Your Favorite 45-70 Load

[StrawHat]

For hunting I really like the Lyman 457122 over a full case of blackpowder.

For everything else, either the 405 HB or the 500 grain Gov't bullet and a case of blackpowder.

These two loads work in every 45-70 I have ever owned and work for hunting as well.

[Jim]

Lyman 462560 over 50 grains of IMR 7383, LMR primers.

[Kraschenbirn]

405 OHAS PB, 16-18 BH, Can. Red lube, .459, 26 gr. 2400, Dac. filler!
1Shirt!

What weight does your 405 Ohaus mould drop in that "16-18 BH" alloy? I've got that same mould and it throws 442 gr. in 50/50 ww/Pb. My Pedersoli RB loves it but I've always been puzzled why a mould labled as a "45-405" would cast that much overweight.

That boolit, lubed with Emmert's, and loaded over 29.5 gr AA2015 with tuft of dacron fill is my "go-to" load for the roller. Will print 1 1/2" (or better) 100-yd groups all day and once...on a real calm morning...I put 10 rounds into just a smidge over 6" at 300M (iron sights, sitting, using X-sticks).

On BP side, my H&R Trapdoor Carbine favors the Lee 405HB, as-cast (.459) from 30-1, lubed with Emmert's, loaded over 55 gr FFg (no card wad), and lit with a Fed 215 Primer. Straight from Spence Wolf's book, I know, but why mess about reinventing the wheel?

Bill

[Hang Fire]

This one can really dance all over the place as the particular 'level" of 45-70 load was not asked for. Might caution some who want to try any of the above to double check the load against a manual to make sure it's safe in what firearm it is intended for.

Larry Gibson

Very good point.

[Hang Fire]

Lyman 457406, 465 grain Hollow point sans GC over 60 grains Graf's FFG.

The 457406 is not a OEM hollow point mold, I hollow pointed this mold.

[dlbarr]

My FAVORITE 45/70 load?

Like I can only have ONE?

Lyman 457193, 70gr 2fg Goex
RCBS 45-300-FN, 46gr 3031
Swaged 143gr wadcutter, 10gr Unique (for squirrels )

[JackQuest]

Not a favorite - a development load. I have a considerable amount to WC844, pull powder for 7.62x51 (SOCOM). Preliminary load of 55.5 gr WC844 behind an RCBS 45-405, gas checked, high copper alloy - no real indication of pressure, clean burning, heavy recoil. No chrono so I can't quote muzzle velocities. This out of my Ruger "#2" custom stocked in laminate.

I also purchased a batch of IMR 4320, started with 49.0 gr and the same RCBS bullet. This is a lot dirtier, recoil is lighter, assume lower muzzle velocities. Should be able to load up to around 54 grains of powder.

[aspangler]

Try 25 gr 2400 under a tuft of Dacron and a Lee 405 gr. boolit. Trapdoor levels for pressure with about the recoil of a 20 ga. field load. My average is 1450 fps with ES of 12 fps. Very accurate in my Mosin conversion.

[hickstick_10]

32 grains of reloder 7 under the Lyman 457125 500 grain government roundnose bullet. Fired from 32 inch barrel shiloh sharps

Not traditional, but it is very very accurate.

[ColColt]

64 gr of Swiss 1.5 and Walter's .030" wad all under a Brook's "New Postell" 530 gr bullet cast 1:20 in a Browning 1885 BPCR. The Lyman 457125 is a close contender with 62 gr of Swiss 1.5, .030 wad and both with Federal 215 primers. Either will give 1-1/2" groups if I hold my mouth right.

[dh2]

405 Gr. NOE mold HP pushed to the max for Marlin with IMR4198

[plainsman456]

Been doing a lot of shooting with my Marlin 95 with several powders.
The only one that jumps out,without my notes is the ones with Trail Boss,1 is with 13.5 grains and the other is 16.5.
These are Rem brass with CCi large primers and the lead chunk is from a MM mold that throws a 325+-.
Te other powders i have shot are RL-7,H-322,IMR-4227 and some i can not think of right now.

They do cover a lot of types of rifles and all are fun to shoot.
Longest being out to 600 yards,takes a lot of windage out there.

[Shooter6br]

Target 12.5 g Unique with 350 g bullet...Hunting 52 g H322 with same bullet

[Jack Stanley]

Most of the time I use a three hundred fifty grain LBT sized at .360" and lubed with Alox . I use either a thin card wad made from a cereal box or similar material or .030" card wads . Sixteen grains of Unique into a R-P case and crimp on the forward driving band . I've been using Winchester large pistol primers with this and shooting with a seventies Vintage Marlin .

Jack

[Red Elk]

My all around load in my previous Marlin 1895 was 405 gr Speer over 52gr IMR 3031. Shot wonderful. A tad stout perhaps, but effective on elk, deer and black bear.
Now I have a newer guide gun, and a bunch of 350 gr cast and I am looking for a decent load. Big Brown Bear here, and I need something which will be final. I don't currently have any 400 gr bullets. Kinda hard to get here. The 350gr look ok...Any ideas on loads would be appreciated.
re

[dlbarr]

I have no experience with "big brown bear" but I had a 350gr load of 55gr 4198 which had a great deal of authority, to say the least. I shot that out of my 1895, btw. I can imagine your 405 + 52g of 3031 would be "stout". Don't know how big a guy you are, the 4198 load bounced me around abit. I could shoot it again but don't really want to...but then I'm on the smaller side...

[jrmartin1964]

Remington nickel-plated cases, flash holes opened to 0.096" (#41 drill, ala Spence Wolfe);
70 grains (by volume) GOEX 2Fg Black;
0.030" vegetable fibre wad, 0.460" diameter;
Lyman No.457125, cast from an older mould with square lube grooves, passed through a 0.459 diameter die (virtually no sizing) and lubed with SPG.

This combination shoots dead-on to the sights of my Springfield Model 1884 rifle.

[JimP.]

Lyman 457125 cast 500 gr bullet. 32.0 grs RL-7, filled to the top with puff-lon filler and seat the bullet to cover the grease grooves. Taper crimp to take out the case bell. JimP.

[waco]

I'm saving up for a new mold so for now it's the Lee 405 HB over 24gr SR4759.

[cephas53]

405 gr. Lee HB with 25.0 grs. 5744. Trapdoor level. Just over 1200 fps. out of my Handi rifle.