loading data,45-90, lever action
GGG
I need all of the necessary information for loading this cartridge.
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# I have been unable to find any loading data for my 45-90 Winchester.
# I need all of the necessary information for loading this cartridge.
#
There's a Wolfe publication on leverguns that might be helpful and
either Handloading or Rifle magazine had an article on it not too many
issues back. Check the Wolfe website. I've also seen some specialist
publications catering to the blackpowder cartridge shooter, the info
is out there, you just have to dig for it. Handloader usually has ads
for same in the back.
If you've got an original Win 1886, you'll want to slug the bore to
make sure you get the proper size of bullet. IIRC, the rifling twist
is different than .45-70, it was designed to be an "express" rifle
shooting light bullets at higher velocities. Resulting energies
weren't that much different than the .45-70, though. So you could
start with 300 grainers and .45-70 listed loads and work up from
there. You probably won't get satisfactory results with purchased
lead bullets, you'll probably have to cast and size them yourself to
get proper diameter and lead hardness.
Stan
penultimate
> ...
As I am sure you are aware, the 45/90 Winchester is a black powder
cartridge which, in most instances, is chambered in a rifle which is
likely unsafe at greater than black powder pressure levels. Even
"modern" reproductions in 45/90 are intended for black powder
pressures and loads.
Further, the large case capacity makes for unreliable ignition with
"safe" smokeless-for-black loads, necessitating use of a filler. The
use of fillers is a risky and contentious topic probably best left to
genuine experts and other damned fools. I assume you are neither (as
am I).
The above accounts for the absence of smokeless data in the manuals
for this cartridge.
If your rifle is in a condition suitable for firing safely (and, if
you don't know, I recommend you have it evaluated by a competent
gunsmith before firing), then certainly black powder loads are in
order and most that shoot a 45/90 employ them. You should google on
black powder cartridge reloading as a starter and read up because you
will find that there is more than you likely know if you have only
loaded smokeless cartridges. Googling on long rangeBlack Powder
Silhouette shooters and the cartridge itself should find you
particular bullet/lube/rifle combinations favored by particular
shooters. Mike Venturino has probably published more than anyone else
on achieving highly accurate black powder loads. With reference to
the 45/70, John Barsness has recently published an article in
Handloader or Rifle titled something like "Loading black powder on the
cheap." Buffalo Arms is a good supplier, a worthy source of
information, and probably can recommend a really good black powder
cartridge reloading guide. Mine is an ancient Lyman manual.
In broad outline (and NOT as reloading data), you are going to prepare
and prime a cartridge, fill it almost to the top with black powder,
and add wadding so that a suitable bullet when properly seated and
crimped just barely compresses the black powder load. The charge of
black powder used is determined by case capacity in consideration of
the bullet, bullet seating depth, and wadding used. Depending on your
rifle and use, case sizing and crimping may or may not be necessary.
For my old 45/70 single shot, I neither re-size nor crimp. In a
repeater, obviously neck tension and crimping become a concern. Black
powder can and will explode. So read and follow safety instructions.
If your goal is to produce loads that go bang, the above is almost
it. If your goal is to produce very accurate and consistent results,
you may be in for a long journey and should read up on it before you
decide to start off.
As general statements, you will probably get best results with either
GOEX ffG or Swiss 1 1/2. The former is easier to find. The latter in
my experience a little cleaner. Using "Walter's" vegetable wads is a
really good idea. "SPG" is probably all you need to know about bullet
lubes. Slug your bore and measure it before you buy any bullets (or
your first bullet mould), especially if your rifle is an oldie. If
you stay with softer alloy bullets, bullet diameter is probably a less
critical parameter for reasonable accuracy. Don't be conned into
"hard" or "hardened" bullets, at least at the beginning. With a
Walter's wad over powder and SPG, leading should not be a problem.
You can experiment without using a powder drop tube. If you progress
beyond dipping individual charges to a measure, get one designed for
static free black powder use.
Bullets are where you can easily invest your life experimenting until
you are happy with the only thing I am sure of for "your" load being
that it will weigh somewhere between 400 and 550 grains. If you get
serious, you will be casting your own and probably owning moulds, more
than one casting pot, a luber/sizer. Once you are serious, you will
probably wish you owned a 45/70 or 40/65 because it kicks a bit
less.
Somehow the mellow sound and cloud of white haze makes shooting black
powder cartridges really fun. However, I have avoided a lot of pain
by staying casual and not getting sucked into the extreme accuracy
game.
Terry
"GGG" <ggg...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:fr5pt5$t91$1...@grapevine.wam.umd.edu...
#I have been unable to find any loading data for my 45-90 Winchester.
# I need all of the necessary information for loading this cartridge.
#
Well you know right off the bat that one load is 90 grains of black powder.
One load was 45-90-300. Look in "Cartridges of the World". There are three
loads there. With smokeless.
TerryS
chasw
more accurate with the orginal black than with smokeless. As I recall from
Venturino's article, the BP substitutes were, in some cases, about as
accurate as the original propellant, but not better. It just goes to show,
an accurate rifle is built around an accurate cartridge, which in turn is
built around an accurate powder/bullet combo. Those old charcoal burners
are just to voluminous for optimum use with smokeless and fillers just don't
make up for it. - CW