Based upon one outing, my newly acquired Browing 1885 shoots 300 grain Federal factory loads listed at 1850 fps to point of aim at 50 yards.
Given that 45-70 ammo is expensive in general, along with the current shortage of both factory ammunition and reloading components, I had to venture far and wide to come up with ANY reloading options.
Suitable smokeless powders were truly unobtainable locally, but I have a store of black powder and black powder substitutes... so I went with 777.
I was able to obtain a box of 325 grain Hornady FTX's, but chose not to use them now... so I ventured farther from home and in a little rural gun shop I found two ancient boxes of 500 grain Hornady FMJ's.
Original 1873 munitions contained 70 grains of black powder behind a 500 grain lead cast bullet so I figured I was set.
Turns out that since you ought not heavily compress 777, I was limited to only 60 grains by volume... roughly 42.5 grains by weight... I loaded up 20 and headed out.
I expected a spirited recoil from launching such an enormous bullet... WHOOOFFF!!!... actually, it was like getting hit in the shoulder by a big old pillow... very pleasant to shoot.
I had expected an enormous cloud of smoke... not so much... not much more than my other black powder guns... and I'd have bet you at least 50 cents that a 500 grain bullet traveling at 1200 fps would shoot substantially lower than a 300 grain bullet at 1850 fps.
Huh... those big pills were hitting about 16" higher than the Federal factory loads... at 50 yards... yikes...
I'm not even sure I have enough adjustment in the sights to make up for that, if I chose to do so.
I have a Ruger SP 101 that shoots 38 specials way low but comes right on with full power 357's... but that's going the wrong way.
In a month or so when my smokeless arrives and I can crank the big bullets up in velocity, will they flatten out?... I kind of doubt it, I think they'll shoot even higher... I figure I'll just have to hold on the bottom of the buffalo... LOL...
I wondered what those who have experience loading 45-70 have found?
Given that 45-70 ammo is expensive in general, along with the current shortage of both factory ammunition and reloading components, I had to venture far and wide to come up with ANY reloading options.
Suitable smokeless powders were truly unobtainable locally, but I have a store of black powder and black powder substitutes... so I went with 777.
I was able to obtain a box of 325 grain Hornady FTX's, but chose not to use them now... so I ventured farther from home and in a little rural gun shop I found two ancient boxes of 500 grain Hornady FMJ's.
Original 1873 munitions contained 70 grains of black powder behind a 500 grain lead cast bullet so I figured I was set.
Turns out that since you ought not heavily compress 777, I was limited to only 60 grains by volume... roughly 42.5 grains by weight... I loaded up 20 and headed out.
I expected a spirited recoil from launching such an enormous bullet... WHOOOFFF!!!... actually, it was like getting hit in the shoulder by a big old pillow... very pleasant to shoot.
I had expected an enormous cloud of smoke... not so much... not much more than my other black powder guns... and I'd have bet you at least 50 cents that a 500 grain bullet traveling at 1200 fps would shoot substantially lower than a 300 grain bullet at 1850 fps.
Huh... those big pills were hitting about 16" higher than the Federal factory loads... at 50 yards... yikes...
I'm not even sure I have enough adjustment in the sights to make up for that, if I chose to do so.
I have a Ruger SP 101 that shoots 38 specials way low but comes right on with full power 357's... but that's going the wrong way.
In a month or so when my smokeless arrives and I can crank the big bullets up in velocity, will they flatten out?... I kind of doubt it, I think they'll shoot even higher... I figure I'll just have to hold on the bottom of the buffalo... LOL...
I wondered what those who have experience loading 45-70 have found?