45/70 light loads

[hunter_54]

I tried some poly-fil today in my 45/70 was loading 35gr 3031. after shooting 3 shots I found no trace of the poly-fil in the bbl or on the ground.
Is this safe to use or what do you guys use.

Thanks for the info

[shaner]

i used to use 13 gr of green dot powder under 350 gr lead bullets great load for ringin the gong at 200 yds

[Bob_VT]

I have used cream of wheat on top of black powder on my reduced loads..... I had used the polyfill on the rifle powder too.  I just got used to regular loads instead of cooking up new ones.... this way I could feel confident with and bullet I shot.

[whiteoper]

For light loads in 45-70 I like to use trailboss and cast boolits.  Loading data is available and thier just plain fun to shoot maybe not the cleanest burning powder but not hard to clean up either.

[coyotejoe]

I tried some poly-fil today in my 45/70 was loading 35gr 3031. after shooting 3 shots I found no trace of the poly-fil in the bbl or on the ground.
Is this safe to use or what do you guys use.

Thanks for the info

You don't mention the bullet weight so I can only guess your velocity is probably down around 1200-1300 fps, black powder speeds, and for loads in that range I generally prefer 12-15 grains of Unique. It just seems more practical to get the same ballistics with half the powder and a reduction in noise and recoil. I use a tuft of cotton as a filler, I may see a small storm of cotton fibers floating a few feet off the muzzle but no plastic in the bore. It is only recently that I went to cotton balls, for many years I used some sort of poly fiber "Teddy-bear stuffing" and never saw any problem with bore deposits but cotton works just as well with no chance of melting to the bore or case walls.

[quickdtoo]

Real cotton balls are hard to find, most of what you'll find in stores now is synthetic.

Tim

[EsoxLucius]

No filling is necessary with 35 grains of IMR3031.  You will get sufficient ignition and burning without fillers.  There are some inherent dangers using fillers with some smokeless powder loads.

[jjamna]

For light loads in 45-70 I like to use trailboss and cast boolits.  Loading data is available and thier just plain fun to shoot maybe not the cleanest burning powder but not hard to clean up either.

You can't get any lighter than this.

[Datil]

 I like to use  IMR-4198  36 gratns with 300 grain javket bullets.
 No fillers. This is a trap door load.
 Marv.

[Unter]

 I am just a neophyte here, I have been using black powder and 2400 for light loads for the 45-70. I will be trying some IMR 4895 for some stouter loads and Siskiyou posted this elsewhere from the Hodgdon site:
 

To create loads of this type for target and plinking, we recommend our 60% rule with H4895. By taking the maximum charges listed in our Annual Manual with any given cartridge and multiplying it by 60%, the shooter can create a 1500 to 2100 fps load, depending on the bullet weight shown. This works only where H4895 is listed. Do not use H4895 in a cartridge where it has not been shown.

Call Hodgdon Powder Company if additional information is needed. Loads may be adjusted up or down to achieve best accuracy. Do not reduce by more than an additional 10%.
WARNING!

John O.

[McLernon]

Don't overlook IMR-4064. I use 50 gr under a Hornady 350 gr. JFP. Recoil is mild and accuracy is great.

Mc

[coyotejoe]

No filling is necessary with 35 grains of IMR3031.  You will get sufficient ignition and burning without fillers.  There are some inherent dangers using fillers with some smokeless powder loads.

 And there are some inherent dangers in using some smokeless powders without a filler. In the 45/70 we can consider 3031 to be a relatively slow burning powder and, depending on bullet weight, that 35 grain load will produce somewhere between 15,000 psi down to less than 8,000 psi. Rifle powders such as 3031 are really not very consistent at such low pressures which border on the threshold of fizzling. I've had noticeable hangfires even with the much faster burning 4227 when used without a filler in the 45/70. For loads down in the black powder velocity range, the use of 3031 is a poor powder choice. For such reduced loads it is always better to go to a faster burning pistol or shotgun powder than to reduce a rifle powder below its proper operating range. That is asking for trouble. Besides it is just common sense, why burn 35 grains of 3031 when you could safely get the same velocity with as little as 13 grains of Unique or 20-22 grains of 2400 or 4227?  With or without a filler, 3031 is not the powder for such reduced loads.

[jjamna]

I have shot Unique, 3031, Black Powder along with a few others. If you want a light load get you some Trail Boss.
These are strait from the IMR Book
300 gr cast Start 14 gr   Vel - 1199 14,400 cup    Max 16.5 gr   Vel- 1285 20,900 cup

405 gr Cast   Start 12 gr Vel 971  24,500 cup       Max 13   Velocity  1007  25,600 cup

Trail boss has a neat shape, it looks like donuts therefore it fills the cases real well.
These are lite enough a ten year old could shoot them no problem.
I will shoot them one handed to show people they don't kick. Many people hear 45-70 and think no way

[preventec47]

I am surprised none of you mentioned button bullets in your light loads.  I dont load
but on another forum several weeks ago they were discussing the use of these
"button" bullets that I think only weighed 120 grains.  Made for a real nice little
pop gun at some velocities in the low teens I think.

[njanear]

I am surprised none of you mentioned button bullets in your light loads.  I dont load
but on another forum several weeks ago they were discussing the use of these
"button" bullets that I think only weighed 120 grains.  Made for a real nice little
pop gun at some velocities in the low teens I think.

http://www.westernbullet.com/cbip/b457130.html

I have seen these talked about on here but haven't ever seen them in use.  They look like a fun way to load the .45/70 down for the kids.

[quickdtoo]

Out dear departed friend Deadeye47 sent me a bunch of the collar button bullets several years ago, but I have yet to shoot any of them, I'm just no much of a plinker, haven't tested the now discontinued AGS either.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,59864.msg359730.html#msg359730

[preventec47]

Bullet moulds for the 45-70 Collar Button are available from

Rapine Bullet Mould Mfg. Co.
9503 Landis Lane, Dept. GWK
 East Greenville, PA 18041

[Ed Hill]

I'm surprised no one mentioned Accurate 5744. No filler necessary, easy to see a double load, and very accurate.

Ed