Captain*kirk
Member
I have a new rifle that I have yet to fire; a Miroku Winchester 1886 Deluxe high grade chambered in (but of course!) .45-70 Gov't.
For background, I currently load .45-70 in smokeless for my Browning 1885 High Wall, and in black powder for my Pedersoli Sharps.
The Sharps has decided it likes 65gr of 2F behind a 535gr Postell, and the HW has decided it prefers 40.6gr of H4895 behind the Remington 405gr semi-jacketed LFN.
I have decided NOT to shoot BP loads or cast lead bullets out of the 1886 for the moment. I could use the 1885 loads, but being as how H4895 is very hard to come by these days and Remington is no longer selling the 405gr as a component, I have decided to build a load for the Winchester using common and relatively easy to come by components and leave my current inventory for the High Wall.
Most likely I would start with either Berry's 350gr TMJ .458 bullets, or possibly the Speer 400gr SJLFP bullet, backed with a relatively mild charge of a fairly bulky powder that would hopefully not leave a lot of empty case space.
This will primarily be 'range fodder' and not a hunting load. I would also like to be able to shoot 20-40 rounds off the bench and still have a shoulder left as well.
Before you ask;
*copper jacketed for ease of cleaning and less airborne lead
*smokeless, because I watched a strip and clean of the Miroku 1886 and want no part of that every time I shoot!
My primary "go-to" powder is Unique for all my handgun stuff and I've heard many like it for .45-70, but I'm concerned about case capacity with flake powder...I'm guessing there would be a lot of unused space with Unique at shoulder-saver velocities. Any suggestions and sources for load data from those who load for the '86?
For background, I currently load .45-70 in smokeless for my Browning 1885 High Wall, and in black powder for my Pedersoli Sharps.
The Sharps has decided it likes 65gr of 2F behind a 535gr Postell, and the HW has decided it prefers 40.6gr of H4895 behind the Remington 405gr semi-jacketed LFN.
I have decided NOT to shoot BP loads or cast lead bullets out of the 1886 for the moment. I could use the 1885 loads, but being as how H4895 is very hard to come by these days and Remington is no longer selling the 405gr as a component, I have decided to build a load for the Winchester using common and relatively easy to come by components and leave my current inventory for the High Wall.
Most likely I would start with either Berry's 350gr TMJ .458 bullets, or possibly the Speer 400gr SJLFP bullet, backed with a relatively mild charge of a fairly bulky powder that would hopefully not leave a lot of empty case space.
This will primarily be 'range fodder' and not a hunting load. I would also like to be able to shoot 20-40 rounds off the bench and still have a shoulder left as well.
Before you ask;
*copper jacketed for ease of cleaning and less airborne lead
*smokeless, because I watched a strip and clean of the Miroku 1886 and want no part of that every time I shoot!
My primary "go-to" powder is Unique for all my handgun stuff and I've heard many like it for .45-70, but I'm concerned about case capacity with flake powder...I'm guessing there would be a lot of unused space with Unique at shoulder-saver velocities. Any suggestions and sources for load data from those who load for the '86?