Sharps 1874 and Reloader 7

[Alamosa Bill]

I’ve been shooting black powder in my Sharps 45-70 and am happy with BP, however I’ve been gifted some Reloader 7, I have some 405 gr bullets but can’t find any load data for that bullet. Anyone used it in the Sharps and can mention any data?
Cheers

[Jim Watson]

Lyman shows Re 7 for "Ruger Only" .45-70 but the starting loads are at or under SAAMI maximum 28000 CUP.

No, I have not used it myself.

[NoSecondBest]

I’ve used it with excellent results. In fact, it’s one of my favorite powders with REM 405g JSP bullets. It will shoot 1moa or less on a good day with 32.5G of Rel7

[Unclenick]

Is that load published somewhere? I didn't find it in Alliant's data. Sounds perfectly alright, but if it isn't published you need to drop the board's standard notice in. It used to be just for hot loads, but now it's for anything not published by a reputable industry source.

[NoSecondBest]

It was published and that’s how I got it. I’ll find out where and post the source. I never make up loads by trial and error or use unpublished data.
Lyman 46th loading manual. For Trapdoor loads.

[Alamosa Bill]

Thanks for that, I see that’s for jacketed sp I guess that would work for lead too?

[NoSecondBest]

Per the Lyman 49th Edition for 405g lead bullets and Reloader 7:
37.0g for 1534fps - 39.0g for 1578fps. Not worth the extra powder for 44fps increase.
I strongly suggest you get yourself the Lyman Reloader Manual. There is currently a 50th Edition out and you can still find the 49th.

As per Uncle Nick’s advice, always refer to published reloading data if you’re asking for it on-line. Without it you’re open for disaster depending on who’s giving you the info without a reputable source to refer to.

[Alamosa Bill]

Thanks and that’s exactly why I’ve been holding off using it until I find the written confirmation. It seems odd that there’s such a big difference between jacketed and cast though?

[44 AMP]

It seems odd that there’s such a big difference between jacketed and cast though?

One of the things you need to understand is that loading manual data represents what the testers felt was going to me the most common or most popular use of the bullet.

One rarely finds data for reduced "cat sneeze" loads in magnum cartridges load data, mostly because the testers figure people who are shooting magnums will want magnum level loads not light loads.

There are three recognized (though not official) load levels for the .45-70.

Standard factory ammo is loaded to the black powder specs even though loaded with smokeless powder and jacketed bullets, Pressure and velocity are safe for the weakest action rifles likely to be encountered, the Trapdoor Springfield.
This level load is also the SAAMI industry standard.

The next level up are loads intended to push the max in Winchester 1886 class rifles, and are not considered safe in Trapdoors.

The 3rd class is max level loads that are safe in Ruger single shots and custom bolt action rifles (usually Mausers). They push the .45-70 to the extreme and are only a few hundred fps below .458 Win mag. These loads are DANGEROUS in Trapdoors and other rifles in that class.

Your Sharps is mechanically stronger than a Trapdoor Springfield, but it is not considered as strong as the Win 1886 or (new) Marlin 1895s, and should not be used with those load levels.

One usually finds jacketed bullet data to be hotter than cast bullet data because the people doing the loading expect people will want to push jacketed bullets faster and while you can push lead bullets considerably faster than black powder speeds, it takes just the right combination of allow and sizing and some other factors to do it without issues. with jacketed slugs, you just load them with more powder and there you go.

[Alamosa Bill]

Originally Posted by NoSecondBest

Per the Lyman 49th Edition for 405g lead bullets and Reloader 7:
37.0g for 1534fps - 39.0g for 1578fps. Not worth the extra powder for 44fps increase.
I strongly suggest you get yourself the Lyman Reloader Manual. There is currently a 50th Edition out and you can still find the 49th.

As per Uncle Nick’s advice, always refer to published reloading data if you’re asking for it on-line. Without it you’re open for disaster depending on who’s giving you the info without a reputable source to refer to.

I have the Lee reloading book but there is no mention of Reloader 7 for the 405 gr bullet. No copies of the Lyman book in UK and US prices are way too much. I’m gonna try a load as you suggest of 37 grs. ������

[Jim Watson]

Lyman 48 online at
https://archive.org/details/LymanRel.../n295/mode/2up

It has 45-70 loads with Re7

[Alamosa Bill]

Originally Posted by Jim Watson

Lyman 48 online at
https://archive.org/details/LymanRel.../n295/mode/2up

It has 45-70 loads with Re7

Thanks Jim, nice to see it on paper, I just loaded 25 @ 37 grains.

[Unclenick]

Let us know how they shoot!

[Alamosa Bill]

Originally Posted by Unclenick

Let us know how they shoot!

Went well uncle, accurate but I didn’t enjoy the shooting as much as the BP. Now I’ve got that out of my system I’ll use nothing but BP in my Sharps, so much more involving and I think even more accurate.

[Road_Clam]

Ive tried 4198 and AA5744 in my '74 Sharps and smokeless is an "ok" substitute, but that's ALL they are is an ok substitute. As soon as I get back to loading my Swiss 1.5F holy black my groups instantly shrink. You may not notice a big difference at 100 yds, but where I shoot 600 yds frequently it makes a substantial difference.

[Jim Watson]

Look up Duplex Loading.
Re 7 has a use there.