This combination was rather effective on squireles.

Jim

ive shot a bunch with 3 grains of bullseye.

It all depends on how mild you want the load. You can get them down to where the report is on par with a cap gun if you use a 22 short case as a powder scoop for bullseye and put a dab of dacron to keep the powder against the primer. It'll still be a suprisingly capable round up close.

I have worked on loads that were very light in 45-70. I didn't like the round ball accuracy. I didn't like soft slugs. (I got a bullet stuck in my barrel, it was not good, but I got lucky, as I was able to get it out without any damage to the gun.)


If you are just looking for a light load, I highly suggest using Trailboss.

ok thanks guys, next question- the filler, do i put the ball right down in the case to the powder or do i leave it at the mouth of the case. i don't want to ring the chamber. i'm thinking of using 5-7grs. of IMR 700X and a kleenex filler. i'm thinking 900 to 1100fps would be plenty of velocity. anymore suggestions would be helpful.

thanks

never found a need for filler in my bullseye loads. As a matter of fact ive never used filler in anything ive ever loaded.

Smoke_Eater, there may not be enough bearing surface using a .457" roundball in the .45-70 (especially if it has Marlin micro-groove rifling) to get good roundball accuracy.

Better accuracy might be obtained with a slightly "oversize" (.460") ball.

But using the .457" round balls certainly won't hurt anything if you already have a supply on hand to try out. Who knows? The accuracy might turn out to be quite acceptable.

I've seen starting loads of 5.0 gr. of Bullseye (900fps) and 7.0 gr. of Unique (1,000fps) when shooting the .460"round ball.

I shoot 3.0 grains of Red Dot with the round ball in my 1885. The load is so quiet I can hear the hammere drop. Acceptable accuracy out to 50 yards. I have shot a lot of grouse, squirrels, rabbits, and other animals while deer hunting with this load.

I used Puf-Lon for a filler for a while. But the Puf-Lon left a lot of residue that I did not like. I do not use anything now.

I seat the round ball level with the top of the case, however you can seat it deeper if you like. Tom.

i forgot to mention, i'm using the the loads in my single shot browning 78 so no micro groove problems. the whole reason i started this was because a friend gave me several hundred round balls (140gr / .457") and i think it will be a lot of fun for my kids to shoot them and i hope to use them on grouse during deer season. i dont have access to a lot of powders.

Here's a list of what i do have, any suggestions for start loads would be appreciated.
IMR 700X
IMR 3031
IMR 4350
SR4759
Win 452AA
IMR 4064

i forgot i also have win 296

smoke_eater, I think your 5-7
grains of IMR 700X should work.

I would recommend leaving the Kleenex (or any other filler) out of the intial loadings. I would also recommend starting at 7 grains and working DOWN in charge weight from there.

If you can get groups to consistently shoot about 1" center-center at 25 yds, you've got the correct recipe!

Smoke Eater
This is going back a while, one of the shooting rags had an article on doing this sort of project. Seat the ball down in the case a bit and wipe some bullet lube across the case mouth, then lightly crimp the case mouth.
I had thought it might be fun to use two or three balls in a 45-70 casem with bullet lube between the balls. Never got around to trying it.

Jim

I tried the multi. round ball idea. I thought it would work. And it does work. However you need to increase the load so that the second or third round ball does not get stuck in the barrel. The increase in load scared me a bit, so I backed off the idea. Also it raised the noise level to an unacceptable level for me. Tom.

ok guys had a second to run to the range.
loaded 7grs. 700x and 9grs unique 5 rounds each
win wlr primer
federal cases
belled the case and loaded the ball almost flush with the case mouth (as far as my thumb would allow), then crimped into place
round balls had been coated in lee liquid alox


i tried them at 15 yards at 1/4" plywood (in a hurry so i used a standing rest)

7.0gr. 700x 1" group outside to outside, 1" high 1/2"left

9.0gr unique 1" group, 1 1/4" high 1/2" left
(as compared to my 405gr hunting load sighted 1" high @ 100yds)
both loads went clean through the plywood and the noise wasn't much more than a .22
i will have to load more, they should be perfect for grouse.

I also tried a 45/70 "shotgun" load but i don't recomend this at all.

thanks everyone!!!!

I am shooting a .461" diameter ball cast with the Lee round ball mould and typical wheel weight alloy.

I neck size the 45-70 brass with a 45 Colt sizer and seat the ball slightly past half way and taper crimp enough to hold the ball snugly. I tumble lube the balls in Lee Liquid Alox and let dry.

I use 5.0 grains of Bullseye, a Remington large rifle primer and a piece of poly fill on top of the powder.

This load in my Thompson Center Carbine shoots one hole clusters at 75 feet all day long. My shooting buddy's Thompson Center Encore does the same thing.