45-70 with Trail Boss

[alemonkey]

From what I've read, people seem to have good results with 14-16 grains of Trail Boss in the 45-70, but there seems to be some debate over using a wad under the bullet. I'm planning on starting out with 405 grain cast bullets (which is all the local shop stocks in this caliber), with no gas check (since the local club doesn't allow them with their silhouettes). I figure since I'm using a cast bullet with no gas check I should stick a card wad in there, but do I need to worry about the wad dropping down further in the case if the powder isn't quite all the way to the top? Or will it pretty much stay put? I've never loaded cast bullets before, so this is new territory.

 

[Eric F]

I guess it would depend on the "volume" of the powder. if 16gr of powder is only half the left over case capacity you might try a dab of sticky grease on the bottom of the bullet and stick the wad on it to hold in place. Have you looked for trail boss load data to see what it says?

 

[alemonkey]

I've found quite a bit of data on using it in the 45-70, but it's mostly dealing with how much powder & which bullets. I never thought of sticking it to the bottom of the bullet, though. Is that normal procedure with a cast bullet?

 

[ReloaderFred]

Only use a card wad if the powder charge is compressed, or at least to the base of the bullet. The problem is if there is space between the wad and the base of the bullet, the air in that space will compress before the bullet moves and can ring your chamber. I know some people get away with using a card wad and a less than full charge, but to me it's not worth the risk of ruining the chamber.

I use Super Grex as a case filler in my .45-120 Sharps, but I worked up the loads using the filler from the start. You never want to work up a load and then just put in case filler, since that will drastically raise pressures.

I haven't found it necessary to use a case filler in my .45-70's, or a wad, since leading hasn't been an issue with my guns in this caliber.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[alemonkey]

I haven't found it necessary to use a case filler in my .45-70's, or a wad, since leading hasn't been an issue with my guns in this caliber.

Ok, I was under the impression that a cast bullet needs something in between it and the powder. I take it that's not true? If I can just load a plain cast chunk of lead over the powder just like I would a jacketed bullet then that simplifies things.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Leading of the barrel, and the degree, has a lot to do with the alloy of the bullet, the size of the bullet, and the load used. With your load of Trail Boss, you probably won't have a leading issue, unless the bullets are undersized, which is generally the biggest cause of leading. You'll know for sure after you've fired a few of your loads through your rifle...

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[alemonkey]

Thanks, that clears things up.

 

[dmftoy1]

I'm using plain base cast boolits over trailboss in my .45-70 with no problems. I'm using right at the max load for 300, 350, and 405 grain boolits. (hand cast a bunch of hollow base 405's that really shoot nice over trailboss)

The cases are not completely full with the recommended loads but ALOT better than anything else I've seen for light 45-70 loads. From what I can see it's not very position sensitive so I don't think you need a full case with TB. The cool thing is that you can shoot 40-50-100 of them in a sitting and not have a sore shoulder.

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[45LCPAL]

Does anyone have a trapdoor load for a 500gr. FMJ?? I don't care about speed, just pressure and recoil..thanks..45LCPAL

 

[TEDDY]

45/70

I dont have a load but that 500 gr will kick.you can use 405gr which was the carbine bullet :banghead: