Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Ideal reloading press 45-90

Looks like I bought an 1886 Winchester 45-90 tonite and also bought an Ideal 45-90 loader. Looks like it molds the bullet, sizes the bullet, removes and installed the primer, and crimps. Does anybody have any advice on using it? No I have never reloaded before. I would want to use smokeless powder. Any advice would be great. I will most likely have a 50-110 conversion done, but I want to shoot it as a 45-90 and see if I can live with a 45-90.

I as so pleased with the performance of my 1886 45-90 that I had a double rifle created. So far, so good.
The Winchester has take an ele, multiple cape buff and a leopard on its one trip to Africa. This all with North Fork 450 grain bullets loaded to 2150 fps.

it also shoots 45-70 ammo quite well .
This rifle set pretty well covers all the critters there are.

Congrats on your new acquisitions.

Is it an original rifle or a modern, made in Japan Winchester?

Older loading tools like the Ideal tool you have are sought after by collectors. They were designed to do the entire reloading job from moulding your own bullets to loading your empty brass. The black powder charge was measured separately.

Personally I’d use modern reloading equipment. Dies for the 45/90 are made by RCBS and Lyman and probably other manufacturers too.

It is an original made in 1887, serial number 69xx. Crescent butt, 26 inch octagon, 45-90. Has a Turnbull Barrel on it, so smokeless should be safe. The case color has been redone, not sure if Turnbull did it, but it looks nice. Overall a presentable gun and very shootable. I realize modern reloading equipment would likely be more accurate, but I am a sucker for this old stuff. Anybody have an idea of the bullet weight? Would wheel weight lead work ok for this, or something else. I’m all ears! Pictures coming tomorrow when I go pick it up. Will have the reloader sometime next week. Now to find some load data……

It sounds like a nice rifle. Look forward to the pics.

The 45/90 in Winchesters is generally an Express cartridge - this is where a light for calibre bullet is used to maximise the velocity (with BP). The Ideal tool you have will likely yield a lightweight bullet around 300gr. It might also be undersized by todays standards. Soft cast bullets tend to slug up to fill the rifling when BP is used. These days with smokeless we tend to use cast pills that are 2 thou over groove diameter. You’ll only know what you have once you’ve cast a few and measured them.

Regarding the rifle itself it’s worth trying to contact Turnbull to find out about the barrel fitted (ie twist rate) and their suggestion as to the pressure level you can load the rifle.

Would wheel weight lead be acceptable to use in this application? I had read of dropping the hot bullet in water to somewhat harden it when casting. Just trying to figure out what I need and what I have to purchase. Looking to load in the middle to upper end of pressures as to not hurt the gun. It is going in the woods tomorrow for Whitetail deer season. cant wait! Contacted Turnbull, and the gal I spoke with didnt have alot of info for me. Since I am not hot rodding a load I should be fine with a modern steel barrel. As for twist, Ill have to check on it. The gun was brought back to the Cody letter specs so I would assume whatever standard twist was, it will be that. Pictures coming tonite.

Your rifle sounds a lot like mine:

Let’s see if this works

Another small picture. Not sure how to get a big one

Here

For Christ sake, I’ll have one of my kids help me. Sorry for the clutter.

Maybe this will work. I can’t get the case color to show very well. But it is decent. Shot 45-70 low power loads out of it. Shoots like a dream. Have some 45-90 ammo on order from Ventura. Will have to wait to shoot them most likely after thanksgiving, as I am going out of town. Sure feels good having another 86 Winchester. I think I see a couple more in my future. Have a line on a factory 50-110. Just waiting on a price. Gun looks all original, just well used. Just the way I would want it.

Ideal loader just arrived. Now to pick a load . Only piece I see missing is the primer extractor. That will be easily made. Finally shot with some 45-90-300 from Ventura munitions. Mild loads, and big fireball! Functions just fine. Now just have to roll some of my own.