45-70 BP Loading

[Norminator]

I found that two 50 cal/grn pyrodex pellets fit nicely in a 45-70 casing,
but I didn't seem to get good accuracy. Has anyone tried this. I was using
a 405 grn cast bullets.. Sure makes reloading simple. What do you think.

[stimpylu32]

I shoot mostly Pyrodex loose , I have even built my own 24" drop tube to fill the case's with and get very good results , tried the pellets once and the loads just didn't shoot well at all , not sure if it was the air gap or what but the groups got much better when I went with loose powder .
 
stimpy

[tacklebury]

Yep, same as stimpy except I use real FFFg only in mine.  I tried Pyrodex, shockey's gold, American pioneer, 777 and really wasn't happy with the consistency on them.  Pyrodex was the best of the subs, but is also worst for clean-up to me.  I use about 67 gr. FFFg dropped with an 18" drop-tube swirled in and seat a 350 gr. Lead with about 1/8" compression.  An over powder .010 card seems to improve accuracy, but I really intend to try some some grease cookies at some point.  Typically, poor accuracy is more likely to do with the fit of the bullet to the bore.  I'd slug your bore and make sure that your leads are at least .001 larger, but many find .002 or even .003 to be a better size larger.  This ensures that the bullet engages the entire bore including rifling and doesn't get gas cutting around the bullet.  I had to "smush" the ones I was using some to get them to fit, but now have a 340 gr. Sissor style old lyman mold I'm going to try doing my own.  Montana bullet works and some other bullet sellers will let you specify the size within a given range of usually .457 to .460. 

[Norminator]

I actually found the same results with my muzzle loader. Loose pyrodex shoots much better than the pellets. Except even with a drop tube, you can't get 100 grains and a bullet into a 45-70 casing. I do get good accuracy with smokeless and a wad.

[gcrank1]

I think the virtue, if any, of the pellets is that in a hunting context and iffy weather they are easy to manipulate and load into a muzzleloader for a follow-up shot.
I have done some 45-70 BP reloading, very basic and with good results (in spite of all the gyrations Ive read about for BPCR loading), a primed case fire-formed to the chamber, as much 2F as fits in under the bullet with just a little squeeze, no card or lube wad, and topped by a 405gr. cast bullet with some TC Bore Butter smeared into the grease grooves. The bullet dia. fits the case mouth a tad snug.
I havent fired a bunch at one sitting, but what I did went where I had it pointed out at 125ish yds. and I had a nice 'lube star' at the muzzle showing that the lube lasted the barrel length.
All in all, certainly good enough for hunting all but a 'herd' hereabouts.

[Norminator]

It's the only way to get 100 grns into a 45-70 casing.I figured I could call it my 45-100 without the actual expense of the obsolete (read expensive) brass.
Now if I can figure out how to accurize it. Maybe triple seven?

[gcrank1]

You would have to chrony that load to prove it is actually doing it. I have no trouble getting 45-90 (or better) ballistics out of my 45-70 cases with smokeless powder, and at the current cost of BP and its substitutes lots cheaper too.

[bikerbeans]

Hi,
 
I posted on this a couple of years back but I ain't smart enough to figure out how to search and find my thread.  I shot pyrodex & 777 pellets in 45-70 and 45-120 cases.  I don't remember much about accuracy or velocity.  I do remember that you don't need to have the boolit sitting on the pellet, I verified this with a manufacturer rep.  I used both 45 cal & 50 cal pellets.  IIRC, hodgdon doesn't recommend 777 pellets as a BP substitute because of concerns with too much pressure for older BPCRs.
 
BB

[bikerbeans]

found the thread
 
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,228989.msg1099271645.html#msg1099271645