Chuck40219 wrote on Aug 6^th, 2018 at 7:55pm:

You left out bullet lubricant which is very important when using black powder as it helps keep the fouling soft, SPG is a good one and easy to find.
As for projectiles I would start with something in the 500gr range like the government bullet seated out till it just touches the rifling on loading. From there you can experiment with different seating depths till you find what the rifle prefers.
As for powder compression there are many different opinions but most recon you don't need much, if any.
Another area of concern may be neck tension, this is a must for hunting ammunition, as is bullet seating depth, you don't want grease grooves exposed to dirt.  For target ammo that is not an issue usually, you have just embarked on a long journey, good luck .
Mike.

Wouldn't it be good to know what Chuck plans to do. Everyone is not shooting in a PBCR match. Some just plink for fun. In that case I think a 300 grain bullet would be plenty. But the thing is, We must know what he wants to do with his shooting before we can give information of any value.

One wad is plenty. Think of it as a gas check. The M expander might compress the powder more than you need by the time it gets down to the point where it actually puts the step in to start your bullet. Plus the compression die has a flatter face to not distort the wad. Stick with both. One way to get started is to drop a bullet down the chamber. Measure the distance from the barrel face to the base of the bullet. Using that distance measure from the base of the case to that point on the side of the neck of the case and make a scratch. Measure from the mouth of the case to the scratch and add the thickness of your wad. That is your initial compression die setting. Start with enough powder to fill the case to the depth where the compression die in full travel pushing the wad down just touches the powder. That's zero compression. Load some of those. Add another grain of powder to the next batch. You will feel the compression die scrunch the powder a little. Add another grain and repeat for the next batch. There will be a  little more scrunching each time. Make 5 batches or so and go shoot them wiping after each shot. You should see your rifle showing a preference. If it is the last batch that it likes then make some more increasing the powder until the group starts enlarging. You should have an idea of what the rifle likes with that seating depth. Then try seating a little deeper realizing that if you use the same amount of powder that your rifle seemed to like you will have now increased the compression and will have to drop back a grain or two on the powder to get back to the same compression. Loading for black powder is more of an art than a science. Trying to change one thing usually ends up changing more than one thing. It is a balancing act so get lots of bullets and that half a case of powder will be going down fast. Probably should mention primers. A lot of shooters do really well with large pistol ones. Others like large rifle and a few others large rifle mag ones. If you get serious about it, you may have to try them all. Have fun trying and be prepared to be amazed at how well it will perform when you get it all tuned in.

Depening on what set of dies you have already, the expander die may work quite well for powder compression. If you aren't planning on sizing the cases, it sure will work fine.
I would suggest Olde Eynsford 2f or 1 1/2, 70 gr of the 2f 72 of the 1 1/2. A long drop tube really isn't necessary, you can get by just fine with something like the Frankford arsenal powder funnel with the 4 inch drop tube and pour your charge slowly into the case.
RP 9 1/2 and BR2 primers both work well.
A .030 fiber wad works well enough for the 45-70.
You might also want to pick up a blow tube to use between shots to keep the accuracy level going.

Quote:

Chuck, I started reloading & shooting a 43 Spanish Argentine Rolling Block since 2003.  Loads used:
* Ideal 439186 - 1:20 alloy
* 11 grs Unique 
*  28 gr 3031 
*  26 gr 4759   
*  78 gr of Goex Fg
*  72 gr DuPont FFg & 5gr 4759
Have shot all reloads from 200m to 500m and 1000yds

Well I have 10 of the most pretty 45-70 shells you guys have ever seen.

Chuckr40219