Need 45/70 Black powder Loading instructions (Air Space removal)

[smoke01]

I want to load a few 45/70 Black powder rounds for my 14" Barrel (w break) contender and need Loading instructions.

Not sure how to take up the air space between the bullet and Powder or if i have to...

Thinking of using 2 30 Grn 44 cal Pyrodex Pellets and 300 GRN XTPs
or some suggestions.
we are just shooting for fun will not use these for hunting .

Thanks
Smoke

[blhof]

Check the Hornady site for B/P loads.  I wouldn't use pellets as the air gaps would produce uneven ignition and possible pressure spikes, also the reason you have to compress a b/p or b/p sub. load.place a measured amt in a case and with a case size rod, measure depth and depth after moderate compression; the difference will give you the compressability of the powder.  Next compare the depth of the bullet in the case, add the compression difference and you have a load.  An exception to compression is the triple 7, which requires mild compression.

[Slowpoke Slim]

Pellets might work, but I'd never try it. If it works at all, it'll be lousy for hang fires and poor ignition like blhof said. I routinely shoot real BP loads from my 14" 45-70 Contender barrel. It is one h*ll of a lot of fun! You will be instantly hooked on it! Make very dang sure that anyone near you (and yourself!) are wearing good hearing protection. Trust me. It is unbelievable how loud it will be. I typically have people stop and stare open mouthed at the public range when I touch mine off. Think civil war cannon noise, and you're pretty close...

You need loose powder. A BP substitute like Pyrodex, Triple 7, etc, will work fine, but just trust me on this, you're really missing out on part of the experience. Use real BP. Just once, and you'll be hooked. The BOOM is better, the smoke is better, and the FLAME ball is obvious.

As far as load development, you're trying to make it way harder than it is. Depending on the length of the bullet you're trying to seat (ie, how heavy the bullet), will depend on how much BP to put in the case. I've shot from 300 gr bullets, to 535 gr postell's from mine. The only difference is how much powder space you end up with due to the different bullet lengths. If we use a 400-405 gr bullet for an example, start with filling the case with about 60 grains of powder. Then measure the distance from the top surface of the powder in the case, to the case mouth. This will tell you how far the bullet must be seated to butt up against the powder charge. If the bullet is longer than the avail space by a tenth or so, seat it anyway and you're fine. If the bullet would leave "air space", then just add 2 or 5 more grains of BP to the case, and measure again. It's very simple stuff really. You can't pack enough BP into the case to get into any real trouble anyway. If you severely over-compress BP, it will fail to ignite reliably.

You don't need any crimp at all for the single shot bbl, but I use the crimp die to just take the bell out of the casemouth from seating the bullet. I use a magnum rifle primer for good ignition and have never had a problem. You could probably use standard rifle primers and be fine, especially when you're just messing around like this.

If you want a more detailed load description, either let me know here or PM me with what bullet you are using, and I probably have a recipe you can take off and run with.

Enjoy, you are really gonna love it...

[quickdtoo]

Check the Hornady site for B/P loads. 

You probably meant Hodgdon, they have Pryodex pellet data, data can be downloaded at the link below.

Tim

http://www.hodgdon.com/ml-warning.html

[Keith L]

I like the real stuff as well.  You get the boom, the rotten egg smell, and the hot sparks that float back into your face.  Man, what a hobby!  It appeals to all the senses.

[Hopalong7]

    Yes sir...Yes sir...Yes sir!!!   I'm definately with the guys above.  I use a S-16 unbraked open sighted barrel, real black, magnum primers, slightly compress powder with bullet seating, and a Lee factory crimp die(not really necessary), sit back, shoot and ENJOY!  I do use nickel plated brass for easier clean-up and just distinguishes BP loads from others.  This is IMO about as much fun as an old man can have with his clothes still on!  Like Slim said, dont try to make it difficult.  YEEEOOOOOOOOOOOhhh!!!
GOOD SHOOTIN', 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Here's a little eye candy, me shooting mine, it's hard to see the fire ball in the daylight film...

I hope this works...

http://s490.photobucket.com/albums/rr268/slowpokeslim/?action=view&current=Contendervideodaylight.flv

[Dezynco]

Stick with cast lead bullets, no jacketed bullets!  Other than that, when you use black powder - or substitutes - just fill er' up!  No pellets, loose grain powder only!

Real black powder is the way to go if you want a real thrill!