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Old June 10, 2024, 05:25 AM   #2
ligonierbill
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Join Date: May 20, 2007
Posts: 2,641
I have a Pietta replica of the Remington 1858, and I bought a conversion cylinder. Since I also load for a modern (Ruger) 45 Colt, I just load in the same press. I do run paper patched bullets in 45-70 and 50-70 rifles. Check with the manufacturer, but the cylinder I have can handle light loads of smokeless powder. That said, I load holy black or a substitute for two reasons.

First, you have less worry about overcharging. My smokeless "cowboy" load for the 45 uses 8 grains of Unique. One could fit 3 charges in that big case, and a double charge is likely to be catastrophic. With black, you're loading strictly by volume, and it's pretty difficult to overload. Second, that Remington was born to make smoke. Cleanup is not really that difficult, either.

I had not heard of paper patching 45 Colt, but it was (and is) a common practice for rifles. In fact, my primary 50-70 load is paper patched. Just use a slightly undersized bullet (typically 8 mil undersized) wrapped in 2 layers of "onion skin" paper. Your dealer probably has the supplies and can show you how. And there are some good books. With care and a little practice, you can load those bullets by hand. The old buffalo hunters did.

I'm guessing you are "across the pond", but a good US source for BP cartridge supplies is Buffalo Arms. Good shooting!
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