45-70 300 & 350gr Unique/2400 loads

[mcal762]

Hello all,
Been looking around the threads and figured I throw this one out there.

Looking for some load data for 300 and 350gr Cast or Jacketed bullets using Unique or 2400 powder; loads will be for practice as well as whitetail deer and hogs out to 100yds, velocity range 1400-1500fps desired.

These loads will be shot through a Marlin 1895ss and Magnum Research BFR.

Thanks,
Mcal

[Edward]

My Marlin 1895 likes 22 grain 2400 and a 1/2 grain dacron (fluffed) under a NOE .460- 350gr FN .With that load cross hair @ 100yds and bottom post @ 200yd dead on . The scope is a Leupold 2x7 and the load is deadly /pleasant to shoot all day long ! If unsure of filler read Larry Gibsons sticky on fillers .

[mcal762]

do you know what velocity your getting out of that load? I use dacron (fluff) on all of my 2400 loads for 45-70.. there are some folks that use it and others don't..

25.0 gr 2400 and 405gr with CCi 300 is a good load. 1400fps in Marling and 1250fps in BFR.

[tsubaki]

There is too much varying data for me to put here, especially with my fumble fingers trying to type.
Get Loadbooks USA for the 45-70.
I have the 2000 edition, the new edition should have many more.
My 2000 edition has 3 levels using Sierra's 300gr HP with 2400.
It also has Lyman cast data using their 293gr and 322gr with Unique and 2400.
It also has RCBS cast data using their 300gr with 2400.
It also has Alliant data using a 300gr and 350gr with 2400.

[NSB]

In several (like six or seven) different 45-70 guns, I've never gotten the "lighter" 300-350g bullets to shoot as well as the 400+ grain bullets. My favorite load has been 24-25g of 2400 powder. It's easy on the shooter, deadly on deer, and very, very accurate. It's pretty hard to beat.

[mcal762]

my Marlin and BFR like the 405gr bullets with 25gr of 2400, I just have a lot of 305gr cast and 350g bullets that I need to shoot up. so was looking for loads to burn some powder and do some practicing and if they prove accurate enough take to the woods..

[NSB]

my Marlin and BFR like the 405gr bullets with 25gr of 2400, I just have a lot of 305gr cast and 350g bullets that I need to shoot up. so was looking for loads to burn some powder and do some practicing and if they prove accurate enough take to the woods..

Unique or 2400 are great choices for any bullet weight in this caliber.

[fredj338]

I would not use a jacketed bullet with pistol powder charges but I shot a bunch of 300gr over 8gr of unique with an Dacron wad. Like 45colt soft.

[tsubaki]

One of the Lyman loads with Unique and their 293gr #457191 is 12.0gr (1200fps) to 15.0gr (1416fps), each using a 1/2gr Polyester fiber wad 5/8" square by 1/4" thick over the powder.
The same bullet and wad combination using 2400 was 24.4gr (1524fps) to 30.5gr (1842fps).

An RCBS load with their 311gr 45-300-FN using 2400 is 27.0gr (1538fps) to 29.0gr (1655fps)

[mcal762]

I've shot 30gr of 2400 with a 300jhp and its produced 1870 fps from the Marlin and 1550fps from the BFR. Not a bad load at all.

[Oklahoma Rebel]

I didn't realize that you could get those kind of speeds (1500fps+) with the faster powders, without going over pressure, that's a 50% savings in powder!

[pls1911]

As stated in the prior posts, 24-26 grains of 2400 + a wisp of dacron with properly sized RCBS or NOE/RanchDog 300-405 bullets have provided me 1400-1550 fps in Marlins, Ruger #1s, Browning 1888, Remington Rollers, and Sharps.
Accurate and easy on the shoulder, these loads are deadly on my usual targets... pigs and limestone rocks.

However, they are uncomfortable in a TC contender pistol, a Ruger #3, or lighter Handi rifle.

[mcal762]

pls1911,
I use the 25.0 gr 2400 and the 405gr load with a cci 300 (dacron fluff) in the 7.5" BFR and it produces 1250 fps avg. recoils isn't bad but you will defiantly know when the hammer falls! It produces about 1.5" at 50yds consistently. I've never kill anything with it but I did shoot a deer this year with a 300gr JHP over blue dot at 1375fps.

I loaded some Lee 405gr FPHB with 16.3 of Unique with CCI 300 (No Dacron) and these produced around 1.75" at 50 yds 1150 fps. (BFR) seems like a good load for Deer or Hogs out to 50yds.

[mcal762]

Shot some 405gr lee FPHB .459 with 16.3 gr of unique through my BFR 7.5" and had them tumble at 50yds.. any ideas why. Velocity is 1140fps..

[Butchman205]

Shot some 405gr lee FPHB .459 with 16.3 gr of unique through my BFR 7.5" and had them tumble at 50yds.. any ideas why. Velocity is 1140fps..

I’d recommend slugging the barrel. I’ve had several friends tell me they had the same results with .458 JHP bullets. One friend said his would tumble unless he sized his cast powder coated boolits at .460-.461.

[mehavey]

350gr cast & Unique ("Brush Gun"):
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...=1#post5502496
My older Lyman/45th manual lists 385 cast/10-14gr Unique for reference

[8x33]

My favorite load is 12 grs. Unique behind a 350 grs. cupper plated boolit,
shoots excellent at ranges up to 100 Meters with my Pedersoli-Sharps, no filler.

[mcal762]

I think some bullets tumble because of the lower velocity and short pistol barrel. Not enough spin on the bullet to stabilize. Over 1250fps in the 7.5 barrel no issues

[mehavey]

Shot some 405gr lee FPHB .459 with 16.3 gr of unique through my BFR 7.5"
and had them tumble at 50yds.. any ideas why. Velocity is 1140fps..

That's more than enough velocity, and w/ a BFR twist of 14, should also be more than enough spin.
(`85 Marlin is 1-20 and does just fine with that weight bullet/velocity)

How hard ? (may be too hard)
(Also... the BFR may not like hollow base at that ~21kpsi pressure)

[robg]

i use 24g 2400 with a 1/4 sheet of toilet paper as a filler with a 350g lead boolit and 28g with a 300g jacketed boolit.accurate and pleasant to shoot