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October 14, 2024
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Greetings all. I have been a flintlock muzzle loader/ hunter since 1976 and a reloader of smokeless powder for 20+ years. I own a Miroku 1885 in 45-70 that is a tack driver with Reloader 7 and my own cast 405 gr FN bullets. As you might know, I’m waiting for my Winchester Hotchkiss 1885 that Mark Douglas is working on.
I’ve have briefly tried my hand a black powder cartridge reloading of this caliber but not enough to develop a consistently accurate load in my 1883. I have proper BP lube and a compression die. I think that I would like to try and dial in an accurate load for these rifles. I would love to take the WH 1883 deer hunting later this year if the work is completed on time.
I thought that I would reach out to the members here on WACA to see what loads and techniques have worked on their rifles. I understand that each rifle has its own unique preference, but I thought that I might see what recipes have been successful for others. Why try to reinvent the wheel?
Thanks in advance.
January 20, 2023
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Kevin, I can’t offer any help because I don’t have the required experience.
However, i have both a 45-70 Shiloh Sharps and a 45-90 Winchester (Miroku) 1886. I just laid in a good supply of RELODER 7 and propose to work up some mild to moderate, high-accuracy loads with that powder.and 300 to 400 grain cast lead.
Would you mind sharing your experience with it?
Thanks,
Bill
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
October 14, 2024
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No problem, Bill. I’m using an Accurate brand mold (I can get the mold # if anyone is interested) and I size them to .460. I tumble lube them
Load is 38.5 grains of Reloader 7 with the bullet seated to the crimp groove. I haven’t chronographed this load yet.
I shot this target at 100 yards open sights with my 1885 Miroku. The shooting Gods were smiling that day.
Sorry for the sideways orientation
January 20, 2023
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Wow! thanks very much. That is impressive.
I see you’ve sized to .002 over a nominal groove diameter of .458. Browning advised me .458 was the specification Miroku was to observe and manufacture. Did you experiment with sizing or did you arrive at .460 for some other reason?
- Bill
WACA # 65205; life member, NRA; member, TGCA; member, TSRA; amateur preservationist
"I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both, and I believe they both get paid in the end, but the fools first." -- David Balfour, narrator and protagonist of the novel, Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson.
November 7, 2015
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Kevin-
I think the powder is your issue, or more specifically, how you load it. Some folks prefer a drop tube instead of a compression die for optimal BP charging of the 45-70. I use both or either. You didn’t say if you were using an overpowder wad so if not I’d recommend you do. I use a .030″ vegetable wad but that is one area where almost every shooter will have a different opinion. BP needs to be compressed, the amount of compression it likes varies between powders and sometimes other factors. Also, BP is measured by volume, not weight. FFg is a good granulation to try in the 45-70. You’ll need to determine how far into your case your bullet goes when seated to the desired depth. Once have that you will need to find out how much powder it takes to fill the case to that point-including the wad. Swiss powder, for example, seems to like very little compression so you need to determine how much powder it takes to fill the case to the point where the wad is .003″ past the point where the base of the bullet will be. Then increase the amount of powder until you find a load that gives you a consistent result. Your single shot rounds will not require crimping with adequate neck tension but I suspect your Hotchkiss will require at least a light crimp to avoid pushing the bullet into the case when chambering the round. The Black Powder Cartridge Reloading Primer by Mike Venturino and Steve Garbe is a great resource for a more detailed description of the process. I see Steve has a revised edition but have no experience with it. Steve is a BPCR national champion and he taught MLV how to load for the BPCR so I can certainly recommend this book.
In short, BP loading is very different from smokeless. My “load” will be useless to you unless we are using exactly the same components. Your load is what your rifle likes. Hopefully your Hotchkiss will like the same load your Single Shot likes. Good luck, have fun! Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mike
October 14, 2024
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Thaks for your input Mike. I did use an over powder card with my loads that I tried. I’m certain that it’s just going to take more experimentation on my part to dial in a load. Maybe I will get lucky and have it work in both rifles.
Bill, I tried various sizings during load development. .460 was what my rifle liked best. In general, you should size your lead bullets .001 – .002 over the bore size. Have you slugged your barrel?
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