45-90 smokeless loads

[Woodchopper]

Hello,
       I'm new to the forum but not H&Rs.I'm a huge fan and own many.Its good to see so many people with the same interest in these guns as me.I have a question thats probably been asked before but here we go.I have a handi chambered for 45-100 sharps.I had it done to allow the use of bigger bullets and I liked the idea of having the option of using three differant calibers.My question is this.I'm having trouble finding a smokeless load for the 45-90 or 45-100 using big 550 grain cast bullets I bought from a place called Western Bullet Company.Im not against using some other bullet if the cast wont work with alot of smokeless powder, I just want a combination thats works well enough to punch a big hole in a wild boar during a trip in july.I want to stay with a bigger sized bullet just because I believe big bullets leave big holes and blood trails.Id like to have up to 150 yards it would be accurate if at all possible.Please help me.

[Smokin Joe]

The Lyman reloading manual has a bunch of loads for the .45-90 and .45-100

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard Woodchopper! What  smokinjoe5150 said, the Lyman 48th has a bunch of data for the 90, 100,110 and 120. Below are both cast and jacketed data that was posted here by Montanan, if you right click each pic and save it to you PC, it will be much easier to read.

Accurate also has data online.

I have a 45-120-3¼" Sharps chambered BC, only shoot smokeless and mostly cast bullets, the Saeco#20 555gr from Western Bullet is one of my favorites. I also shoot the 525gr Beartooth Piledrivers, both at about 1800fps, either would be a fine choice for your needs.

Tim

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Rifle/ObsoleteCartridges/45%2090%20Winchester%20page%20363.pdf

http://www.westernbullet.com/cbip/b020.html

http://beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/archive_open_sight.htm/21

http://beartoothbullets.com/WMV_Files/45-70-525.wmv

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

[Woodchopper]

Thanks guys!
I knew someomne here would have some info.Its hard to find  smokeless powder load data for a cartridge made for black powder.Speaking of black powder,I wonder what type of performance I could get out of it using the same bullet combination?Do you know where to find good info on this subject?

[quickdtoo]

A great place to start would be BPCR forums, both here on GBO down in the BPCR forum and else where on the net.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/board,35.0.html

http://goexpowder.com/phpBB2/

http://www.bpcr.net/

http://www.longrangebpcr.com/

[quickdtoo]

Another good source is the Lyman Blackpowder Handibook which has cartridge data as well as ML data.

Tim

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=121867

[Woodchopper]

Thanks Tim! You have been a big help.Ill let you know how it works out.What kind of recoil you gettin out of that 45-120 and how accurate is it out to? I always wanted a 45-120 in a Sharps reproduction.

[quickdtoo]

I've only shot it out to 200yds so far, our range only goes to 300yds, but haven't shot any at that range yet, waitin on a good peep slider from Smith for the ladder sight, they said they'd sent it 2 months ago, keep sayin they're busy with the war thing, so I'm still waitin. The target below was shot with 525gr Beartooth Piledrivers at 1800fps.

Recoil is very stout, you'll want to use some weight in the stock and a recoil pad if you shoot heavy loads, the steel butt plate is no fun!

Tim

[Woodchopper]

Tim,if i used the same load as beartooth with the piledrivers,how much more of a powder charge could I safely use with the 45-90 or 45-100.Im still pretty new to the reloading thing and want to make sure i do it right.So far my loading  has only been with a .480 ruger.

[quickdtoo]

I don't know, that would be uncharted territory, you'd just have to work up slowly, most likely excess pressure signs will be in the form of sticking brass. One good thing is with the larger volume cases using smokeless, pressure for heavier bullets is considerably less than a similar load in the smaller .45-70 case as can be seen in the .45-120 data at Hodgdon.

Tim

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

[Woodchopper]

Thanks again!Im going to give it the old college try.You would think there would be more information on this subject because of the popularity of these cartriges in recent years.

[forestgrump]

Woodchopper, I just ran across 184 348 Winchester cases converted to 45-100. Interested? I think it would be a crime to cut them down to 45-70's for my Golden Buffalo Hunter. Thanx Chris

[Woodchopper]

I MIGHT BE INTERESTED CHRIS.WHO IS THE MANUFACTURER?