Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 45-90 smokeless loads 300 grain cast

Anyone care to share any loads? Looking for a medium+ hunting load. Any real world experience would be great for a new reloader. Just trying to gather info supplies and knowledge. Help aim me in the right direction.

If you PM your email address I can send you some articles and data from older loading manuals.

Thank You JFE for taking the time to help me out. I will read all the info. I really appreciate it. Brian

Got my Lyman#2 now for powder and primers.

My 45-90 loads are on the the heavy side pushing 450 grain North Forks to 2250 fps and are very effective on large and dangerous game.
The rifles are also capable of handling these loads safely with velocities up in the 458 Mag levels.
In a modern rifle, the 45-90 makes a very effective killer.

Here is some information that may interest you. From 1986.

Thank you for this info. I would be interested in something 300 grain cast, no gas check, at 1600 fps or so with a good case fill. That is my goal. I will be casting some bullets this week, and weigh them to see what I am working with. I appreciate all the advice.

Well I cast a couple with my Ideal reloader tool, and they came out at 275 grains using Lyman #2. A bit lighter than expected. How will this affect loading? I would assume it has to change the charge some? Any help appreciated.

The lighter weight won’t make a great deal of difference but no gas check might affect leading and/or accuracy.

Of greater importance is the diameter of your cast bullets.

After sizing through the Ideal sizer I have .458-.4585.

It’s a little smaller than ideal but worth trying a small number to check for leading. I’d start at a low velocity (say around 1200fps) and work up if you remain lead free.

I can have the sizer bored larger if need be. My mold is not made for a gas check. Would dropping in a water bath after casting help at all? Lube recommendations? Sorry for all the questions.

What do the bullets measure before sizing ?

There are many lubes you can use. For low speed loads and ease of application, a tumble lube should work fine. I use White Label Lube BAC lube for all my rifle and pistol loads. However they make a range of lubes, including a tumble lube. To apply stick lubes you will need a lubesizer.

The other option these days is to powder coat your cast bullets. Applying PC also builds up the bullet diameter 1-3 thou - very handy for undersized moulds. The equipment required is pretty basic and a lot of long time casters are switching to PC. There are plenty of YouTube videos to walk you through the process.

I will cast a couple more and measure them. Thank You for your recommendations.

From Ken Waters in Handloader #120, March-April '86.

Lyman 457191 (309 grains)
38.0 IMR4198 1677 fps
51.5 IMR3031 1650 fps

330 Gould/457122
37.0 IMR4198 1688 fps (Waters favorite cast load in 45-90)

Back when I had mine I primarily used the 300 Hornady HP with 50-52 of 3031 for 1600-ish.

Thank you Chesterpulley for the info! I appreciate it very much.

New handloader - article on 45-90 Mike V.

Thank you!

Chesterpulley, or others. Do you think 48 grains of 3031, with a 275 grain cast in Lyman #2 with a cci 200 primer is too low of a starting point? I do not have access to the new Handloader article. Using my Ideal hand loading press limits my options, but it is what it is. Btw, the gun has a new barrel so the rifleing is good. Not sure of the twist rate.

I went back and looked at your earlier post on the rifle and period loading tool, didn't realize that was what you were using. (Neat rifle BTW, and considerably older than the one I had)

48 may be a bit light with that combination, don't think you'll stick a bullet in the bore with it but pressure will be low enough that you're going to have a lot of unburnt powder in the bore. Maybe 5744 would be a better option, you can measure the case capacity to the bullet base and work the formula for the starting load. IMR Trailboss could be even better considering you're using the old-timey loading outfit.

I will get some trailboss, and cci200 primers. Do you think the 200cci primer will light off the Trailboss effectively? I went on their website and read about the case measuring to the base of the seated bullet and multiply by .70 for a starting load. I’ve been real busy, but I think I finally got some time to devote to this. I sure do appreciate all the help I have received from everyone.👍👍

My brother mostly ran black powder in his 45-90 - 1885. When he shot smokeless in his he used 5744.

My 45-90 is a twin to what he had, a 1885 Miroku Jap Winchester. It weighs 9.5 lb and has excellent sights set up for BP silhouette. I’d like to use it on bison. I have a couple molds, but I’d like to get a great bullet for bison. I have some 325 grain bullets coming from GT bullets. I wonder if I should have gone with heavier???
The molds I have are low drag style made for BP silhouette competition. 500+ grain.

Mine will be used for whitetail and such. No large game.

Where can you get Trailboss? Everywhere that I've checked, except scam sites, is out of stock.

Is Midwest Reloads a scam site?

Called Hodgdon on Trail Boss. Told me to call back in a few months and check. They have none. Looking at another powder. I was told not to use smokeless in my pre 1900 86 Winchester. I think I will be fine with low velocity loads and light bullets. Hell back then you could buy smokeless 45-90.

The Trailboss and pistol powder production line in Oz has been diverted to producing powder for the Ukranians. Only god knows when we will see production resume.

If I were you I’d be looking at AA 5744. Like Trailboss it’s a bulky powder but is somewhat slower and I think better suited to the loads you are looking to produce. In the late Lyman manuals it produced some of the most accurate loads.

Thank You JFE that is the powder I have been looking at for a replacement.

Since the 450 Alaskan and the 45-90 have nearly the same case capacity, I’d guess you could start with 450 Alaskan starting loads.

If they have Trailboss in stock, then probably yes. Do a Google search, Midwest Reloads and Scam are usually in the same headline.

Thank You for the heads up tmitch.

Still haven’t found a powder to load with. Lots of options, but all are hard to source. Too many damn options.

Mrhp,

My 45-90 hand loading is primarily for hunting and I have used only a few powders and settled on one -- VV N133 as it gives me the best velocities with the lowest chamber pressures. If you are interested and can source VV N133, I will dig into my load records and send you a couple of my hunting loads.
BTW, my Winchester 1886 45-90 is of the most recent manufacture and it shoots 45-70 and 45-90 very well.

Looks like Midway has VV N133. Remember, I am using my original Ideal loading hand press.it will cast a 275 grain bullet with Lyman#2. 1400-1500 fps would be great as my gun was manufactured in 1887. It does however have a new barrel. Thank You!

crshelton any info?

Mrhp,
Yes.
But just as I began looking for load data, my daughter arrived needing help with her car and that will cause me to put off looking up information for you tonight.

Not a problem. When you find it, just let me know. I appreciate the help.

Not to be a pest, but have you found any data crshelton?

Not trying to hijack this thread but I’m glad I stumbled onto this post. N133 is what I plan on using to work up loads for 45-75. One thing I want to ask that might help the OP if he pursues using the N133: Is there any filler being used in your loads? Is it even necessary?

Apparently filler is not needed as I do not use filler with my N133 loads for my 45-90.

Darn! I was well into a response to Mrhp and I was interrupted and lost it all!!! I will try again.

Starline 45-90 brass
VV N133 Powder
Federal Premium Large Rifle Match Primer- GM210M
North Fork 450 Grain Solids

For BIG game such as ele.

For big game such as antelope, a 400 grain bullet will do.

Sorry, but another interruption.

I ordered another mold for the 45-90 from NOE. It’s suppose to pour about 535 grain depending on alloy. Can’t wait to try it out.

Good to know. I didn’t want to use filler myself.

How do you like the tang sight compared to the williams on your 405? I have a williams on my 405 and a tang on a rossi 92 in 454, I don't think I would want the tang sight on an 1886? I love the look of the tang sight over the receiver sight but not the fact that I have to alter my grip to accommodate it.

I’m right there with you Mrrigpig. I do have one tang sight on a very heavy 1885. But my lever guns mainly have steel Lyman aperture sights for the same reason you gave.
That 1885 was designed for long range shooting and shooting at different ranges. The tang sight is needed for 500 yards and 45 caliber bullets starting out at just a little faster than Mach 1.

Yes, I have a tang sight on an 1874 Sharps as well, but that is a whole different animal.

As to receiver sights, I like the look of the model 21 climbin lyman, where as the williams looks like an afterthought/wart on the side of the receiver, but they are functional though.

Current pics of my 1886 45-90 sights.

Folding barrel sight:


These are all that was needed for hunting big game in Africa and US. from Leopard to Elephant.

Finally got my imr4227 powder and Fiocchi large rifle primers. Now to cast a few and roll them up. using 30 grains with a 290 cast shooting for 1400-1500 fps. Stay tuned............