Reloading Hornady's 45/70 brass

[midohhntr]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has issues reloading it since it's shorter. (lever/revelution)
Thanks, Wild Bill

[backwoods]

It may depend on what type of rifle you're loading it for and the bullets you are using.
I've reloaded them alot, but mine are for an Encore , so over all length is really not a big concern.
The only other problem you could get into because of the shorter case, is if you are running a real hot load.
The shorter case could cause a slightly higher pressure.
But I haven't ran into any problems.

[midohhntr]

Thank you, that's kinda what I figured. I'm reloading for my Handi-rifle. Real hot loads, probably never.
Our local store had the Lever/revolution ammo on sale for 29.95 a box so I bought a couple extras.

[rossman40]

The problem you run into is during the crimping. You pretty much have to buy the Hornady seating/crimping die. Since the brass is about 1/16" shorter my RCBS dies will not get a good crimp. I even bought a Lee collet crimp die and it wouldn't work and I thought I would just cut .050" off, wrong, the Lee die is harder then woodpecker lips. I too was loading for a Handirifle so just back off on the expander die a tad more. It probly wouldn't work in a tube magazine gun, if you push hard with your thumb you can push the bullet into the case.

They shorten the .444 Marlin and someone said the .450 Marlin the same way as the 45-70. That way they can get the FTX in the case and still be under max COL with the case mouth on the bearing surface. But that is only on loaded ammo, if you buy just cases those are SAMMI spec.

[midohhntr]

Yes I found out about the crimping problem last nigt using Lee dies. Slight crimp.Loaded four rounds shot good, less than Inch at fifty yards. I must have got a good one(handi rifle) has a clean trigger, about three pounds,no creep.