45-60 Blackpowder Loads

quigleysharps4570 · December 11, 2007, 12:31:30 PM

Was curious as what everyones blackpowder load, bullet, lube and such is for their 45-60's?
I was using 60grs. of Goex Cartridge grade with mine...but wasn't getting it to shoot to my liking...which alot of it was the rear sight issue I believe.
Course by the time the rear sight issue was resolved I was running out of time before deer season and found a smokeless load it shoots really well.
Figure to get started back with a cast bullet and blackpowder when the weather clears somewhat and was just curious about everyones load. Thanks

Hoof Hearted · December 11, 2007, 12:44:21 PM

Not shooting a 76 in 45-60 but 45-75 is close enough as long as you adhere to the three rules:

Soft lead
Full case
Edible lube

I started out with a mould that was on hand (RCBS 45-325 FNGC) and it seems to work well. Better than the sights

I really like Swiss 3f and in the absense of a lot of humidtuty I have no fouling, in fact you can blow the ash out!
SPG or one of anybodys homemande lubes..............

This BARKS like smokeless and has workrd well on deer and pig.

Grapeshot · December 13, 2007, 05:50:30 AM

I've used several bullets in my Chaparrel 1876 in .45-60 WCF. Montanna Swaged Bullets at 300 grains and 60 grains by volume shoots well in my 1876 as well as my soft cast Rapine 405 grain, hollow based, Rapine bullet. My rifling has a 1 in 22 inch twist and I use both SPG and my home made Bees Wax/Crisco/ Murphy's Oil Soap mix. I use Goex 2Fg, modified .45/70 Cases with the flash hole opened up to 3/32nd inch and a Remington or Winchester Large Rifle Magnum Primer.

Tommy tornado · December 13, 2007, 09:14:16 PM

Yeah, I have been thinking about using my 405 grain Lee bullet in .45-60. I just have never found any loading data for a bullet over the 338 grain hp lyman. So if I am understanding you correctly the 405 grain bullet does not take up too much space?

Rowdy Fulcher · December 14, 2007, 06:07:14 PM

Howdy Pard
You might want to think about using that 405 gr. bullet , it was designed to use a 300 gr. and it might
be dangerous . sure would hate for you to blow the bolt out ?

Tommy tornado · December 14, 2007, 07:48:54 PM

Yes, I was going to see what Grapeshot's experience was with the 405 grain bullet. I haven't done any reloading with a 405 grainer in .45-60 at all.

Grizzly Adams · December 17, 2007, 11:34:10 AM

Tommy, I have heard of some folks using the 405 grain bullet in the 45-60 with BP. The 45-60 was designed for a 300 grain bullet. I can't see any advantage to using the heavier bullet given the reduction in power due to the reduced capacity of the case when using the longer bullet.. Remember that the bullet must be seated deep enough for the round to work in the action.

My personal experience with all of the Winchester lever action calibers is that they work best within the original design parameters in terms of propellant, bullet weight, bullet design, and velocities.

Grapeshot · December 17, 2007, 03:59:26 PM

Quote from: Tommy tornado on December 13, 2007, 09:14:16 PM
Yeah, I have been thinking about using my 405 grain Lee bullet in .45-60. I just have never found any loading data for a bullet over the 338 grain hp lyman. So if I am understanding you correctly the 405 grain bullet does not take up too much space?

The 60 Grains of 2Fg has to be compressed a bit for the 405 grain bullet to seat properly.

Doc Sorebones · December 18, 2007, 08:10:12 PM

Have a Chapparal 45/60 with a bore that slugs at .458".I have achieved outstanding accuracy with 300 grain R.C.B.S.gas checked projectiles that i mold from 50/50 pure lead to wheel-weights and size at .459 using my own bees wax and olive oil lube.
On a good day loaded over 60 grains 2F it produces honest 3.5' groups at 100 yards.Now with xmp 5744 smokeless(shame on me i know)it is possible to halve those groups.Fired about 1000 rounds so far about 300 of them in Black Powder.Doc.

leadhead · December 18, 2007, 08:31:41 PM

Boy oh boy Doc, sure hope you meant 3.5 inch group at 100

Nothing wrong with a little smokeless for fun, just don't let it become habit!!

Doc Sorebones · December 18, 2007, 08:59:19 PM

Some days it can go both ways! depends when the whiskey gets applied to the formula.....Yup "

Tommy tornado · December 20, 2007, 10:51:08 PM

Ok, so I made one mistake cartridge reading Ventrino's article in Handloader Mag. about BP and the Lyman HP bullet. I loaded up 3fg to 55 grains instead of 60 grains and have a little rattle in one cartridge because I forgot a wad. Should I shoot or scrap that one cartridge?

Tommy tornado · December 20, 2007, 10:53:13 PM

Also let me take a minute to plug the .45-60 Lee reloading dies

!!! I ordered a set from Midway and they were easier to get the crimp right with the first time than my .45-70 RCBS dies.

ART C GUNN · December 21, 2007, 08:16:00 AM

I have the Lee 45-60 dies also and can't get them to crimp for love or money.I borrowed a cut down 45-70 crimp die and that works great...........
I still need to play with the right load for the rifle and so far have been frustratd with the results. Mught have to wait for the snow to melt off here for a while to play some more

quigleysharps4570 · December 21, 2007, 09:04:38 AM

Quote from: Tommy tornado on December 20, 2007, 10:51:08 PMhave a little rattle in one cartridge because I forgot a wad. Should I shoot or scrap that one cartridge?

Pull the bullet...dump the powder and resize it.

Cross-stixs · December 29, 2007, 01:06:27 PM

Hi Guys what is your S.O.P for clean up of the rifle after shooting black powder.

I shoot black in my 50-90 sharps but it's easy to clean. just don't know about cleaning the action of my 76

Thanks

Neil

Tommy tornado · December 29, 2007, 09:00:43 PM

So far I have squirted the action with Balistol and wiped it out with a patch. Squirted the barrel with Windex with Vinegar and pulled a bore snake thought from action to front of barrel. Then run a couple of oiled patches down the barrel. I figure once or twice a year I will take apart the action for a through cleaning. This is what I have done with my Henry and it works for me.

Grapeshot · January 02, 2008, 08:04:26 AM

Quote from: ART C GUNN on December 21, 2007, 08:16:00 AM
I have the Lee 45-60 dies also and can't get them to crimp for love or money.I borrowed a cut down 45-70 crimp die and that works great...........
I still need to play with the right load for the rifle and so far have been frustratd with the results. Mught have to wait for the snow to melt off here for a while to play some more

I had to take an old .45/70 Factory Crimp Die and shorten the collet type crimper to get it to work on my brass. Yes I did have the Lee .45-60 seating/crimp die.

ART C GUNN · January 02, 2008, 08:35:27 AM

I also gound down the Lee crimp die to work with my 45-60 shells. Now if the weather finally warms up I can go outside and play with some loads that hopefully will impress me.

Springfield Slim · January 04, 2008, 12:07:27 AM

Ok guys, so what overall length seems to work best in the 45-60 guns out now. How much bullet can you have sticking out? I see all kinds of numbers on the net.