I take a large melting pot throw it all in. The copper jackets rise to the top when the lead melts. I then skim it off the top. Good luck and happy shooting
Thank you very much, I shoot on BLM land and I'm positive I can go recover a minimum of 50lbs of lead or more in just a few hours. Keeps this old fart busy LOL.
I’m excited to start casting my own. The berm at my cabin has decades worth of lead in it. It’s just waiting for me to recover it and redeposit it back in again 😂 plus the ar500 steel target I shoot at sends all the metal straight down into the dirt
Go to “Ballwright Hand Loaders” site on UA-cam and Spence Wolfs book on loading the proper black powder loads for all 45-70 cartridge loads for Springfield Rifles and carbines. It’s THE BIBLE on all Black Powder Cartridge loads.
When I started casting and reloading for a .357 mag, a box of 50 cost $1.13.5. Now I cast and load for every firearm I own and none cost more than $15 per hundred. If you want to shoot and shoot a lot, reload.
$0.21 per round. Let's see, that's $0.03 per primer(ish) and $0.18 per powder charge (give or take your local economy and when you bought your components). Free to reuse the brass and free scrap lead. If you made your own BP, you could get the cost to about $0.07 per round or even a little less if you bought the ingredients in bulk. A pound of Potassium nitrate costs about $5 at a popular Big Box hardware store. Elemental sulfur is so cheap it's almost free, and charcoal can be made from just about any clean scrap wood. Cost for the true penny pincher would be closer to $5 per pound of homemade powder, and yes, you can make it a little better(more powerful) than what they sell in the stores as proved every year in pyro competitions. Yes, it can also be done safely for those with the time to do their homework and not rush. Actually, it's handling the BP that's the dangerous part, and you're doing that already. Making it involves elements of handling with the associated risk, but this risk is not avoided simply by purchasing it. It's also legal (in most states) to make your own as long as you don't transport it across state lines, try to sell it, or end up storing huge amounts of it(Generally speaking, research the law yourself before you do any of this) It's incredibly rewarding to shoot a firearm with bullets AND powder that you made yourself. Ask me how I know. For a powder hungry cartridge like the 45-70, it's worth thinking about for those with the inclination.
Great info I've been seriously thinking about getting into loading 45-70 black powder and casting. What velocity are you getting from that load? Are you shooting a lever action or single shot? I would like to get both probably start with a 1886 but I also really like the 1885 and the Sharp's. Thanks 👍
I've been thinking of this for some time to do a sort of 45-70 "special" for light recoil loads to do some speedier shooting as practice for quickly bringing rifle to shoulder and firing. About how does the recoil measure compared to a "standard" load of a 3 to 350grn projectile on a smokeless load? Lighter or about equivalent?
Quick Question, I'm getting ready to start making my own lead bullets. How do you separate the copper from the range lead? I load 45 70 black powder as well I have a 1874 Sharps (Pedersolli) that is the most accurate rifle I've ever owned. Thamks for the Vid, and I hope I hear from ya Walt
This is the very reason I roll my own as well.
Me too
Great i have been reloading 45 70 for years great shot vdo
It’s an awesome round!
That and if you’re like me, the process of loading your own ammo is as much of a hobby as the shooting itself
Absolutely
I wish I could buy 20 rounds for 27 bucks here in Canada. It’s more like 55 bucks here!
I take a large melting pot throw it all in. The copper jackets rise to the top when the lead melts. I then skim it off the top.
Good luck and happy shooting
What is stopping me from pressing a copper plated bullet on top of black powder substitute?
nothing
I use lead bullets because I’m shooting an original rifle built 1881
Hey I met you at field and stream and you said that if I was looking for some lead to contact you.
who makes the best brass?
I like Starline
Thank you very much, I shoot on BLM land and I'm positive I can go recover a minimum of 50lbs of lead or more in just a few hours. Keeps this old fart busy LOL.
I’m excited to start casting my own. The berm at my cabin has decades worth of lead in it. It’s just waiting for me to recover it and redeposit it back in again 😂 plus the ar500 steel target I shoot at sends all the metal straight down into the dirt
Go to “Ballwright Hand Loaders” site on UA-cam and Spence Wolfs book on loading the proper black powder loads for all 45-70 cartridge loads for Springfield Rifles and carbines. It’s THE BIBLE on all Black Powder Cartridge loads.
I want to make my own powder too. I watched on UA-cam how to diy and it’s easy. I don’t know if getting all 3 powders is very easy though
When I started casting and reloading for a .357 mag, a box of 50 cost $1.13.5. Now I cast and load for every firearm I own and none cost more than $15 per hundred. If you want to shoot and shoot a lot, reload.
$0.21 per round. Let's see, that's $0.03 per primer(ish) and $0.18 per powder charge (give or take your local economy and when you bought your components). Free to reuse the brass and free scrap lead. If you made your own BP, you could get the cost to about $0.07 per round or even a little less if you bought the ingredients in bulk. A pound of Potassium nitrate costs about $5 at a popular Big Box hardware store. Elemental sulfur is so cheap it's almost free, and charcoal can be made from just about any clean scrap wood. Cost for the true penny pincher would be closer to $5 per pound of homemade powder, and yes, you can make it a little better(more powerful) than what they sell in the stores as proved every year in pyro competitions. Yes, it can also be done safely for those with the time to do their homework and not rush. Actually, it's handling the BP that's the dangerous part, and you're doing that already. Making it involves elements of handling with the associated risk, but this risk is not avoided simply by purchasing it. It's also legal (in most states) to make your own as long as you don't transport it across state lines, try to sell it, or end up storing huge amounts of it(Generally speaking, research the law yourself before you do any of this)
It's incredibly rewarding to shoot a firearm with bullets AND powder that you made yourself. Ask me how I know. For a powder hungry cartridge like the 45-70, it's worth thinking about for those with the inclination.
good luck getting any consistency
Great info I've been seriously thinking about getting into loading 45-70 black powder and casting. What velocity are you getting from that load? Are you shooting a lever action or single shot? I would like to get both probably start with a 1886 but I also really like the 1885 and the Sharp's. Thanks 👍
I’ll have to look up my velocity and get back to you. I use them in a Springfield trapdoor 1873
I've been thinking of this for some time to do a sort of 45-70 "special" for light recoil loads to do some speedier shooting as practice for quickly bringing rifle to shoulder and firing. About how does the recoil measure compared to a "standard" load of a 3 to 350grn projectile on a smokeless load? Lighter or about equivalent?
Much lighter. Less then a 243
Quick Question, I'm getting ready to start making my own lead bullets. How do
you separate the copper from the range lead? I load 45 70 black powder as well
I have a 1874 Sharps (Pedersolli) that is the most accurate rifle I've ever owned.
Thamks for the Vid, and I hope I hear from ya
Walt
Buffalo Bear, when the lead has melted the copper jackets will float to the top. Just skim them off.
Just melt it down and skim it off the top