45-70 sharps

[benelli7979]

Just received a pedersoli sharps I think the cabelas version from some of my family. Looking for some advice for the loads. Also had some Lyman 405 grain molds with it. Does anyone here mess with shooting this round? Looking for advice on powder. Thanks for any help.

 

[caihlen]

I shoot 42 gr varget under the jacketed 405’s out of a high wall.

 

[XTR]

You can look up some of my posts about this particular chambering I have written about it on a couple of occasions. The best answer is 65 to 70 grains of FFg Black powder.
The 45-70 case is Way too big for most reasonable smokeless charges. You need something fast. IMR 3031, and Rx7 work fairly well, IMR AA 5744 is popular too. The powders in the range of Varget and 4895 are too slow. You will have unturned kernels in the bore. Just for giggles you need to load some 350s up to about 2400 fps, and if you dont separate a retina, a shoulder, or lose a filling call it a success and don’t do it again.

get a Lymans reloading manual.

I have ‘74s from C.Sharps and a Pedersoli. They get nothing but Holy Black.

I also have a modern Miroku high wall that I shoot a smokeless load with 3031 and Remington 405s (I bought a couple of thousand the last time they made a run 5 or 6 yes ago). I run the jacketed 405s at about 1600.

Unless you go down the road to paper patching you’ll get your best results with cast at about 1350 or below. There is a whole book to write on getting these guys to shoot cast accurately. It is not the same as bottlenecked cartridges and Berger bullets.

Just to give you an idea just how much too big the case is for smokeless, I also have a 458 SOCOM that I also shoot the Remington 405‘s in. I can nearly duplicate the 45-70 IMR3031 load with N120 in the smaller SOCOM case from an AR platform with a 16” barrel.

Get Paul Mathews books on the 45|70.

 

[CharlieNC]

Check over at castboolits site for mucho info.

 

[Jager]

Not a lot to add to what XTR has already given you. I'll just reiterate that IMR-3031 and A5744 are classic smokeless powders for the .45-70. A5744, in particular, is frequently used by fellows like myself who are too lazy to go the blackpowder route, and all that entails.

Stout loads in the .45-70 will remind you pretty quick what a REAL man's gun feels like. #kidding #not_really

My .45-70 is in a Ruger No. 1 and my shoulder will give out long before the rifle gives up its that-all-you-got? smirk.

And, yeah, get the Matthews book https://www.amazon.com/Forty-Years-...y+years+with+the+.45-70&qid=1625957905&sr=8-1

 

[Dub]

H4198 under a 405 Lead bullet is a fine choice. Very accurate

 

[0.1 Aggregate]

I do not know if Petersoli has changed their barrel dimensions, but mine has a groove diameter of 0.4545”. It would chamber 0.457” 405-grain GC RCBS bullets and shot them very well over IMR4227, but the bore was well undersized. I never tried smaller diameter bullets. Maybe mine is a one-off, but this should be a consideration. Anyone who shoots cast bullets should slug their barrel before they buy a mold.




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[gdbleb]

I'll second the 4227 nomination. You have a wide range of charge weights IIRC. If you are just out punching paper then get some Trailboss if that's possible nowadays. Curved buttplate? A significant question.

 

[LAH]

I used the RCBS 45-405-FN bullet by NEI. It comes in at 420 grains lubed & checked. I use AA5744. My rifle was a 74 Sharps clone. About 12-1300 fps allows all day shooting with the steel butt plate.

 

[rockrat]

If you can find some sr4759 it works well in the 45-70, otherwise 5744 or SW Buffalo Rifle. Trail boss should work well too for lighter loads.

 

[Cochran]

For cast bullets, my limited stock of 4759 is my go to in my high wall with 350-405s. When that's gone I'll probably work up a load with 4227. It is great in my 38-55.
In my Shiloh Sharps, 5744 is the way to go with 500+ grain bullets. Duplicates BP loads at 1200-1250 fps with low ES.
If you want a high speed {high recoil) hunting load then 3031 is the ticket.

I've yet to try SW buffalo that rockrat mentioned but I plan to try it when it becomes available again. Supposed to be a direct replacement for 5744 but cheaper.

 

[pirate ammo]

IMR 3031 and if you decide to go to the dark side, black powder, 1.5F Swiss or 2F Goex. With the black you go by volume, you want about 1/16 of crunch when you seat the bullet, and get ready to clean a whole lot more, but it's fun with the smoke effect.

 

[DirtySteve]

.442 diam 500 gr Paper patched bullet and Holy Black..... Use a long drop tube. Keep a consistent powder column height. Load powder, milk carton wad, lubrication disc, milk carton wad, hand seat the PP bullet.