45-70 ftx

[Edawg]

If I buy hornady unprimed new brass, do I need to full length size the brass or can I just neck size to reload this?

 

[joshb]

Always best to size new brass but it will work ok if you don’t. If you’re working with a super accurate custom competition rifle, you’ll want your brass perfect.Some times the new brass is dinged at the mouth and it needs sizing to straighten it out. 45/70 brass? Flip of the coin in my book.

 

[Bill K]

Often new brass will really only need neck sizing the first time to even up any nicks in the neck area, firing will then fire form it too your chamber and then you can do from there in your normal reloading/brass prep procedures.

 

[pirate ammo]

45-70 is a straight wall case, how you going to neck size?

 

[dellet]

45-70 is a straight wall case, how you going to neck size?

The case has a slight taper until the last maybe .500” then the neck is straight. With many 45-70 dies if you back off the sizing die a turn, all you do is size the neck. Redding dies are actually made to neck size only.

Edawg, keep in mind the Hornady brass is cut shorter than spec to accommodate their FTX bullet.

 

[arlaunch]

Hornady 45-70 brass is NOT cut shorter than spec to accommodate their FTX bullet.

I always run new brass through a sizing die and then chamfer and de-burr.

 

[M-61]

I neck size my 45-70 only
I found that FL dies are cut at many different sizes to accommodate countless chamber sizes over 125 years. Consequently Marlin 45-70 chamber will produce a size of brass that requires all my strength on an RCBS A-4 to fully size it. I'm talking about a massive amount of 'squeezing' of the brass. Therefore just giving the neck a 'squeeze' to hold the bullet is perfect. And those 375's have produced the best accuracy. I also have a 1886 Browning that basically the same routine is used. (I've always disliked over working the brass.)
I shoot these just for fun and enjoy them. The Browning in NOT a gun to take hunting.....way too nice wood and superb engraving. The Marlin, is another story. It's what I call a 'tool'. Nicely made, quick to handle, and with the invasion of black bear in my area it sits next to my door. 45-70 is a cartridge I've always liked even though I'm strictly a 100 yard BR shooter. (not with them of course)

 

[dellet]

Hornady 45-70 brass is NOT cut shorter than spec to accommodate their FTX bullet.

I always run new brass through a sizing die and then chamfer and de-burr.

All I can say is that the one and only box of Hornady brass I purchased was around 2.050" or less instead of the normal 2.100", .050" short from memory. The original designation for the cartridge was 45 2 1/10 after all.

I called Hornady to question this and the answer was that the brass was sized to work with their FTX bullet and the trim length required for it.

Maybe after enough complaints over the years, that is no longer the same.

 

[M-61]

All I can say is that the one and only box of Hornady brass I purchased was around 2.050" or less instead of the normal 2.100", .050" short from memory.

Sure is. Haven't purchased any in a few years but as you say it might have changed but I just measured quite a few (34) and none came up to even 2.050. All are less.

 

[arlaunch]

I wish the Hornady brass i purchased last year was of the shorter variety. After doing a bunch of research prior to purchase i was expecting it to be factory shortened.

Instead.... I had to trim and trim and trim.

Seems maybe a few years ago they changed it up. I can see why though. They still make 300 grain and 350 grain varieties for this cartridge.

 

[M-61]

Seems maybe a few years ago they changed it

My thoughts are it was so you buy their shorter brass to use their 325FTX.
That bullet is very accurate but the cannelure I don't like and my best accuracy came from really a long way out from that cannelure being used. I don't like crimping anyway.
For the work involved it was worth it the accuracy it gave. Best accuracy came from really sitting it way out. I now had a single shot lever action. That rubber(?) tip can really stop feeding if it drags thus I'm single loading a lever gun.
I have to ask myself what I'm doing when I'm concerned with grouping on a hunting rifle.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I compared some loads with full length brass and shortened brass in my Marlin 1895. I expected the shortened brass to produce higher pressure & velocity. The velocity was unchanged and I can't measure the pressure but it's presumably not much different.

The only difference was that the shortened brass (2,040") ammo fed nicely through the action. The standard length brass ammo jammed every time. I see no reason why the 2.040" brass shouldn't be used for all 45-70 ammo.