45-70 boolits

**Radarsonwheels** · October 11th, 2021, 08:19 PM

I have a real trapdoor and it definitely likes .462* diameter bullets. I cast 400 and 500 grain slugs for it but I grease them by hand with nasa lube. I should make dies for it because I have a lathe and a lubesizer but it only gets shot once in a while.

I had a pedersoli sharps business rifle and it shot really well with lubesized lead/tin bullets at .459. I could never get paper patched loads to fly straight out of the pedersoli but the greased loads shot like magic.

Had a marlin lever that was fun to shoot screaming fast jacketed soft points out of.

Loading 45/70 is so versatile fun and impressive looking

**Hib** · November 24th, 2021, 05:49 PM

Once had one made in 1889. Had a groove diameter at .462 or .463. Heavy soft cast with black did the trick.

**DukeConnor** · November 24th, 2021, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by Hib

Once had one made in 1889. Had a groove diameter at .462 or .463. Heavy soft cast with black did the trick.

Wow, your old 1889 was awhile ago.

**DukeConnor** · November 24th, 2021, 06:27 PM

I've found a couple nice easy shooting loads since I posted.

Bullet master Ducati Ron's load has become my favorite. Definitely a go to.
I am also working up some unique loads but haven't gotten them where I want yet.
I just got to get my Labradar back from my tight fisted kid.

**DucatiRon** · November 24th, 2021, 08:50 PM

Speaking of 45/70. I just got my Encore barrel back from being threaded.

Can't wait for suppressed 45/70 cowboy action loads.

**Hib** · November 28th, 2021, 08:51 PM

Originally Posted by DukeConnor

Wow, your old 1889 was awhile ago.

Lost it in 1988 dang it. Bought it in a Louisiana pool hall for a hundred bucks. It still had machine shop shavings stuck behind the lock plate and none of the blue had ever been worn off, not even on the windage screw.

**Noah_Zark** · November 29th, 2021, 01:02 AM

My H&R replica Infantry Trapdoor, Ruger No. 1, and C. Sharps 1875 all love the 535 gr Postell bullet over 13 gr of Unique, no filler. The combination results in a most satisfying and distinctive sounding "thunk" when hitting steel at 100, 200, and 400 meters. Any twist 22" or faster seems to work.

I use 300, 350, and 400-405 gr cast boolits in the Marlin 1895s, Browning 1886, and Pedersoli "Winchester 71" clone in 45-70, with 12 to 15 gr of Unique depending on bullet mass. Velocity is ~ that of BP loads, and the Unique loads have proven to be most accurate while parabolic in trajectory.

Noah

**Gunsnwater** · November 29th, 2021, 04:09 AM

Originally Posted by Noah_Zark

My H&R replica Infantry Trapdoor, Ruger No. 1, and C. Sharps 1875 all love the 535 gr Postell bullet over 13 gr of Unique, no filler. The combination results in a most satisfying and distinctive sounding "thunk" when hitting steel at 100, 200, and 400 meters. Any twist 22" or faster seems to work.

I use 300, 350, and 400-405 gr cast boolits in the Marlin 1895s, Browning 1886, and Pedersoli "Winchester 71" clone in 45-70, with 12 to 15 gr of Unique depending on bullet mass. Velocity is ~ that of BP loads, and the Unique loads have proven to be most accurate while parabolic in trajectory.

Noah

You must have to use filler over that 15gr unique load.

**Noah_Zark** · November 29th, 2021, 08:11 AM

No filler. Unique is not positionally sensitive, and has been proven to not detonate like some powders do.

But you're welcome to use a tuft of polyester fiber fill if you wish; I've been down that road and tested filled vs unfilled cartridges, with unfilled cartridges tilted forward and backward before careful insertion in the chamber. No material change in velocity or POI/group size.

Noah