Need Advice On Loading For Baikal's 45/70 SxS

[huntingsgr8]

With any luck I'll be getting my hands on Baikal's 45/70 SxS rifle in a few weeks. 45/70 being 60$ a box where I live, plus tax, the sensible thing to do seems to be to load for it. What I've read says that the maximum safe operating pressure of this gun is 32'000 psi, and that trapdoor strength loads should all be safe to use in it. My issue is that most of the trapdoor load data I find for heavier 400 and 500 grain bullets is made to replicate black powder velocities, and well below the 32'000 psi limit set by the manufacturers. Personally I'd like to do a little bit better than a 405 grain bullet at 1300fps. I know that practically speaking I don't need any more firepower than that to hunt anything in North America, but this will be a sort of novelty gun, and I think double rifles and recoil belong hand in hand.

What I'm looking for are loads for 405 and 500 grain bullets that are as near to the upper pressure limit as safely possible, at as high a velocity as possible (I'm assuming 1800 fps the the limit for cast lead bullets). I plan to use WW lead, and would like to avoid gas checks if possible.

[country gent]

I load between 500 and 550 grn bullets cast from 20-1 to around 1150-1200 fps and they will take rams down at 500yds. If you want heavier bullets in a traditional style the lyman 457-125 500grn govt round nose. For a better BC the lyman 535 postell is a good bullet also. The 550 grns are from Old West moulds and really hit hard but recoil is stiffer also. My 45-70s are both 12-13 lb rifles also. I would also recommend load to the level that regulates the barrels to the sights. On double rifles this can be a little tricky as the barrels are regulated to a set load ( usually a factory loading) and that has to be duplicated very closely to get both barrels to shot to the same point of aim.

[Dan Cash]

Best accuracy will be found with black powder, I believe. As far as recoil goes, the Baikal is a rather light gun and you are going to get all the recoil pleasure you want pretty quickly. I would suggest using a 350 to 400 grain bullet over 72 or 73 grains of well compressed Old Eynsford black powder. You should get about 1400 fps from the 350 bullet. Adjust charge up and down to regulate barrels. This gun will be a bit different than loading for anything else in your collection and regardless of velocity, you have a 150 yard rifle at best.

[bigcountry022885]

I have had good luck using the Lyman reloading manual my ruger no 3 I load with 51 gr of 2015 powder with a 405 bullet that comes over my crony at 1845fps average and the CUP should be 29100 witch if your max 32000 I would not push more than 29000 range just to be safe but again it's more about what shoots good for your rifle


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[huntingsgr8]

BCs aren't really a concern given that it's a double, long range stuff is a no go. This rifle can be regulated with screw adjustments at the muzzle, so I have some leeway there.

[Blackwater]

CAn't remember if this one has sights for each barrel, or whether the barrels have to be regulated to one sight, but if it's the later, you'll likely need to test loads and see what loads regulate. Different powders may regulate at different velocities, so you may need to play around with your loads to see what wt. bullet and what powders and what charge wts. all give you the closest thing to the performance, power and regulation you need with this gun.

Loading for doubles is very interesting, if you don't get frustrated when your first attempts to load for them don't work out quite like you thought they would. A friend of mine who's part owners of one of the gunshops in town has one of those, and I can't remember what he shoots in his. He's got dozens of rifles, and I doubt he shoots that one a heck of a lot. He's usually playing with some "new toy" most days. But you're a lucky guy! I've longed for one for a long time. Just could never find the scratch and the opportunity at the same time. (sigh) But "never say never." I've been feelin' lucky lately. Too bad I'm broke, too!

Enjoy! That's what they're MADE for!

[Vagabond55]

Friend of mine has one. A 500 at 1800 it that gun will back you out of your fillings in short order. Even with the screw adjustment, getting it to regulate can be a real female dog. We had best luck with a 475 at about 1400fps. YMMV Have fun.

[huntingsgr8]

Sadly it was already purchased....oh well, next time. I guess it was a bit of a pipe dream to hope it would last when listed for only 950$ CAD. Thanks anyway.

[brass410]

I have one of these sxs in 45-70. have not had it out yet but hope to soon, been pretty busy this summer. I to am looking for something on the tame side (read mouse fart) for this beast just to play with wife would like to try it out as well. Don't want to ruin it for her hope to get her out to shoot a bit at the range (this will help for future expenditures)

[bigcountry022885]

They look like Bert weapons

[bigcountry022885]

They look like neat weapons


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[AbitNutz]

I have one. I use a Skinner ghost ring sight and an AK-47 front sight...it screws right in. Regulating to same point of aim is...problematic.