Smokeless Powder and PPB's in the .45-70

[OSOK]

I have a Buffalo Classic, and really want to shoot paper patched bullets, preferably 500 grain's. Does anyone have any good loads to start with?

[McLernon]

You may have to go to the forum dedicated to PP'ing. I don't know anyone else doing it here. But Maybe.

Mc

[GregP42]

If your going to do smokeless then I would start with 39.5gr of IMR-3031, max load in my book is 42gr, but that will be trapdoor levels. You can also try IMR-4895 starting with 40gr and a max of 43.

Hope that helps,
Greg

[OSOK]

Thank's for the loads.

[GregP42]

Thank's for the loads.

OSOK,

One last thing to remember, with smokeless powder you want to patch to groove diameter, not bore diameter. It has shot better for me that way.

Greg

[ben.]

     I have 4 handi 45/70. One a classic. Shoot both black powder and smokeless.
Lube and PP. I shoot 500 gr. PP using Unique powder. That has been my favorite
low velocity cast bullet powder for at least 20 calibers for the last 35+ years. Quite
a few other pistol shotgun powders also work. I found I like unique best. I have
always used a dacron filler. Lot cheaper than rifle powder. (use less powder) 95%
of my shooting the last 30 years have been with cast bullets. Except for varmint
calibers.

[handirifle]

Ben
What type of 500gr bullet did you use in the Handi's?  I tried them once in a BC I had and they keyholed at 50yds.

I too like the idea of the PP'd bullets in the Handi

[McLernon]

Using smokeless that produces higher pressures than BP isn't there a significant risk of fire-cutting when PP'ing?

mc