loading 45-70 cases like 410ga shotgun shells...

cpileri · March 24, 2002, 10:09 AM

Has anyone ever loaded 45-70 gov't cases with shotgun-type loads: say 4 or 5 balls of 00 or 000 buckshot? or whatever.

Not for use in a shotgun or 45-70 rifle, but in a short barrel revolver.

I know Barnaul makes steel-hulled 410ga shells, but the diameter of these is ever-so-slightly smaller than a .45-70, and I don't want my buddy to damage his forcing cone with a 410ga shell that is resting in the cylinder to point just slightly off-center.

Anyone ever done this? or come up with a different solution to firing shot out of a long-cylinder 45-70 revolver?

(I have heard of some placing one layer of electrical tape around a 410ga shell to make it fit "straight" in the cylinder. But I think using the correct caliber case is safer)

What loads did you work up? Since the 45-70 max pressures are approx double the 410 (28k vs 14k psi)?
thx,
Carl

dick w. holliday · March 25, 2002, 08:44 PM

i don't remember what the load was but i did load a 3 ball load using 3 45 cal balls---it was a joke going out a 45-70 rifle at any range but for a pistol across a card table--it should do just fine.....for a shot load you may want to get one of those 45 cal shot capsules or get some gas checks and seat them above and below the shot and see how that does....i've done that with 44 mag and 38/357 before.....Dick

C.R.Sam · March 26, 2002, 01:31 PM

Like Dick says, pattern going to be lousy. Across the card table bout right. Tis the rifling in the bore that screws up the shot pattern.

Sam

Johnny Guest · March 26, 2002, 03:39 PM

Just FYI--

Really proper nomenclature is .410 BORE or, possibly, CALIBER.
It has to do with the decimal point-- It is about .41 inch.

Gauge in shotguns has to do with number of round lead balls of that diameter in a pound. Twelve in a pound = 12 gauge. Sixteen one-ounce balls = 16 gauge, and so forth.

.410 bore is only decimal size popular in the U.S.. The 9mm shotshells, and for all I know, perhaps some other metrics, have some popularity in Europe.

Sorry for the nit-pickiness.

Best,
Johnny

C.R.Sam · March 26, 2002, 03:49 PM

An unpicked nit grows to become a nagging nodule for later generations who will willingly believe untruths because they know not any better.

Thanx Johnny.

March 24, 2002, 10:09 AM	#1
cpileri Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2001 Location: Peoples Republik of Maryland, Sister State to Kalifornia Posts: 619	loading 45-70 cases like 410ga shotgun shells... Has anyone ever loaded 45-70 gov't cases with shotgun-type loads: say 4 or 5 balls of 00 or 000 buckshot? or whatever. Not for use in a shotgun or 45-70 rifle, but in a short barrel revolver. I know Barnaul makes steel-hulled 410ga shells, but the diameter of these is ever-so-slightly smaller than a .45-70, and I don't want my buddy to damage his forcing cone with a 410ga shell that is resting in the cylinder to point just slightly off-center. Anyone ever done this? or come up with a different solution to firing shot out of a long-cylinder 45-70 revolver? (I have heard of some placing one layer of electrical tape around a 410ga shell to make it fit "straight" in the cylinder. But I think using the correct caliber case is safer) What loads did you work up? Since the 45-70 max pressures are approx double the 410 (28k vs 14k psi)? thx, Carl

March 25, 2002, 08:44 PM	#2
dick w. holliday Senior Member Join Date: January 13, 2001 Location: NC Posts: 589	How about 3--45 cal balls i don't remember what the load was but i did load a 3 ball load using 3 45 cal balls---it was a joke going out a 45-70 rifle at any range but for a pistol across a card table--it should do just fine.....for a shot load you may want to get one of those 45 cal shot capsules or get some gas checks and seat them above and below the shot and see how that does....i've done that with 44 mag and 38/357 before.....Dick

March 26, 2002, 03:39 PM	#4
Johnny Guest Moderator in Memoriam Join Date: August 28, 1999 Location: North Texas Posts: 4,123	NOT "410 gauge" Just FYI-- Really proper nomenclature is .410 BORE or, possibly, CALIBER. It has to do with the decimal point-- It is about .41 inch. Gauge in shotguns has to do with number of round lead balls of that diameter in a pound. Twelve in a pound = 12 gauge. Sixteen one-ounce balls = 16 gauge, and so forth. .410 bore is only decimal size popular in the U.S.. The 9mm shotshells, and for all I know, perhaps some other metrics, have some popularity in Europe. Sorry for the nit-pickiness. Best, Johnny

March 26, 2002, 01:31 PM	#3
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	Like Dick says, pattern going to be lousy. Across the card table bout right. Tis the rifling in the bore that screws up the shot pattern. Sam

March 26, 2002, 03:49 PM	#5
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	An unpicked nit grows to become a nagging nodule for later generations who will willingly believe untruths because they know not any better. Thanx Johnny.