I would say it’s what the shooter prefers.

1000 yard shooting is fine with an accurate load of smokeless, as long as you are doing it at a gong shoot (where whoever is running it gives the OK) or for private amusement.  I think Bill Clendenan has been cleaning up at the Quigley in the lever action class with a .45-70 loaded with SR-4759, although the farthest target, the Buffalo, is a mere 800 yards.  It might take some doing to get a good smokeless 1000 yard load, but it takes some doing with black powder as well.

If you want to shoot smokeless at 1000 yards in a formal competition, you will be hopelessly outclassed by shooters with modern rifles shooting smokeless cartridges.  They shoot flatter and have more power to buck the wind.

You won’t be allowed to compete in formal blackpowder target shooting at 1000 yards, because the rules don’t allow it.  If you can tag along with some guys that are practicing, or the person running the match is willing to let you in on the fun, or have your own 1000 yard range, you might do as well with smokeless as black powder, if you can get a good load.  The .45-70 adapted very well to the changeover to smokeless powder.

Black powder and long range with lead plain base bullets rules because of the lessened vertical stringing. That and the shoulder can not take the pounding that smokeless gives when it surpasses the black’s velocity and burns uniformly enough for better accuracy. All things said it’s too easy to get a bullet/load combination to shoot with black and much safer when actions built for such low pressures are used . Very few wish to line up next to a smokeless shooter of unknown experience especially those with experience themselves.

marlinguy wrote on Nov 7^th, 2020 at 10:23am:




Much thanks, that answers my question pretty well. I would like to eventually get into BPCR.

As for ranges; I have regular use of 100 and 200 yard ranges as well as some access to a range out to 600 yards but 1000 yards is not available unless I travel ( which is not out of the question)

I too am not into hot 45-70 loads, my hunting loads do not exceed 1350 fps and never had a problem with animals.

It looks like taking the route to go BP is the way to go for the simply because of rules as well as improvement in accuracy at distances.

Ill save my 12 gr Unique loads for the 100-200 yard fun loads.

Sorry for all the questions, I just like to gather all info before jumping in because I would rather get it right the 1st time

Is this a good starting point for powder/bullet combo to start load testing? 

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The bullets, of course, Ill order lubed for black powder


As far as swabbing vs blow tube, is there a preferred method or is it personal preference?

I have read on some forums that some folks use the method:

Shoot
swab one patch light soak of windex
one dry patch
shoot
repeat

And then there is the Classical BP/ Paper Patch Bullet shooting

beltfed/arnie

marlinguy wrote on Nov 7^th, 2020 at 5:47pm:



Its funny you post that because that was probably one of the 1st videos I watched when doing a google search

marlinguy wrote on Nov 8^th, 2020 at 6:14pm:




wow really? Thats what I call going all in and winning..... Good on him.

Im still in the process of picking up some BP and bullets specific to but it looks like Montana Bullets is on hold for a bit to play catch up until after hunting season.

Ill probably just be working with what I have in smokeless until their selling resumes