Boys, I think I messed up...

[.308 Norma]

Just remember one thing. If you're going to load black powder you need a black powder powder measure. Standard powder measures shouldn't be using with black powder.

Why?
Long before lawyers got involved, standard measures were all that were used.
Kevin

The thing to remember is that smokeless powder is measured by weight; black powder is measured by volume.

By weight, by volume, whatever - when you are loading black powder cartridges with black powder, the method(s) used for measuring it isn't nearly as important as making sure there's no dead air space in the case once you seat the bullet.
"THERE SHOULD NEVER BE ANY AIR SPACE BETWEEN THE BASE OF THE BULLET AND THE POWDER BECAUSE A RINGED CHAMBER COULD RESULT. ALWAYS TOUCH THE BULLET'S BASE TO THE CARD WAD." (Quoted from Mike Venturino's and Steve Garbe's SPG Lubricants BP Cartridge Reloading Primer)
I use black powder exclusively in my .45-110 (2 7/8" case) Sharps. I drop 95 to 98 grains (by weight) of Black Cartridge Rifle Powder through a 24" drop tube in order to compress it slightly before I seat the bullet and wad. When I seat the 500 gr bullet and vegetable fiber wad, the powder get compressed a little more - maybe 1/16". I can measure the black powder by weight because years ago I figured how much black powder (by weight) it takes to fill a .45-110 Sharps case to a certain level. Of course that depends on the granulation of the black powder. I only use Black Cartridge Rifle Powder, and I don't know how its granulation compares to Fg or FFg.

From what I've read, and this is just reading I've never tried to find if anything actual occurred, the worry is that a standard powder measurer may set off the powder. By spark, or crushing granules, I dunno.
I weigh my charges of 777 (converted from volume) for my muzzleloader, my thrower won't reach the charge weight I want accurately. I've used measured charges as well, and do if I manage to shoot all the reloads my buttcuff carries. But my velocity is more consistent if I weigh charges, which could be my measuring equipment....

LoonWulf, I also have heard that about static electricity in a standard powder measure setting off black powder. And I've also heard that the theory was debunked, but I don't care. I keep black powder away from plastic. I'd hate to be the one to debunk the debunking of static electricity being able to set off a powder measure full of black powder.

 

[Obturation]

Op- you did good.
I would skip the black powder on that one, no sense in making a mess if you can have equal loadings that wont be so dirty. But thats opinion only. 45-70 is very easy to load for and forgiving if you aren't pushing the limits. You can even get a lee classic loader under $30 if you want to try handloading with mininal investment (you use a swing press for the operation aka a hammer). Love 45-70 , i dont bother with wizz bang "magic" cartridges in this caliber. A big heavy hunk of lead @ 1200-1300 fps will flatten game as well as it did in the 1800s, its plenty for almost anything. Even trailboss loads will kill just about anything. Once you fall in love with the 45-70 it will be in your blood forever. Congrats on your good trade.

 

[mustanger98]

Just remember one thing. If you're going to load black powder you need a black powder powder measure. Standard powder measures shouldn't be using with black powder.

Yeah, one thing you're up against is plastic and static electricity... kaboom. The old timey brass drop tubes don't build up static electricity... no kaboom.

 

[mustanger98]

I absolutely love plinking loads in 45-70. My absolute favorite thing to shoot is a 350 grain cast bullet over 18 grains of trail boss. Very economical and friendly on the shoulder.

We all get into our favorite cast loads every time somebody mentions .45-70. Mine's a 405gr LFP over 12grs of Unique. I know of another guy who prefers 18grs of 2400 with a tissue paper spacer.

 

[PapaG]

Don't leave space between powder and bullet base when loading black. My pet load, producing 3 5/16" 5 shots at 200 yards, was Lyman 45714 @ 385 grains, sized .457 with alox/beeswax, 55 grains of ffg over five gains of PB, a card wad, a wax wad, a card wad and seating the bullet in the rifling. A lot of work but, under 4" @ 200 yards with aperture sights in a Rolling Block. Your gun should do as well.

 

[StrawHat]

Yeah, one thing you're up against is plastic and static electricity... kaboom. The old timey brass drop tubes don't build up static electricity... no kaboom.

Last I saw, BP is shipped in plastic containers. Better let the companies know they are going to blow up.

Kevin

 

[rdnktrkr]

Yrs ago I got a big box of 405gr bullets and load them up for my 45-70, they make a great close range dear round and at the range everyone wants to shoot it. I load with 3031, looking around I see a lot of choices for powder.
I would look closely at the single stage Lee press and Lee dies, I have seen them used pretty cheap, I recently purchased a Lee 3 hole turret with 2 sets of dies and 2 extra turrets for 15$. I only load them on a single stage or with the turret press used as a single stage. You can make a loading block with a block of wood and a drill press, just gather items slowly. Around here 45-70 is about $1.50ea so it makes sense to reload.

 

[Texas10mm]

Last I saw, BP is shipped in plastic containers. Better let the companies know they are going to blow up.

Kevin

You do realize that there's more than one type of plastic?

Powder measures for black powder have non-plastic tubes and normally have brass rotors and such. https://www.rcbs.com/powder-measure/mechanical/16-98842.html

 

[Eddie Booth]

and though the Lee sizing system is a little less than ideal it does work.

I agree. I only have one 45-70 rifle, so I back the Lee sizing die out and only size enough to get good neck tension. I'm pretty sure I learned that in a Fortunecookie45lc video. It's been working great for me. I decap with a universal decapper, so it does add an extra step.

 

[MacAR]

Wow guys, I'm overwhelmed by the amount of information here! I'll probably go ahead and skip the BP loads for now, and just concentrate on getting set up to load some hunting and plinking rounds. It really is a fun gun to shoot, and last night it got it's first blood while in my hands. One very, very large armadillo decided that the side yard would be a great place to dig up supper. I'll omit the gory details, but suffice it to say that a 300 grain JHP at 40 steps is a bit much! Anyhow, I'm looking forward to experimenting with the old gal. I've got the hokey scope mount that came with it, but I really don't want to scope it. I'd rather have the peep, but a tang sight would be nice too.... decisions decisions. Told ya'll this was gonna wind up breaking me!

Mac

 

[fireside44]

I agree. I only have one 45-70 rifle, so I back the Lee sizing die out and only size enough to get good neck tension. I'm pretty sure I learned that in a Fortunecookie45lc video. It's been working great for me. I decap with a universal decapper, so it does add an extra step.

Sorry about the mixup, I was talking about the bullet sizer that fits on the Lee press for sizing cast stuff. If you water drop your bullets it's a no go, you'll tweak the press arm in no time. Ask me how I know. My Lee single stage now features a custom built heavy duty bar stock linkage, lol. My bench now features a Lyman 45 sizer as well so I don't have those problems anymore.

 

[Eddie Booth]

Sorry about the mixup, I was talking about the bullet sizer that fits on the Lee press for sizing cast stuff. If you water drop your bullets it's a no go, you'll tweak the press arm in no time. Ask me how I know. My Lee single stage now features a custom built heavy duty bar stock linkage, lol. My bench now features a Lyman 45 sizer as well so I don't have those problems anymore.

My bad, not yours, I didn't read your reply well enough. I don't do any hard cast, so I haven't had any issues so far. I cast with range scrap from the cowboy action lanes at my club and then powder coat. I mostly shoot steel and blow up water jugs.

 

[Eddie Booth]

It really is a fun gun to shoot...

Mac

It's probably my favorite caliber, so I took the necessary steps to be able to shoot it economically. With the right bullet and the right alloy, it only takes about 900fps to do this.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Ya know this thread is an inspiration.
There's a three day antlerless only season this weekend and I think I'll take one of my 45/70 rifles and see if I can get something with it.

 

[.308 Norma]

Told ya'll this was gonna wind up breaking me!

There's a lot worse ways to go broke.

 

[MacAR]

A quick photo, as promised:



I apologize for the poor quality, its the best I could do with my phone. I'm looking at getting a different insert for the front sight. I missed a coyote a moment ago and I feel like it was because the sight post was too thick. Add in dim light and a 300 yard shot with an unfamiliar rifle, well I suppose its no wonder I missed. Gonna go do some pawn shopping Saturday and look for more ammo and maybe some reloading stuff. Thanks again for all the good words and advice, men.

Mac

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

That IS a nice looking rifle.

 

[MacAR]

That IS a nice looking rifle.

Thanks. I added the butt cuff, but its for an '06 so only 4 shells fit. But it does pad the stock a bit, which is nice.

Mac

 

[Scrapiron45]

Congrats, you made a good trade. The 45/70 is a handloaders dream, lots of different bullets available, works well with alot of powders and the brass lasts forever. The Buffalo Classic is a cool gun, a modern rifle, but still reminiscent of the big cartridge blackpowder era. Some of these guns had Wesson and Harrington stamped on the receiver instead of Harrington and Richardson to honor their history. They also built a similar rifle called a target model chambered in 38/55 that are harder to find than the 45/70.

 

[BigBore44]

For Factory ammunition, LeverEvolution 325gr provide a lot of performance. But up close, it does a lot of unnecessary damage. Like, a lot a lot. For handloaded ammo, H-4198 will be a great friend to you. I’ve used 405gr MBC’s and LaserCast with Trail Boss, Unique, 3031, 4895, H-335, and a couple others. They’ve worked pretty nicely. But H-4198 and Hornady 350gr RN or FP’s have been where it’s at for me. The 300gr Sierra’s have also been performers. Super accurate and they don’t destroy much meat.

 

[DocRock]

Congratulation, Buffalo Classics are great! I'm a Handi Rifle fan and always wanted one of them, probably the finest of them all. I have a Classic Carbine (45 Colt) reamed to 454 Casull, the Buffalo's little brother.

You will benefit from putting a Mercury weight or a tube full of shot down the stock bolt hole to diminish recoil. Put a Lee Shaver Vernier tang sight on there, and start loading Black Powder. A 535 grs Postell will go a long way and the Buffalo can be remarkably accurate. Enjoy!

 

[Old Stumpy]

What could be next? A rolling block? A trapdoor? I'm concerned!

or these in .45-70:

 

[Eddietruett]

Somebody needs to go ahead and tell the OP the truth. You won't save a dime by reloading! You will enjoy it so much and have to try different bullet ad powder combinations that you will probably spend more, but you will shoot a hell of a lot more and have so much more fun. If I didn't reload, I wouldn't shoot 10 percent of what I do now. The fun part of loading is you can make so much better ammo than you can buy off the shelf and can taylor loads to any gun you own. To be able to wring the last bit of accuracy out of a gun gives me so much pleasure. Every time I buy a gun that I know will be with me for a while I sill spend hours trying different loads until I'm satisfied I can find any more accuracy. Its amazing how much difference the correct load can make even on a short barrel handgun. I say go ahead and get set up for loading. Don't go too cheap with equipment but you don't have to go top of the line either. You won't regret it.

 

[fireside44]

For handloaded ammo, H-4198 will be a great friend to you.

I'll 2nd that. Had good results using it in .444 marlin as well.

 

[BigBore44]

I'll 2nd that. Had good results using it in .444 marlin as well.

It’s my “go to” in 444 as well over 300gr Sierra’s. SubMOA in my 444S microgroove. My 1895 is right at MOA with it.