Hand Made 45/70-Muzzleloader Finished, Range Report

[gjdykeman]

Check out picture 2, what do you think of my new muzzleloader. This was a complete overhaul. I documented the whole process. Turkeys in the morning gunsmithing in the afternoon 12 hours in this barrel. fired it, 40g 777, worked like factory new. Next, Trail boss. The sky is the limit. Great project.

[bikerbeans]

What projectile(s) did you shoot on the Triple 7?  Full bore bullet or a sabot?  You have been busy, you just got the barrel a few weeks ago.  Did you fabricate the breech plug also?

BB

[gjdykeman]

What projectile(s) did you shoot on the Triple 7?  Full bore bullet or a sabot?  You have been busy, you just got the barrel a few weeks ago.  Did you fabricate the breech plug also?

BB

Breach plug was made from an Omega Stainless plug. We cut it down on the lath to 5/8thX20. He felt that would make the barrel thicker and stronger. The plug used short promers. We fixed that and it now uses regular 209s. The bullets and the loads are the next project. I think this can go on for the summer. He stated he  could have made a breech plug in about 10m from stock but I already payed for it so we used it.

[gjdykeman]

What projectile(s) did you shoot on the Triple 7?  Full bore bullet or a sabot?  You have been busy, you just got the barrel a few weeks ago.  Did you fabricate the breech plug also?

BB

Breach plug was made from an Omega Stainless plug. We cut it down on the lath to 5/8thX20. He felt that would make the barrel thicker and stronger. The plug used short promers. We fixed that and it now uses regular 209s. The bullets and the loads are the next project. I think this can go on for the summer. He stated he  could have made a breech plug in about 10m from stock but I already payed for it so we used it.

Starting to get the 45/70 together. Got 50 bullets, 44 cal, 325g, FNGC, 430 dia sized. I used 11g Unique and lubed patches. Seated the bullets just on top of the forcing cone. No mess, no fuss, clean holes, rammed well. There was no fouling and I fired about 20 rounds. Fairly accurate. I am getting there. I will chronograph the loads in the next few weeks and work on some different powders, trying to improve accuracy. It shoots as well as my Rossi 50 cal.

[Swampman]

Ok why would you shoot .430 bullets in a .45-70 barrel?

[bikerbeans]

Swampman,

He converted a 45/70 barrel that had the lug butchered to a muzzleloader and I think he had problems loading 45 caliber bullets from the muzzle.  He is using a patched 44 caliber bullet because it will ram down the tube better than just a lead 45 slug.  Also, muzzleloader conicals are meant to expand when fired unlike a 44 or 45 caliber lead pistol/rifle bullet.  The patch will act as a thin sabot and help seal the bore when it is shot. 

BB

[gjdykeman]

Swampman,

He converted a 45/70 barrel that had the lug butchered to a muzzleloader and I think he had problems loading 45 caliber bullets from the muzzle.  He is using a patched 44 caliber bullet because it will ram down the tube better than just a lead 45 slug.  Also, muzzleloader conicals are meant to expand when fired unlike a 44 or 45 caliber lead pistol/rifle bullet.  The patch will act as a thin sabot and help seal the bore when it is shot. 

BB

Thank you BB. I could load this by the breach with a normal 45/70 bullet but with the breach plug takes about half of the chamber. If I put a 405g bullet in and touch the cone there is not much room for powder. I do have some 300g bullets that are short and I may try that. I am not much of a range guy. I am a hunter. In my state a muzzleloader is just that. They don't care what kind. I have killed deer with my CVA 45 cal, kit gun, flintlock. With my CVA 45 cal caplock, with a scope. I have killed deer with my Traditions, 50 cal flintlock, and have never missed with my Rossi 50 cal inline. I have been shooting black powder for 30 years. Just thought I would try something different  and a hell of a project.

[bikerbeans]

gjdykeman,

I am living through you on this conversion project.  I was thinking of trying it on one of my 45/70s until I got a Huntsman. I may still try the conversion once you complete your load development. 

BB

[myarmor]

Boy  I don't know where to begin as far as questions go ...... look forward to your progress...





-Aaron

[gjdykeman]

gjdykeman,

I am living through you on this conversion project.  I was thinking of trying it on one of my 45/70s until I got a Huntsman. I may still try the conversion once you complete your load development. 

BB

I think I have finished my load work up. After many range trips and dozens of loads and bullets I have settled on the right combo.
The 325g, 430, 44 cal bullets are good. The powder is W748. This powder measures by volume and weight the same as 777. I used 50g powder, the patched bullet, heavily lubed, and fired 10 rounds. The first 3 were to see if I would blow up. I didn't. There was an issue. The powder is very sensitive to contamination by the lube. The lubed chamber and plug failed to fire. Unloaded cleaned everything and re-fired. A little weak for what I was doing. Checked out everything and the lubed patch had wetted about 1/3 of the powder. Cleaned and reloaded, dry barrel, dry chamber and dry plug. I put a dry patch on top of the powder, loaded normally and let fly. Stiff, loud and deadly. Thanks for limbsaver.  Target attached, I don't care to get it any better. I could probably increase this to 458 Win mag loads but I think enough is a enough. 73g W748 350g FMJ bullet=2500+ FPS. This is a muzzleloader. Done.