45-70 unburnt powder

[95Road King]

O.K. 45-70 shooter's"
      I am getting so much unburnt powder it' scary!! I'm using a light load of    32.0 RX7
       350 gr. RN. LD.
       WIN. MAG. Primer
        I am crimping the bullet. OAL is 2.500

        I believe the unburnt powder is smearing the BBL., same as leading
        and ruining accuracy.
         It's a B.C. Classic.
         Should I try a faster powder or what??   Help :cry:

[Cottonwood]

Many powders will do this, and you can wipe the barrel after every shot if you want to.  I have found with Unique (new) I don't get unburnt powder like I did with AA5744.  But I never had a problem with accuracy over the unburnt powder.

[safetysheriff]

I don't shoot the .45-70......so you may not want to continue!


Keep the crimp and keep it Firm.    Try an IMR powder such as 3031 if you want a light load that will probably not be as dirty.     Reduce the booklet load and work up your charge as per usual.     Otherwise, you can actually get a somewhat reduced velocity and probably get great accuracy by going to a slow powder at high load density.    IMR 4831 will actually get you that reduced velocity and high density loading.   Some don't want to hear it, but the combined ejecta of powder gases and lead leaving the barrel at a slower speed will give less recoil.    If IMR 4831 turns out dirty in your rifle then go with IMR 4350.

Take care.

SS'

[95Road King]

MONTANAN"
     What is your load using Unique?? Gr. of powder, bullet, primer, ETC, ETC.
      Is it accurate and would it be good for deer hunting???
                             Thank;s :-)

[95Road King]

SAFTY SHeRriff
      I tried some of the I.M.R.powder's. 4395---4350----3031. Had same result's!!!  4895 was the worst.
      I may try a tighter crimp. I read somewhere that some use "DACRON"
      as a filler wad over the powder??
             Thank's for responding. :-)

[safetysheriff]

95RK,

The thought had occured to me to get a wad to put under the bullet -- which I would do in a straight-walled cartridge ahead of using dacron.    I just didn't think, for some reason....that you'd take to the idea.

Just in case your chamber is loose, try using a heavier brass case as well as what we've already discussed.    That can have a significant impact, with Remington's usually being the heaviest, strongest of the cases from what I've seen.    Winchesters are just too light for some uses.    They don't give the same neck tension, nor do they resist expansion against ignition gases as well.    Also, measure the flash hole in your brass, and de-burr the hole on the inside of the case.    If the flash hole is less than .073 you may want to open it up to that size and then work up a load.     You may also get more consistent ignition by going to a jacketed bullet.........really!   It builds more pressure to assist with ignition when it first engages the rifling.    

Here's one more idea:  instead of criming the bullet in the location you are doing now, use a Lee "Factory Crimp Die" and seat the bullet deeper into the case and then crimp it.    I'm not crazy about making a bullet jump further to engage the rifling.....but it might not be a problem in your rifle.

SS'

p.s.   If all else fails, and it absolutely, positively has to work overnight: buy a .44 mag' and you'll have an easier cartridge to work with!  :eek:

[JPH45]

Nothing to worry about. Everyone who is shooting and reloading for the 45-70 is getting the same results. Cannister powders are generally designed to burn most efficiently at 40,000 psi or better. a 45-70 is operating at half to 2/3rds that or so. Some pistol powders may burn cleanly in small doses, but have problems of positon which can affect velocity and accuracy. There is enough gas blowby the bullet that the "powder bunnies" are cleared out at each firing. No sweat. The 45-70 is remarkably efficient for what it is, a small capacity bore diameter rifle case that was designed to burn black powder, not smokeless. Shoot away and forget that it is a dirty burning rifle, in reality, there is little you can do about it, it is the nature of the beast.

[95Road King]

SaftySheriff
     I think I'll try your idea's. Lee fac crimp die. Open up my flash hole if it need's it. Not crazy about a filler wad.
     Don't know when I'll do it tho.
                   Thank's :-)  :-)

[95Road King]

JPH45
     Now that's the kind of answer I like!!!LOL I'm going to try a few thing's
     and if it doesn't work, so be it!!
      I'll just go shooting!!
      Floated my fore end a little while ago. Sure was a lot of pressure on that bbl.
                                        Thank's :-)

[Cottonwood]

MONTANAN"
     What is your load using Unique?? Gr. of powder, bullet, primer, ETC, ETC.
      Is it accurate and would it be good for deer hunting???
                             Thank;s :-)

95Road King

Here is my load data for this group your looking at shot at 50 yards.  My Ultra 45-70 was benched and bagged with conditions perfect in a 50 yard underground tube with good lighting at the end.  I'm using a Tasco Whitetail 3x9x42mm scope.  My loads do not have to be supersonic to be effective at 50 yards or less.  And hunting in the dark timber its just that with most shots taking place at less than 20 yards.  This is an index card with an bright orange 2" circle.  My scope power was set at 9 for this target.

My load is a 405-gr LFP bullet, Federal 215 LMRP and 15.0 gr of Unique, this would take a deer no problem I believe the FPS is approx 1200 but can't say for sure since I do not have a chronograph.  

I hope this helps

[95Road King]

Montanan"
      Thank's. Will try it in a few day's. Sound's like a nice lite load!! :-)

[Leftoverdj]

My advice is to listen to the folks who actually shoot .45-70s.

[Cottonwood]

My advice is to listen to the folks who actually shoot .45-70s.

I believe everyone here on this thread does, so what is your take on this.

[95Road King]

While were on this subject, can anyone give me a starting load using CLAY'S powder in my 45-70, 350 gr. ld. rn. bullet?? Don't want to blow it or me up. This is a pretty hot powder and I was thinking 10-11 gr. to start. I have a lb. of it laying around and would like to use it.
                       Thank's :-)  :-)

[Cottonwood]

Back when I was loading for CAS in 45 Colt I used Clays.  However I do not find ANY reloading data using Clays in 45-70.  It is my understanding that this powder is for HANDGUNS ONLY.

Only use DATA that can be found in reloading manuals and not what someone is putting on the net.

For instance, I also load a 500-gr soft cast Elk Buster bullet for my 45-70 using 30.0 gr of AA 5744 for hunting with for both deer and elk.  I don't use Unique because there is NO published reloading data using Unique and this bullet.  

Some good reloading data can be found at

http://www.reloadammo.com/4570load.htm

http://www.again.net/~steve/page8a.htm then click on .458

http://www.hodgdon.com/

http://www.accuratepowder.com/msds.htm

Use ONLY published Reloading Data PLEASE.

[95Road King]

MONTANAN"
     Your right about using a load not in the book's. I should know better!!!
     I've been loading over 40 yrs. now and havn;t  screwed up yet.
            Some body's got to look out for us old f___t's.
                  Thank's :oops:

[Buffalogun]

95Road King,

A good powder for the .45-70 is IMR SR4759. I use 25g of this under a Lee 405g HB cast bullet for about 1,450 fps. out of my Handi and around 1,550 fps. out of my 1875 Sharps.

Buffalogun

[95Road King]

Buffalogun:
  Thank's. I may try that some day. I was tinkering with a few loads today that look promising. :-)