I wanted to share my experience in getting my 45/70 legal for the restricted area in southern Michigan with you fine folks.
Here in my area we can either use shotguns or straight walled cases that are 35 caliber or larger but they must have a case length no longer than 1.8".
Last year I used my 45 Colt Ruger Bisley revolver and was able to shoot a doe whitetail at 55 yards. Then I learned that if I just cut the 45/70 case back to 1.8" I could legally use it.
In order to reload this ammo I had to take my sizing die to a local machine shop and have them shorten the die accordingly. I also sent a shortened case to Lee and had them make me a custom Factory Crimp Die.
I ended up using the Hornady 325 FTX bullet seated to 2.56" and the CCI 200 primer and 48 grains of H4198 for a muzzle velocity of 1900 fps. I am getting good accuracy but as mentioned in another thread I did not see much of a blood trail on the two does I shot this fall so I might switch bullets if I can figure out what might give more blood on the trail.
Here in my area we can either use shotguns or straight walled cases that are 35 caliber or larger but they must have a case length no longer than 1.8".
Last year I used my 45 Colt Ruger Bisley revolver and was able to shoot a doe whitetail at 55 yards. Then I learned that if I just cut the 45/70 case back to 1.8" I could legally use it.
In order to reload this ammo I had to take my sizing die to a local machine shop and have them shorten the die accordingly. I also sent a shortened case to Lee and had them make me a custom Factory Crimp Die.
I ended up using the Hornady 325 FTX bullet seated to 2.56" and the CCI 200 primer and 48 grains of H4198 for a muzzle velocity of 1900 fps. I am getting good accuracy but as mentioned in another thread I did not see much of a blood trail on the two does I shot this fall so I might switch bullets if I can figure out what might give more blood on the trail.
