45-70 375gr load

[badbrass]

Hello I have been at this forum many times but never posted anything, so I would like to say Hello from Canada ! And to let you all know what a great sight you have here !

I'm looking for a load for a PB bullet in 375gr. BNH 15
I have 2400 powder, IMR4198, H4198, IMR3031, Unique,
I'm looking for a starting load and to work up to a hunting load, any help would be great, Thanks Badbrass! :)

[The Nyack Kid]

hello
what is the rifle ? is the boolit lymans 457124 ?

starting loads from lymans 48 reloading handbook

30.5grs of IMR 4198 for 1298fps 11300 cup
40 grs of IMR 3031 for 1254fps 9100 cup

Starting loads from Lymans cast bullet handbook

10 grs of Unique for 939fps 10300 cup
26.5 grs of 2400 for 1517fps 20400 cup

I use 45 grs of reloader 7 for 1525fps pressure unknown (47 grs is suposed to be 16200 cup )

good luck

[badbrass]

Thanks The Nyack Kid! The rifle is a Marlin 1895 20in barrel. :) Not to sure of the bullet make? :-?

[Bass Ackward]

I'm looking for a starting load and to work up to a hunting load, any help would be great, Thanks Badbrass! :)

BB,

The problem is that you are looking for two things. If I wanted a good starting load, then I might look at the Unique. But if I wanted a good hunting load, I would probably go with the 3031.

If I had to compromise there, then I would pick the 4198. Start about 33 grains and work up to 38. You will probably have to stop there because of the soft, PB design.

[The Nyack Kid]

Knowing what gun is being used helps with the load selection . there is a WIDE range of loads in the 45-70 . the one's i gave you where starting loads for the trapdoor .
I second BA either of the 4198s will work the best . 3031 is a tad on the slow side which is why i use Reloader 7 which has a very similer burn rate to the 4198s .
is the boolit a round nose or flat point design ?
the lyman is a round nose . it is not the best killer of big game animals .a flat point is a much more reliable killer. just my $0.02 worth

[badbrass]

Thanks Bass Ackward! The reason I asked for starting load is sometime when I ask for a load from someone they always give a max load and that could be unsafe ! :-? Thanks for your help :)

[badbrass]

It's a flat point !

[McLintock]

If you're from Canada, are you going to be hunting bear or moose, makes a lot of difference on what hunting load you might want to use. IMR 3031 has always been a good powder to load the 45-70 for hunting, as you can go from light 33-34 gr loads to over 50 grs for say the big bears. But the hot loads tend to thump a little and I'm not sure you'd want to shoot them much in a 20" barreled Marlin, unless it's a ported guide gun. 50 gr of 3031 with a 385 gr gas check bullet is really good elk medicine, so would do great for moose as well, but a Winchester 86 makes it a lot more shootable load due to the weight of the rifle. I once tried to go up in loading with my Browning Single Shot in 45-70 and 405 gr bullet, the light traditional Hunter not the BPCR, and chickened out at about 45-6 grs and even that was a load. In a Ruger No.1 and similarly strong actions, my book "The Complete Loading Manual for the 45-70 Government" lists a load of 60 gr of 3031 with the 385 gr bullet at 2117 fps; now that's a thumper. It also gives a load for a similar action with 4198 of 50.5 gr for 2135, so it's a pretty good powder also.
McLintock

[badbrass]

Thanks McLintock ! I don't think I will be hunting anything this year but Big Canadian deer ! Did not get drawn for moose, and it will have to be black bear, as no draw for spring grizz either! :mad: Maybe next year, but if I get a draw for grizz, prob use a very good jacketed bullet !

[Bass Ackward]

I get a draw for grizz, prob use a very good jacketed bullet !


BB,

Ya think? :grin:

[badbrass]

yep!!!!!!!! [smilie=l:

[stocker]

badbrass:
No moose draw, spring grizzly draw-you've got to be in B.C, maybe? I had the same luck with moose draw for the umpteenth year. I digress. If you want to try some gas checked bullets in 325 grain and 425 grain send me a P.M. with your location. I'm in Willys Puddle if you happen to be close.

[McLintock]

I don't know Badbrass, some of these lead bullets they're using in the big bore pistols for hunting dangerous game do pretty well. They hold together and punch a big hole deep, with sufficient poop behind them; a bullet like that for the 45-70 wouldn't be a bad idea. My friend with the '86 and the 50 gr loads and 385 gr gas check, says it has punched through elk end to end several times, breaking bones on angle shots on some, and that's with just an ordinary cast bullet and no special alloys.
Also, your Marlin is strong enough to take the .444 Marlin which operates at 44,000 cpu's and the above loads are only making in the low to mid 30's, so strength of action isn't a problem, strength of shoulder is. Good luck.
McLintock

[badbrass]

Thanks stocker! Might take you up on that sometime! it seems that gas checks are the way to go! Just getting into this Marlin 1895- 45-70, I need to put a good recoil pad on it if I want to continue shooting ;-) [smilie=l:

McLintoc, I agree the cast bullets are getting better !