45/70 and not alot of $ for ammo

[plumbernater]

as yall have noticed I just got a 45/70 and I knew ammo is high. But I would like to ask a question about ammo. Being Im on a ammo budget, and Im planning on reloading. I would like to have some imput on what shoots the best out of the 22 inch marlin 1895, so I dont waist money on experimenting burning ammo I dont need. Please help. I kinda want to know whats good for hunting, and what is good for target, Targets are more in the line of, bottles of water, punpkins, melons, cans of beans. something that blows up. this is what I have aleady for hunting

[skmarsh77]

You really can't go wrong with what you have there. Look for the hard to find remington 405 soft points and your all set for whatever you want to do weather plinking or hunting. They're drying up everywhere so if you see them grab em.

[plumbernater]

Remington has always done well in my 30/30 so I figured I would get some for my 45/70. Reading about all the different loads and bullets on here on here in other post, has got my head wurling. Thats why I started thi thread

[BloodGroove4570]

Plumber
Them are good rounds you have, they kill good and are easy on the shoulder. Im kinda in the same boat, i bought the reloading kit and im wanting to buy some boxes of loaded ammo to shoot, than save the brass to reload. Im also gonna buy HSM bear loads, they are fairly cheap {as cheap or cheaper than them Rem's you have} and you get Starline brass i do believe. Are you gonna load jacketed or HC?
I want to load HC and eventually learn to cast my own, this has to be THE cheapest route.....

Good luck
BG4570

Nice pipe collection

[plumbernater]

Hey Blood Groove, You and I are on the same boat. Since getting my 45/70 the other day Ive been on ebay, and other sites looking for reloading stuff. Molds as well. Want to find maybe 350gr.and a 405gr. mold. Thinking about a hand held lee. just for starters would like a nice press. They have a few on ebay but it looks like everyone else has the same idea.

[BloodGroove4570]

I hear that. I bit the bullet and went new with the RCBS Rockchucker Supreme Master loading kit, it was $300 but i figured i would buy the bst i could afford and get it over with, it will outlast me im sure, and everyone seems to like that press. I think its a good one, it seems pretty damn beefy to me thats for sure... I know alot of folks like the Dillon 550, but i couldnt afford it right now, and this was what i thought would get me going in the right direction, with alot of the stuff you need to start with.? Now i need to get loadin supplies and shoot more ammo to make empty brass, seems odd dont it , hahahaha shoot more to load more to shoot more to load more to..... and not save money but shoot more to load more to shoot more to load more!!!!! it a VICIOUS CYCLE, but someones gotta do it...

BloodGroove4570

[Uzi]

You said you were on a budget and ARE planning on reloading right? The most economical way to get ammo for the 45-70, (assuming you aren't planning on loading hundreds of rounds at a sitting, and assuming that you aren't going to get into casting bullets right away) is the Lee Classic Loader, like this one: Classic Loader 45-70 Government. for $26.50. All you need then are a small hammer, bullets, powder and some cases, which you can get after you shoot that box of ammo you have there. When I use store bought bullets, I use Laser Cast 405 gr. which runs about $65 for 250. Large rifle primers @1000 count, around $35 bucks, gun powder $20-25/lb.

Classic Loader: $26.50 * one time expense
Primers: $35.00
Gun Powder: $22.00
Bullets: $65.00
---------
Total 148.50

Price per round will average around 20-25 cents. That's the least expensive way to go. I have a Dillon 550 B press, but I also have a Classic Loader and for the 45-70 I end up loading just about as fast with the Classic AND I can load a round right there at the outdoor range with it if I choose can't do that with the Dillon. Plus it's a great thing to toss into a bug out bag. Here's a video of the Classic in action:

[Red Harangue]

So you want to reload for the 45-70 Govt. Good deal.

I would recommend purchasing a Ranch Dog mold for casting your boolits from melted wheel weights.
TLC460-350-RF Ranch Dog's TLC460-350-RF [TLC460350RF] - $60.00 : Ranch Dog Outdoors, Ranch Dog Outdoors - Lee Special Order Bullet Molds for Leverguns and semi-auto Handguns

Get a set of Redding dies. Buy once, cry once. Redding is head and shoulders over Lee for the 45-70. You can thank me later.

H-4895 powder. It provides excellent accuracy over a wide velocity range. It is very temperature stable, meters well, can be loaded very mild or fairly wild, depending on your preference for recoil abuse.

You will need a press. Lee Classic Cast is fairly decent. I have loaded a round or two on mine, and it still functions fine.

Come to think of it, you will need lots of $$$tuff.

Better stick to them Lemmington 405 grainers for now. They work just fine. If a 405 grain projectile, moving at 1250 fps. don't kill it, GOD don't want it dead.


Best-O-Luck

Red

[Wind]

Hey there plumbernater -- You could see how Lesters works for you... Best regards. Wind

[OiRogers]

@Red...
don't forget a load manual...Lyman 49 and the Lyman Cast Handbook are my two most used.

A decent balance / bar scale (cheapo electronic scales are notoriously fickle amd unreliable) to make certain your loading the amount of powder you think your loading.... The Lee one works fine. The RCBS one is probably the best one going IMHO.

A powder measure makes loading much faster. The Lee Perfect Powder Measure works fine for low dollars. I never figured out the markings on it's adjustment rod, but screw in for less powder, out for more... Throws a pretty consistant charge for me with most powders. I've been meaning to upgrade to a nicer measure for single stage work for years... Have yet to find it a pressing need though.

I have a ton of Dillon gear. It is great, but it ain't cheap. I figure I've got a few grand invested in saving money on shooting. (Doh!)
I grabbed a Lee Classic Cast press in the .50bmg kit to assist in feeding my big toy, I figured I'd give it a whirl for rifle rounds I don't shoot in bulk such as .45-70 and .375H&H... That Lee press has stood up to heavy use and makes ammo every bit as fine as my Dillon gear. Obviously slower as it is single stage vs. progressive, but it is fine for my rifle loads.

Calipers... Grab the set that Harbor Freight sells for 10$ with the coupon. Digital calipers are hard to screw up.

Dies... The Redding are sweet, I have em for a few calibers. Lee dies work fine, but need better lock rings before I would actively encourage anyone to use em. My .45-70 dies are Hornady and they've held up fine. I also have RCBS and Dillon branded dies that work great. I load my .44RemMag with Lee dies... I added the Hornady lock rings to all my dies. Their split / lock ring is the most solid one I've found so far.
Case lube is a must since no-one makes carbide .45-70 dies (do they? I'd grab a set in a second... Seems like it should be easy as a straight case and all.). A tin of Imperial Sizing Wax will last just shy of forever and it works great. The Dillon Spray Case Lube is basically a mix of Alcohol and Lanolin, but for a spray lube, it is the best I've found. I use the Imperial Wax on my .45-70 rounds... Apply with my fingers and rub cases clean after sizing with a cotton shop towel has worked fine for me.


Probably forgot something as I just finished a 12 hour shift and really should hit the hay.
Reloading isn't an arcane art... It is a science that anyone can learn if the are willing to invest the time and attention to do it safely. Straight walled cases such as the .45-70 are the easiest to learn on IMHO. Get crackin OP.