45/70 500 gr bullet with Unique ?

[brstevns]

Was given some 500gr cast bullet for my 45/70. Hate to melt them down, is anyone using Unique with this weight ?
Something around 1000 fps.

[brstevns]

No one ?

[Jeff R]

I have a re-print of an old Lyman "Handbook of Cast Bullets." I think it was published in the 50's. It has .45-70 data for the Lyman 457406, 500gr., Gas Check Boolit. For Unique, it lists two loads:
15.0gr. ===>1350fps
20.0gr. (listed as MAX charge) ===>1625fps
Use at your own risk. Hope this helps.
Jeff

Rocketing towards 200 posts!!

[brstevns]

Those seem way over max to me. Thinking more like 10gr to 14 gr.

[1Hawkeye]

They are. For a trapdoor starting load is 9.0 @ 892 fps and max is 13.0 grs @ 1114 fps from the 44th edition lyman book. I would try either 9.0 or 10.0 grains. In the trapdoor I had, 10.0 grains of unique averaged between 855 and 857 fps for a ten shot string using the lyman 457125 govt bullet.

[arlon]

They are. For a trapdoor starting load is 9.0 @ 892 fps and max is 13.0 grs @ 1114 fps from the 44th edition lyman book. I would try either 9.0 or 10.0 grains. In the trapdoor I had, 10.0 grains of unique averaged between 855 and 857 fps for a ten shot string using the lyman 457125 govt bullet.

Repro trapdoor or Springfield?
I have a Springfield but never shoot it. I always stick the 45-70 rounds into a reworked Danish Krag (slightly stronger than Springfield but nothing like a Ruger #1 either).

What gun you loading them for (OP)?

[brstevns]

Repro trapdoor or Springfield?
I have a Springfield but never shoot it. I always stick the 45-70 rounds into a reworked Danish Krag (slightly stronger than Springfield but nothing like a Ruger #1 either).

What gun you loading them for (OP)?

A Ruger Number 1

[KenH]

They are. For a trapdoor starting load is 9.0 @ 892 fps and max is 13.0 grs @ 1114 fps from the 44th edition lyman book. I would try either 9.0 or 10.0 grains. In the trapdoor I had, 10.0 grains of unique averaged between 855 and 857 fps for a ten shot string using the lyman 457125 govt bullet.

There's your answer since you mentioned you are looking for something in the 1000 fps range. Comfortable shooting and what I like in my 45-70's

[Michael J. Spangler]

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Noting for a 500 with unique but plenty of other powder.

My old Lyman manual shows 9-13 grains of unique for a 482 grain and 9-12 grains for a 552 grain.

[brstevns]

Thanks everyone,will give 10gr a try and see how it performs.

[JSnover]

I shot 10.0 grains of Unique under a 500 grain boolit for an entire summer and really liked it.
Lone Star rolling block.