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

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.