Newbie looking for help with accessories

[bldgman]

I have my TC Pro Hunter frame and 45/70 barrel ordered, now I need to get all he other goodies. I'm thinking 195 Barnes bullets, blue sabots. Can anyone recommend powder scale, ram rods, starters and anything else I'll need? Also, what size socket for the savage breech plug? I'm also wondering which primers work best? Sorry for the rambling I'm new to this. Thanks for looking.

[fishhawk]

As far as machining for a conversion, PM slufoot. I'm not sure what breechplug he uses but the Savage plug uses a 3/8" socket. For all your other supplies PM lwh723 or contact him (Luke) through www.smokelessmz.com

[bldgman]

Thanks fishhawk, are your shooting a 45/70 conversion? If so what primers are you using? Any favorite loads

[10ga]

bldgman, Check out the "load info" sub-board at the top of page. Luke at "Arrowhead" will have most of the stuff you need. I have a very old Lyman "balance" scale for measuring loads. I'd suggest you start with the Hornady 200 gr. XTP or Nosler 200 gr. pistol bullets. Lots cheaper to learn with bullets at 25 or 30 cents than at $1@+ for the Barnes. Then shoot the 195s for "effect". I shoot a relatively mild load of 38 gr. of 4759 in my conversion, suggested by PPosey, and it is very accurate with the 200 gr. XTP and effective out to 150 yds. I use my conversion for woods hunting and carrying when rattling and calling and don't need it for beanfield shooting, have a big ole MLII for that. Fire up the search engine here and put in stuff like conversion, encore, 45-70, etc... You'll find plenty of threads to keep you busy reading for a while. I'm sure there is more info on the way. Best, 10 ga

[fishhawk]

Any regular 209 seem to be fine for me, but if you need primers CCI or Federal would be a good choice. Don't use muzzleloader 209's. A great starting load would be 58-62gr of H-4198 under a Harvester smooth light blue sabot with a 200xtp or 200sst. Throw away the white sabot that comes with the sst. For hunting the 195 barnes is a good start combined with the same powder and sabot. No, I don't have 45/70 combo (yet).

[Deleted]

If you are having Slufoot do the conversion work he headspaces with Win 209's to be used in the Savage breech plug. You can always polish out the primer pocket to be able to use CCI209M or Fed209A's but in my experience the Win's will come out the cleanest.

[bldgman]

Thanks for all the help I received. Got my rifle finished, sighted in, and I am shooting 1.5" groups at 100 yds. I've only put about 20 loads through it, but it's good enough for black powder season that opens Saturday. The load I have settled on for now is 58grains of h4198 with a Barnes 195 and blue harvester sabot. Does anyone have any ballistic information for this load. How much bullet drop at 150 yds? 200 Yds?

Thanks again for all the help.

Chris

[fishhawk]

I would sight it 3"high at 100. That will put you about dead on at 200. You should be able to aim center mass all the way to about 230 and kill. Aim at the spine at 250. Hair on the back at 300. Just watch the wind, that bullet will move 20+ inches at 300yds with a 10mph crosswind.

[cuda]

I use a Lee Safety Scale on each load I shoot. And I use Winchester 209 shotgun primers in my 45 and 50. Only time I had a problem is when I was hunting in the rain and the powder got wet.