Reloading 45-70 with a Progressive Press

[Retreever]

Hi All, I only shoot (2) calibers 45 Colt and 45-70 Govt and I reload for both. I have a Lee 4-Hole Turret press which works fine for the 45Colt ( except for the primer feeder, that's crap), I also use it to reload my 45-70 but I take out the indexing rod and turn by hand as with some of the large bullets (500g RNFP) the height is a challenge when seating the bullets.

Lately I have been thinking about upgrading to a progressive press but damn they are not cheap. Is anyone here reloading 45-70 with a progressive press and what are your recommendations? Secondly does the primer feed work consistently?

Thanks, Retreever

 

[MifflinKid]

I use a Dillon 550 to load .45/70. Works fine for me. Use any conventional .45/70
die (7/8 x 14) to load your cartridges. It is the only press I have owned so I can only
comment on it.

The Dillon OEM primer feed works fine when the feeder parts are clean. But, if you
deprime on the DL550, primer debris will start to accumulate on the Primer Track
Bearing and the Primer Slide. Also, after a while, the Primer Track Bearing sometimes
becomes loose and moves slightly. This can cause the Primer Slide to bind slightly
which, in turn, can cause the Primer Slide to move erratically. This can result in
multiple priming problems: flipping primers, bound up Primer Slide and/or jerky
Primer Slide movement.

I have replaced the Dillon OEM Primer Track Bearing (the plate on which the Primer
Slides ride) with a JW Systems primer slide bearing
https://www.amazon.com/JW-Systems-Dillon-Primer-Bearing/dp/B01L9Q2TX4

I now clean the Primer Track Bearing (the JW Systems one) and which ever Primer
Slide I have installed on a regular basis.

FWIW, the priming mechanisms on most progressive presses seem to give users
problems from time to time. I guess it is just the nature of these beasts.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO buying and expensive progressive press for loading only the 45 Colt and 45/70 is overkill.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

The Dillon OEM primer feed works fine when the feeder parts are clean. But, if you
deprime on the DL550, primer debris will start to accumulate on the Primer Track
Bearing and the Primer Slide.

That holds true with the Hornady as well. The primer system on my LNL-AP works really well as long as I keep it clean. So if I deprime a lot of, say 9mms so I can use my case feeder, before I load anything else, I make sure the primer system is clean so I don't have problems with my priming. That grit that comes out of the fired cases is really hard and can cause a lot of trouble if you don't practice good house keeping.

Lately I have been thinking about upgrading to a progressive press but damn they are not cheap.

No, they are not cheap under regular retail. But right now they seem to be getting more expensive by the day for even used ones because of the artificial shortage that the panic buyers have caused and pirates trying to cash in on the situation.

And I wouldn't buy one from any of the pirates on Ebay either. They are $150.00 and up over full retail for used equipment.

You picked a really poor time to want to upgrade.

 

[Retreever]

IMO buying and expensive progressive press for loading only the 45 Colt and 45/70 is overkill.

Trust me I don't disagree just a weak moment on my part after a bit of frustration with my Lee Turret reloading 150 rounds of 45-70 this morning.

Retreever

 

[Charlie98]

I have a progressive press, and I load a fair quantity of .45-70... and I do it on my single-stage press. Thinking about it... I suppose I could do it, it has as many steps as a typical pistol cartridge, so it makes sense. I'll have to ponder that....

 

[Shak3s1977]

I use my 550 for 45-70. I do tend to shoot 500 or so a year of that round. With trapdoor loads, it makes for a nice plinker rifle at the range. Chronograph numbers were good with the Dillon powder measure . Not great but good. Something about that kernel crunching from extruded powders lol. I do size and trim first. Then I leave the first station open when I load em.

I have also ran 1 at a time thru. Start at station 2 and throw a charge. Pull case out and weigh and then trickle up to my charge. Pour powder back in case. Put the case back in, to seat and crimp the bullet.