45/70 22 in. barrel

[Woodbutcher]

Hello everyone:
 OK, I've been reading this post for a couple days, trying to absorb, and now I want to get clear on this. I'm new to reloading, so please bear with me.
 NEF Handy, 45/70, 22in barrel, and a Lee Loader, is what I got. I've yet to get the case length trimmer, and the case mouth flairing tool for lead bullets. The 405 gr lead bullet seems a good place to start, although a lighter bullet is fine also. I'll be buying lubed lead bullets for now. I wonder if they're going to be alloyed too hard for BP, and if the lube will be ok.
 No airspace over the powder, use a card wad ( It sounds like they're easy enough to make), hot primer. The amount of black powder is my question. You gentlemen seem to use longer barrels, 28" to 30" and more. Since I have a shorter barrel would I change anything?  Would I use 2F or 3F? How do you vary the charge, by seating the bullet deeper or useing a thicker wad?
 My purpose is to have a lot of fun, make a lot of noise and smoke, an see what this thing can do out to 200 yards. Who knows, I might even become a threat to the deer population?
I can see where this BP thing could get real interesting.
 May I have your thoughts? Thankyou.....Woodbutcher

[J.W.Neely]

Keep it simple.
Enough powder to put a little compression when boolit is seated, around 65 grns should put you close.
Put a milkcarton wad over the boolit.
I use FFG, can't tell you about 3f in 45-70.

That should make boom, smoke, and smile.

[Woodbutcher]

Thank you JW. What you suggest  sounds good to me. 65 gr of 2f. I guess that if a different load were tried, say 5 gr. more or less to check accuracy, the bullet would just be seated deeper, or shallower.
 Milk carton sounds good, no problem working with that. I did read on this site that a "disc" of newspaper, in the case, over the primer would be a good idea, before you charge the powder. Something about not getting powder in the primer cavity. Sounds interesting, never heard of that before. But maybe I'll just K.I.S.S for now.
 Melting lead will be the next step, I do have a mold for a 45 cal slug for a TC muzzle loader. Gonna check that out for dia. & weight. I'll start with bought bullets for now>
 Some real nifty pictures on these posts, izzat you on that horse?
 Appreciate your attention.......Woodbutcher

[J.W.Neely]

Yeap, he sure got rode too much that day, poor ole thang, all that smoke had to be hard on that hoss.
Good luck with your loads, you will have fun.