Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

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CaptnJack
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Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by CaptnJack »

Hi all. I have a few questions. I hope others can help me with.
Here is what I am doing.
C Sharps 34" barrel 45-70
Using the BACO 540 gr .443 PP money bullet.
Winchester LR primers
Starting with 81 gr. of Old Ensford f1.5 I am using OldEnsford 1.5 because that is what I have. I see most people seem to be using swiss. f1 or f1.5
2 ea. .030 LDPE wad because I don't have the.060 ones.
Remington fireformed cases.
#9 onion skin paper.

When using 81 gr of powder dropping it down a 32" drop tube I can't get the case to accept the full charge of powder without spilling out, so I almost fill the case compress it then fill the rest of the powder. install the wad and compress again to what I need. (A question on compression also.) Am I doing something wrong?
Is anyone using Old Ensford in their 45-70 PP?
Just wondering what compression are you using and what is your finished bullet & case OAL is? I read where Goex needs more compression then swiss?
I have been seeing loads with using Swiss but nothing really on using Goex Old Ensford and it seems with Goex its anywhere from .100 to .200 compression????
I am trying to get some accurate loads with what I have on hand.
Thanks
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Lumpy Grits
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by Lumpy Grits »

I run 2F 'E', in both my .45-70 & .45-90, and compress about .350.
I only shoot GG bullets, and use a .060 fiber wad.
Gary
"Hav'n you along, is like loose'n two good men"
firefighter1990
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by firefighter1990 »

I'm using star-line brass so it's a little thicker and thus doesn't hold as much as Winchester or Remington. But you're using the exact same components as I am.

Star-line brass annealed.
Remington 2-1/2 large pistol primers
BACO .443" 540gr money bullet
BACO #9 onion skin paper (dry wrapped)
.060" ldpe wad
80gr of OE 1.5f
I only compress enough so that the was sits at no more than 1/8" from the case mouth. So about .100"-.125" and that's the only room for the bullet I allow.

My trick to filling the case is to make a collar out of paper that slips over the case mouth and extends upwards. This lets me drop-tube right up to the case mouth without losing a single granule of powder. Carefully remove the collar and compress with the wad and you're set. I use this trick for all my cartridges that I patch for.
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Lumpy Grits
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by Lumpy Grits »

FF1990, try an 'O' ring at the bottom of the drop tube, works as a seal of sorts.
G.
"Hav'n you along, is like loose'n two good men"
firefighter1990
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by firefighter1990 »

The o-ring at the mouth of the drop tube? And the case mouth around the outside of that? That's a good idea. I'll try that for my greaser loads. My ppb's loads fill up my cases to the very brim so I still need that collar for those.
BFD
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by BFD »

Lots of solutions to the drop tube problem. In my case a bottleneck cartridge case used as an inverted funnel and epoxied or soldered to the drop tube. It wont migrate up the tube like an o-ring might.
Dan O
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by Dan O »

I use a rubber washer used in plumbing that has a angle on one end and flat on the other. It works great and no powder escapes. Works for the 40-65 and 45-70.

Dan
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Lumpy Grits
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by Lumpy Grits »

BFD wrote:Lots of solutions to the drop tube problem. In my case a bottleneck cartridge case used as an inverted funnel and epoxied or soldered to the drop tube. It wont migrate up the tube like an o-ring might.
Never an issue as the 'O' ring is just above the bottom end/edge of the tube, and stops the powder from bouncing out of the case.
I use the BN rifle case trick at the top of the tube.
G.
"Hav'n you along, is like loose'n two good men"
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Lumpy Grits
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by Lumpy Grits »

firefighter1990 wrote:The o-ring at the mouth of the drop tube? And the case mouth around the outside of that? That's a good idea. I'll try that for my greaser loads. My ppb's loads fill up my cases to the very brim so I still need that collar for those.
Have the 'O' ring sit'n flat on the case mouth. :wink:
G,
"Hav'n you along, is like loose'n two good men"
powderburnt
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by powderburnt »

How much powder does your case hold on the first drop? I would use that amount and scrape off enough to get a wad on top and compress enough to get your bullet seated with some neck tension. About .125" below the case mouth seems to work for most. I wouldn't worry about losing 3-5 grains of powder if that is what it takes to get the column down to eliminate the extra steps. 1 grain of swiss 1 1/2 equals about .030" height in a 45 case.
Not sure about OE. I also don't know what compression OE likes but I'd try .050". Velocity difference will be minimal.

HG
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Lumpy Grits
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by Lumpy Grits »

FWIW-I have found 'E' to like lots of compression, just as the old Goex did.
G.
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bpcr shooter
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Re: Reloading My 45-70 with Old Ensford powder.

Post by bpcr shooter »

I tried 81 of swiss and its tough to get, 80 and less worked way better. 80 should well more than enough. Compress so you can seat .080 to .100
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