Where Can I Buy Small Quantities of 45/70 Supplies

[WonderDavid!]

Hey, I want different bullets and powders to experiment with my 45/70 but I don't want to sink a lot of money into something I might not like. Does anyone know where I can buy bullets by the 25 let's say and powder by the half pound? I know this is an odd request but once I find a load I like I will buy in bulk. Also, if anyone has some 45/70 bullets lying around their not going to use anymore, I would be most appreciative.

Thanks.

 

[Artofgolf]

I'm not familiar with retailers or LGS's that sell in small quantities you've mentioned. Your best bet might be to get in touch with local reloaders who would be willing to help you with small amounts of loading supplies. If you post your location, some of the fine folks here may be willing to help. Good luck!

 

[WonderDavid!]

I'm not familiar with retailers or LGS's that sell in small quantities you've mentioned. Your best bet might be to get in touch with local reloaders who would be willing to help you with small amounts of loading supplies. If you post your location, some of the fine folks here may be willing to help. Good luck!

Thanks, I am in Southeastern Ohio. I do not know any local reloaders, so if anyone is close and would be willing to be my reloading mentor I would be thankful.

 

[mongoose33]

Do you know anyone who reloads 45/70? You might be able to buy what you want from them.

I've thought about the plight of young people trying to get into reloading--to really save money you have to buy in bulk, and that takes a lot of money, and that's the thing young people usually don't have in bulk.

I buy in large lots and I've told a few I'd sell them small quantities of what I have which I've bought at bulk prices--at the bulk price. That way they get cheap prices without having to lay out money for $5k primers, 8# jugs of powder, 2k or more bullets.

I don't do this for everybody, I'm not running a business. I'm just helping create the conditions for what is, at one level, a group buy.

 

[WonderDavid!]

Do you know anyone who reloads 45/70? You might be able to buy what you want from them.

I've thought about the plight of young people trying to get into reloading--to really save money you have to buy in bulk, and that takes a lot of money, and that's the thing young people usually don't have in bulk.

I buy in large lots and I've told a few I'd sell them small quantities of what I have which I've bought at bulk prices--at the bulk price. That way they get cheap prices without having to lay out money for $5k primers, 8# jugs of powder, 2k or more bullets.

I don't do this for everybody, I'm not running a business. I'm just helping create the conditions for what is, at one level, a group buy.

Yeah, I am in high school and don't have a job. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone that reloads at all, let alone 45/70.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Place your request in the Pay it Forward in Reloading thread. The target of the thread is new reloaders like you.

 

[WonderDavid!]

Place your request in the Pay it Forward in Reloading thread. The target of the thread is new reloaders like you.

Done, thank you.

 

[cfullgraf]

There a couple of companies that make trial packs of bullets but I do not remember if i ever saw 45 caliber packs. I have bought 30 caliber and 6mm packs before.

I most frequently buy from Sinclair International and Midway so check there.

Give these guys a look.

http://www.bulletproofsamples.com

Their web site says they only go to .338 caliber but maybe they can help or know someone who might have 45 caliber sample packs.

 

[WonderDavid!]

There a couple of companies that make trial packs of bullets but I do not remember if i ever saw 45 caliber packs. I have bought 30 caliber and 6mm packs before.

I most frequently buy from Sinclair International and Midway so check there.

Give these guys a look.

http://www.bulletproofsamples.com

Their web site says they only go to .338 caliber but maybe they can help or know someone who might have 45 caliber sample packs.

Thanks.

 

[Sunray]

Don't believe there is such a thing as a half pound can of any powder typical of .45-70 loads. Or half pound cans period. Hazmat fees etc make it not worth the effort or cost.
Bullet samples might be available upon request, but not likely 25ish .458" bullets.
Try the Bargain basement or whatever it's called a Cabela's.

 

[WonderDavid!]

Don't believe there is such a thing as a half pound can of any powder typical of .45-70 loads. Or half pound cans period. Hazmat fees etc make it not worth the effort or cost.
Bullet samples might be available upon request, but not likely 25ish .458" bullets.
Try the Bargain basement or whatever it's called a Cabela's.

Yeah, I didn't figure there would be half pound cans. I am currently corresponding with "Penn Bullet Co." about sample orders and "badmanbullets" also provides samples but only in 405 grain cast. I will look at Cabela's though, thanks.

 

[WestKentucky]

Missouri bullet company is cheap, offers a THR discount, and sells small quantity sample packs.

 

[John C]

What reloading stuff do you have already?

 

[Surculus]

re: small quantity reloading

Yeah, I am in high school and don't have a job. Unfortunately, I don't know anyone that reloads at all, let alone 45/70.

You might check any local ranges or gun clubs to see if they have a bulletin board or something where you could post a "reloading mentor wanted" or try to find like-minded souls who would go in with you on a group buy on some varied powders & bullets so that when the order comes it, it gets broken into smaller quantities and everyone involved gets a potpourri of sample lots with which to experiment.

Pretty cool that a high-schooler is involved w/ reloading for 45/70. Good luck!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

WonderDavid,
Unfortunately powders are still hard to find so trying a lot of different powders will be hard to do.
There are a bunch of good powders for loading the 45-70, the best of which include:
IMR4198, H4198, AA5744, Alliant RL-7,

Secondary choices include:
IMR3031, IMR4895, H4895, W748, AA-2015 and Ramshot X-Terminator

For cast bullets for many years handgun/shotgun powders were used and still can be.
Some are:
Unique, 2400, Red Dot and Promo.

Since you are new at this you will probably do best with the first set of powders I listed.

As for bullets, along with the others suggested, Missouri Bullets sells sample packs of 100 bullets instead of having to buy 500/1000.
http://missouribullet.com/
Cast bullets:
300gr RNFP #2 Buffalo are $23/100
405gr RNFP #1 Buffalo are $25/100
Coated Cast bullets:
300gr RNFP #2 Buffalo - Hi-Tec are $25/100
405gr RNFP #1 Buffalo - Hi-Tec are $27/100

Not exactly dirt cheap but better than buying 500 for $40+ and realizing you don't like those bullets. I'm shooting the 405gr Cast bullet in my Springfield Trapdoor and Marlin levergun.

If it weren't for the Hazmat fees and restrictions I would send you some primers and a pound of powder. Good luck...

 

[WonderDavid!]

Thanks everyone. I will try Missouri Bullet Co. if I need to. Hopefully the bullets I already have will be good, if they're not I will be forced to target practice with them.

 

[WonderDavid!]

What reloading stuff do you have already?

250 Laser Cast 300 grain bullets and shells. Still trying to find powder.

 

[cfullgraf]

Don't believe there is such a thing as a half pound can of any powder typical of .45-70 loads. Or half pound cans period. Hazmat fees etc make it not worth the effort or cost.

When Dupont was marketing IMR powders, a tin of 700-X was actually 1/2 pound. Now a days under Hodgdon's distribution, it is 14 ounces.

In the nineteen nineties, Hodgdon, if I remember correctly, sold trial packs of rifle powders. Something like 4 bottles of 1/4 pound each of four different powders.

Apparently, not a commercial success.

At least with the "domestic" distributers and powders, I do not think there is anything smaller than one pound containers, except for 700-X, these days.

 

[flashhole]

WD what gun do you have? A lot of folks can tell you what load you would likely have success with if you tell us what gun you intend to load for.

Me, I load for my Guide Gun and have great success with the Hornady 350 grain Round Nose (RN) or Flat Nose (FN) bullets with H-4895 powder ... and my own cast 340 grain lead bullets with a mid range Varget load.

 

[WonderDavid!]

WD what gun do you have? A lot of folks can tell you what load you would likely have success with if you tell us what gun you intend to load for.

Me, I load for my Guide Gun and have great success with the Hornady 350 grain Round Nose (RN) or Flat Nose (FN) bullets with H-4895 powder ... and my own cast 340 grain lead bullets with a mid range Varget load.

A H&R Handi rifle.

 

[Bullseye]

Check the pay it forward post again.

 

[otrman]

WonderDavid!- if you PM your address and can give me couple weeks, had catastrophic failure with lubisizer and waiting on parts. I will be more than happy to send you 25-405 gr gas checked that I cast. Don't have anything else, all I shoot anymore. Just let me know.

 

[WonderDavid!]

WonderDavid!- if you PM your address and can give me couple weeks, had catastrophic failure with lubisizer and waiting on parts. I will be more than happy to send you 25-405 gr gas checked that I cast. Don't have anything else, all I shoot anymore. Just let me know.

Thanks, pm sent.

 

[Greg Mercurio]

I'm going to stick my neck out a little here with an offer to assist with bullets, but, and it's an important but: have you slugged the bore of that handi rifle to see what diameter cast bullet you need? I have a pretty good supply of cast and jacketed bullets I'm willing to share but don't want to send things that just won't work.

If you're unsure of slugging the bore, do a search here or on Google and the world will land at your screen.

PM me when you're ready.

 

[WonderDavid!]

I have not slugged my bore and I don't have any lead balls to do it right now. I will let you know when I slug it.