Best place for 45-70 brass ? Other question on powder?

[Rick B]

Just wondering best places for supplies. A friend reloads 45-70 and I want to pick up at least 100 casings maybe some other supplies for it. What black powders should be used although I am sure he has that right I still would like to know. Thanks,,Rick B

[older than dirt]

Bass Pro Shops sell 45-70 brass. Check them out on line.

[JBinIll]

Whoever has it in stock-

http://www.trackofthewolf.com/Categories/PartDetail.aspx/139/1/CASE-45-70-PACK-050?PageSize=100

http://www.buffaloarms.com/products.aspx?CAT=4427

[musculus]

ANY 2F, 3F, "Cartridge" powder made by Goex, Elefant, Swiss, KIK are all fine. If you don't know what you are doing, http://users.isp.com/aconitum/BPCR%20ReLoading.html this is a pretty good primer.

I haven't loaded up any BP loads for a few years, but had fine results with 500 grain RN bullets sized .458 and .459 with typical (soft) BP lubes (SPG, Lyman BP, etc.). Otherwise and mostly, I just use moderate smokeless loads.

[Mark Daiute]

I can say from personal as well as anecdotal evidence that Elephant Brand Powder, if it still exists is significantly less powerful than Goex, Schuetzen or Swiss powders.

[Rick B]

Thank you for all the help. Rick B

[QCI Springfield]

Goex CTG. is great if you can find it. Avoid Remington brass. Winchester, Federal, and Starline are great.

[JBinIll]

Goex CTG. is great if you can find it. Avoid Remington brass. Winchester, Federal, and Starline are great.

As far as I know Goex discontinued the cartridge powder.

[QCI Springfield]

Crumbs, I better conserve my last can! :O

[jon_norstog]

I think 45-70 brass has gotten a lot better since I was a kid. The case head has a lot more metal in it, no matter what brand. Maybe that's part of the reason you gotta work at getting 70 gr. of BP into a load. I see 45-70 in bulk at most gun shops and sporting goods stores that handle reloading stuff. Like Snake River/ACE in Pokatello or Black Sheep in Lewiston or Coeur d'Alene.

jn

[0440]

Over the years I've been using 5744 (smokeless) powder, 20 grains. I pack down 1/4 piece of tissue paper over powder with a pencil eraser end (no metal). that keeps powder over primer. then I use a .462 dia. lead bullet, about 480 grain. Since most trapdoors have been over shot, the .458 dia bullet may be sloppy so I increased it to .462 dia. No failures to date.

[0440]

over the years I've used 20 grains of 5744 (smokeless) powder with a .462 dia lead bullet. I place a 1/4 piece of tissue over the powder with the end of a pencil eraser (no metal). this keeps powder over primer.
I use a .462 dia lead 480 grain (or about) lead bullet. The trapdoors are over shot so I use the .462 dia bullet. tighter fit. never had any problems.

[QCI Springfield]

I think 45-70 brass has gotten a lot better since I was a kid. The case head has a lot more metal in it, no matter what brand. Maybe that's part of the reason you gotta work at getting 70 gr. of BP into a load. I see 45-70 in bulk at most gun shops and sporting goods stores that handle reloading stuff. Like Snake River/ACE in Pokatello or Black Sheep in Lewiston or Coeur d'Alene.

jn

I have not really had much difficulty getting the 70gr. charge into the case. I use a long drop tube, and with the 500gr. bullets I cast an extra hard bullet and turned it down a bit to compress the powder, that way I do not deform a good bullet by using it as a compressor. With 405gr. loads I do not even need to compress the powder, just use the drop tube. When you think about it, the original inside primed copper cases were probably pretty close to the internal volume of modern brass. Then again, I have always read, over and over, "MODERN brass won't take X grains of black powder, due to thicker case heads, etc. etc." WELL, I have found 40gr. of FFG is barely compressed in .45 Colt. The original charge of 18gr. in the .32WCF? Ditto. Same with 38gr. in the .38WCF. Likewise with 48gr. in the .38-55. I have read the specs on old ammo in old catalogues, and in every case I have been able to easily duplicate the load in modern brass.

[Rick B]

Found the one & only bag of 50 Remington at Gander Mountain for $43.00 and this was one of only 4 bags of any type of brass left in the store. The shelf's were bare. I turned around and found 100 brand new Starlines for $51.00 shipped to the house. I wished I found that 1st. Rick

[joem]

Years ago I bought some Starline brass directly from the company. By the way I drove down to the company and paid cash.