Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

[ArcticLight]

Step-dad has a Uberti Sharpes, trying to figure out the magic combo of bullet weight to black powder.

The guy at the cowboy action shoot didn't give up the secret...

He's offering me use of this so I thought we'd load some up.

thanks,1

 

[former naval person]

Re: Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

The name of the load tells you what the Army developed. .45-70-500. The carbine load used a 400 grain bullet. Modern cases have slightly less capacity than the old "balloon head" cases so that you may not be able to get the 70 grains of black powder in the case. There is a small paper back book out there, "Forty years with the .45-70". Lots of good information in it. Check with "ABE BOOKS" and see if they can find you a copy.

 

[Kinsman]

Re: Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

It can be dangerous to leave an air gap between the black powder and the bullet. You can get some high pressures. Fill the case with enough powder to be slightly compressed.
With modern brass, a 405 gr cast bullet, you will use about 60-65 gr of FF.
Unless you just want to use black powder, a load of 15 gr of Blue Dot and a 405 gr bullet, will give you a very comfortable load to shoot

 

[Skip1eagle]

Re: Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

Buffalo arms has everything you'll need to load and shoot black powder cartridge rifles. I warn you it is habit forming.
This is a good read for starters:
http://www.wahsatchdesperadoes.com/Intro_to_BPCR_Loading.pdf

 

[Heman]

Re: Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

For my Trapdoors I shoot a Lyman 500gr RN (Gov't mould) with a 0.03" fiber wad and 70gr of FFg powder with a WLRM primer. The secret is using two pieces of parchment paper between the wad and the bullet so the wad doesn't stick to the bullet, the paper will fly off. I believe the bullet is seated just so the brass hits the last grease groove.

For lube use 50/50 bacon greese and beeswax. Very easy to make, its cheap, and it worked for the British Empire for 150+ years. Even after sitting around for a couple of years it doesn't smell or anything, and hey blackpowder and bacon is a great smell.

I tried different primers and the WLRM works the best in the 45-70 and 50-70. However ironically the BR2 works best in the 45-110 go figure that one out.

The 0.03" fiber wad gives just a little more compression which helped accuracy vs. no wad or 0.06" wad.

The Lee 405-459 Hollow base mould is accurate for the original ammo however it doesn't seem to shoot as accurately as the 500gr mould.

If your wanting to do 1000yd work you need to go to FFFg powder but this load is a little stiff I've been told. I'd recomend the 535gr Postel mould for 1k, unless you go with the Paul Jones mould (even better)

 

[105amatt]

Re: Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

In my Pedersoli I run 68grns of FF Goex with a Wonder Wad and a 405 cast boolit. Shoots great!

 

[Heman]

Re: Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

What 405gr mould do you use? I could never get the Lee's to cast correctly but then that was when I was first starting to cast.

 

[105amatt]

Re: Uberti/Sharpes 45-70 Black powder load

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Heman</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What 405gr mould do you use? I could never get the Lee's to cast correctly but then that was when I was first starting to cast. </div></div>

I don't cast my own, think they are Midcast out one of those guys.