How high in the case

[Andrew Quigley]

should my powder reach. I've read that you should load the case to within 1/16 of an inch from the top of the case monthin 45/70's. Correct?
 With my 45 colts I measured how deep the bullet would seat and filled the case to just above this point so the bullet would compress the powder a little. Has worked fine for over five years.
 Which one is right? I've never really gotten into long range shooting before but plan on stepping up and spending time with it so I'd like to hear from ya'll. Thanks

[Anduril]

It all depends.

I will assume you are loading Black Powder (or you wouldn't post here).

I am no expert, but it sounds like most shooters use about 1/4 inch of compression on Goex powder after it is in the case. This is supossed to make for more uniform velocities and a cleaner burn. $wiss powder takes less compression to do the same thing. So if your bullet measures 5/16 inch from its base to the crimp groove your 1/16" from the top should be about right. Just don't try to squish the powder that much by seating a bullet, cause it will deform the base & nose.

Start out by loading the same way as your 45 Colt. Every firearm is unique so maybe your 45/70 will like to be loaded the same way. Keep reading this board and others, there is a lot of (too much?) info out there.

Good shooting.
..

[Andrew Quigley]

Was reading some results in the Black Powder Cartridge magazine today. In the back it had what loads the fellers that did well. Most seem to be using 75 to 100grs of powder! Is everybody going to 45/90's or 45/100's?
 Seems like the last ones I loaded in my 45/70's was only 63grs of cartridge Goex.

[ShortStake]

Andrew Quigley,

Your question about "what" powder height is correct demands more information be provided.

Easily confused is "powder compaction" brought about by drop tubing the black powder column into any case and "powder compression" brought about by compressing the already compacted powder column.

In this case drop tubing being defined as the black powder passing thru at least 24 inches of tubing, if not more.

Just about any black powder cartridge case holding 60 plus grains of black powder that has been drop tubed will be somewhat difficult to pour out of the case without some mechanical or muscle assistance.

Couple this "powder compaction" with additional "powder compression" and the black powder will for sure be basically welded into the cartridge case.

Consequently, an answer as to how far should the powder be from the top of the case is difficult to render.

It must be understood that te base of the bullet, with or without wads, must touch and very lightly remove any existing air space from atop the black powder.  This being the case whether or not the powder was "compacted" thru drop tubing or "compressed" by a compression die, or both.

Determining the exact seating depth into the cartridge case of the bullet being used is the FIRST step to determining the desired powder column height.

[longcaribiner]

It is very hard to say on the 45-70 and it varies for alot of reasons.  I load 60 grains of 2f, an eighth inch grease cookie wad and a 500 grain, (Ideal No.457125 mold) PURE lead bullet, lubed with that red wax that surrounds Gouda cheese 50-50 with bees wax.   (Laugh all you want)   Then I load it in a 45-90 ideal tong tool.    The loaded shells then are long enough to press the bullet nose into the rifling when I close the 1884 Trapdoor breech block.
In addition the pure lead can be "upset" or swaged into the rifling on ignition.   Now I don't use a drop tube, but I use a plunger type brass valve that screws onto the powder can.  The outlet of the valve slip fits into the 45-70 shell and I hold it upside down and shake it back and forth three or four times, close the valve and lift the can and vallve from the case.   It turns out to be just perfect with the grease cookie wad, to compact the powder about one sixteenth of an inch when fully seating the big 500 grain bullet.

Powder to a sixteenth of the case mouth sounds like too much.  When you press the bullet into the case with force to compact it, the case could "bell" and not chamber.

[sharps4590]

Shortstake hit the nail on the head when he said the first thing you must determine is the overall length of cartridge your rifle will chamber with a given bullet.  Without that information you can't determine the best depth to seat your bullet and thusly your powder column height.  60-65 grains is a usually a good load in a 45-70 for most bullets if all you want to do is shoot out to a couple hundred yards.  If you're going to get serious, ie competitive, about shooting beyond that there's a whole lot of things you're going to need to take note of in addition to powder column height.

Vic