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.