Hello

[GavenAZ]

Hello from Arizona.
I saw a link for your forum on castboolits and came to take a look.
A lot of the questions I have had and continue to have with my sharps are being answered from your wonderful repository of topics.

I just wanted to chime in and thank you.

[Nuclearcricket]

Thanks for piping up and letting us know your here. There is a wealth of information to be gained on here and if you don't find something you have a question about, jump up and down and wave your arms and ask. There are a bunch of really nice people here more than willing to help you out.
Sam

[Mike]

Alright, AZ, don't drag your feet now. Jump right in and tell us what you're shooting and how you're doin' with it. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Eric Johanen]

You are going to like it here! Lot's of feller's ready to help out and share knowledge. You will burn a lot of powder and send a bunch of lead downrange!!!

[GavenAZ]

Well I picked up a Lyman ideal sharps in 45-70 to get my feet wet.
I figured that if I liked the cartridge it would be an excuse to start saving for a Shiloh or the like.

I was playing around with a Lyman 405 gr cast round , sized down to .458.
The reason I say WAS, is because I now have the tang peep off while waiting on a windage adjustable sight to come in.

I ended up here while looking at recommendations for paper patching. Seems like a fun loading method with the right paper and round.

Slow and steady though. Thank you for the welcome.

[Mike]

AZ, And what if you don't like the cartridge?? I know, it's hard to believe that you wouldn't like a .45/70. About paper patching, have you dropped down to Publications to read any of The American Sharps Shooters? Let me recommend edition 2015-5 for Perfection in Paper Patching by Ashley Garman. There are plenty of other paper patching articles to but that one will get you started. Also, for your .45/70, let me recommend you get a "copy" of Accurate Molds' #45-400T, a tapered paper patch mold for 400 grain bullets. Accurate has other paper patch molds for .45s too, it's just that 45-400T is a favorite of mine. Just look for Accuratemolds.com and look at his impressive catalog. For patching paper your best bet is to go to Buffalo Arms. Buffalo Arms, or BACO, has patch templates and other paper patching goods as well. Molds too. Okay, I've said enough for one note. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Nuclearcricket]

A good tang sight is a much needed investment. Personaly I like the 78 style soule tang sight but thats just me I am different. As to your caliber to start with, that is probably the all around best choice you could have made. Brass is plentiful, and easy to find, the choice of bullets will just drive you nuts trying to pick out what one might be the best and that caliber will get things done a looooog way out there.
It will not beat you to death and it is easy to get to shoot well. A good bullet, some good lube and a case full of powder and your good to go.
Sam

[J.B.]

Yes, by all means welcome to the site. Welcome also to the learning curve that doesn't appear to have an end from what I've experienced. The 45/70 is an excellent place to start without breaking your bank. I've only dabbled in paper patching and generally with good results but there are those here that will have you on the straight and narrow in no time.
.. J.B.

[Kurt]

Welcome to the madness Gavin AZ. We need new ideas here. The more questions asked the more answers are posted, the more we all learn from the answers

Kurt

[GavenAZ]

Mike, you got me there. The 45/70 has quickly become one of my favorite rounds to cast and load for.
All the lovely smoke and smell of my muzzleloaders in a cartridge.
The lyman is one of nicest looking guns I own to boot.
That was a ton of information in a 4 line post, thank you
I see it taking me a good 6 months to try it all .

I'm thinking the 78 style is what I ended up with. It's an MVA that I have commissioned.

Some of the questions that I have had already were answered so completely by looking through the search
that I would have felt the fool for asking before looking. It has resulted in my being a member of a forum for several years without ever posting past the initial hello.
The friendly nature I have seen throughout the forum history led me to want to change that here.