Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Express Rifles and Big Bores Only ? for the 45-70 & 45-90 Reloaders

I recently ordered a 45-90 from Turnbull and I need to know if any of you out there have reloaded with AA8700 powder for the 45-70 or 45-90 if so how does it perform.

I will be casting my own slugs , probably several different grains

The reason I am asking about the powder is because it is available at a real cheap price and the load data is in the Modern Reloading 2nd add. book from Richard Lee.

Any help would be appreciated.

AA8700 is the same as H870. It's a 50 BMG or overbore cartridge powder. I shoot it or H869 (the "new" 870) in my 22-06. You could probably get it to work in a 45-70 with magnum primers but the velocity will be way low. 45-70/90 like midrange powders like 3031/4895/Varget if you insist on shooting smokeless.

Swiss 2F black or the new Alliant Black semi smokeless are more the "real deal". If set up correctly your 90 will be twisted for bullets of 350 gr or less whereas a 70 is set up for 500 grainers.

Doug does excellent work and I'm sure you'll be pleased with your new rifle.

I obtained a bunch of 50 BMG mil surp pulled powder from a gunsmith that was going out of business. I reload a boatload of 45-70, 450 Marlin and 458 Win Mag. Even with a full to the rim case and magnum primers and 500gr bullets, I couldn't get it to light without leaving HUGE amounts of unburned powder in the barrel.

I tried it in a 375 H&H and pretty much the same thing - not enough shoulder on the case to generate the pressure it needs to light/burn well. I've also got a 375 Ruger and the change in the the shoulder angle will let it light/burn pretty clean.

From the "interweb" research I've been able to pull together about the mil surp 50 BMG pull powder is that you have to have that strong shoulder angle. One guy I found contacted with a lot of load data with that powder for 223/5.56, 6mm/243, 30-06 etc. He said it worked well for anything with a sharp shoulder but to BE VERY CAREFUL. In his words it is very "peaky" when you start to get to max loads.

If what you have is the same as what I have, that particular 50 BMG pull down is from the 50 BMG spotter rounds that where used on the 105 Howitzers. The granules are hollow and coated with something that prevents ALL muzzle flash. Smells funky as hell when fired too.

If you PM me your email address I'll forward you a copy of the load data he provided me with.

Wideners has brand new WC867 powder that they say burns just like AA8700 for $46.00 per #8 bottles and if you order in 6 bottle increments they pay the Hazmat. That is why I asked the question but it looks like it would not be a very good powder for what I am going to shoot.

By the time I receive my rifle maybe there will be some powder on the market. HA HA I will not hold my breath.

I may go the black powder route if I can not find anything else when I get it.

Thanks for the advice

Funshooter,
I like VVN133 in my 1886 .45-90 for light to medium bullets (300-400 grains), and Aliant RL7 and AA2230 do very well too. Almost any powder that does well in a .45-70 will also be appropriate for a .45-90.
When you move on up to 450 grains and above for DG loads, some careful experimentation is appropriate.
Please keep us informed of your experiences and progress with your .45-90.

I have a 50-110, and Reloader 7 is the powder for that animal.

Thanks for the advice
Turnbull told me that it could take up to a year before they maybe ready to ship it to me. That gives me some time to get the components together. I am on a group buy at Castboolits for a 45-70 392 gr hollow base & 415 gr solid base mold. If it does not come threw in time I will order something from Accurate molds.

I wimped out on the 50-110. I thought for my first big bore I would start in the middle and I like lever guns Hence Turnbulls 45-90

Funshooter, I like where you're going ! I bought an original Win 1886 in 45/90 and I'm having "fun" getting loads and cleaning done on it. So far, I've been shooting IMR 4759 with 300 r. cast bullets. The twist is 1 in 32.Have to keep vel./pressure low as it was made in 93 before nickle steel barrels. But, that 300 gr. cast bullet will get the job done at any speed! Oh, does anyone have a great recipe for getting lead out of the barrel?

SIZE the bullets to bore correctly and do NOT use too hard of an alloy as it seems to "skid" the slug in the rifling, stripping it down.

In my .45-70s and my .50-90 & .50-110 with cast lead slugs I use AA-5744

In my 45-70 with 300 gr JHP I have had good luck with IMR4198