Best powder choice for 45/70

[brstevns]

My cousin is starting to load for his Marlin 1895G , he is wondering what would be a good powder choice for a 330gr to 350gr PP bullet.

[Shooter6br]

4759 is good. I use H322 to get 1500 fps with 350 Ranch Do no gas check. 45-70 is very flexible. i used Varget,H322, 4064,H414(not the best) trail boss, Unique. 27 g 4759 gets 1350 fps. try what you have on hand. If starting from scratch 4759 BUT .............. if is hard to use most powder measures with 4759 (bridges)

[dale2242]

My 2 favorite powders for Trapdoor 45-70 loads are 4198 and 5744....dale

[brstevns]

He said he had Imr 4198, AA2495 and some reloader 7 . He was hoping for 1700 to 1850 fps.
He also has a lb of Unique

[GH1]

I've used 14.0 gr of Trail Boss under 300 & 350 gr bullets successfully. It's a very mild load great for target use. I think it's around 1,000 FPS or so.
GH1

[frnkeore]

Don't forget 10 gr of Unique. I've gotten 13/16 groups at 100 with a 430 gr bullet (breech seated) at 972 fps in a 31" barrel.

The 350 gr bullet should go as fast in your 1895. It's a very comfortable load.

frank

[knifemaker]

If he is looking for 1700-1900 fps with a 350 gr. boolit, have him try the 4198 he has on hand. Around 44 gr. of IMR-4198 should get him in the ballpark for that velocity.

IMR-4198 and H4198 are very good powders for the 45/70 from mild trapdoor loads to heavy hitting teeth rattling loads for lever actions or even stronger Ruger #1's and converted Mausers.

[paborn]

I did a lot of load development last year with group buy NOE 460350 RFGC in both the hollow point and flat point versions. 15 grains of Unique with either gave around 1300 fps in a 1895 Cowboy with accuracy of under 1.5 inches at 100 yards. 28 grains of 2400 gave the same accuracy with around 1600 fps. 47 grains of Reloader 7 gave over 1840 fps with the same accuracy. All groups were 10 shot off sandbags with a 5 power scope. I use starch based packing peanuts on top of all powder charges less than 100% loading density.

[Nobade]

I'm a big fan of IMR 3031 for the 45-70, especially with bullets in the weight range you are talking about.

[PbHurler]

I'm a big fan of IMR 3031 for the 45-70, especially with bullets in the weight range you are talking about.

+1 to what Nobade said; in fact you beat me to it. I use 3031 as my preferred powder for the 405 - 425 gr bullets as well.[/I]

[btroj]

There is no one "beat" powder for any cartridge. Many powders will work well in most applications.
For 45-70 I like 2400 for mid level velocities. This means 1200 to 1500 for me. For slower I tend towards Trailboss. For faster I have used Benchmark, H335, Varget, 4895, H322, and RE 7 all with good results.
2400 gets the mot use as it works well in a velocity range where I get good accuracy and low enough recoil to allow me to shoot as many rounds per day as I want. I don't shoot many 1500 fps plus loads as I don't need the velocity for range work. I will work up to them for hunting season but don't want the recoil much of the year.

[Stampede]

I use VithaVuori powders for my .45-70 ánd .45-120. The N120, N135 work perfect and are accurate. I even have TC-pistol (.45-70) loads. The bullet that i use is a 330gr with a gas-check.

[brstevns]

My cousin also told me, he has 2 lb of the old AA8700

[No_1]

I am a fan of 3031, 4198 & Unique. 3031 for max density loads, 4198 for loads that are less than full case and Unique for light plinking loads.

[wiljen]

3031, 4895, Varget.

[725]

I'd say no 1 is #1 for a reason. My favorite three as well. 3031, 4198, & Unique.

[brstevns]

Is his AA2495 very close to Imr 4895?

[rmcc]

H322 & imr 3031

[wiljen]

2495 is fairly close in burn rate to 4895.

[brstevns]

How much Unique for around 1600 FPS with a 330 to 350 grainer?