Thanks Longbow. Appreciate the clarification.
I stop were elmer Keith stoped was a good place to stop on the 45-70 look up elmer Keith pumpkin rolling. I will even give you some help http://www.elmerkeithshoot.org/GA/
I don't want to hijack the thread but I recently got a 45/70 Handi rifle. It came with 40 rounds loaded with 405's. I am going to pull them and reload with Varget (cuz that's what I got). I would like to load them to about 1100 fps to 1200 fps or even slower. Will Varget even burn with a light load like that? Will a tighter crimp help get a complete burn?
I'd recommend wearing a life jacket to absorb recoil with a 400gr bullet @ 2000fps. A cheap way to try is to buy a box of Buffalo Bore ammo. My 1895 kicks about like a 12 gauge slug gun with those. After the second shot, you'll be wishing the rifle weighted more. They are comfortable in an acquaintance's Sharps replica.
When I was buying reloading supplies for my soon-to-order 45-70 I found myself in line with a guy who was into cast bullet cartridge shooting. We discussed the different Marlin models, and he didn't recommend the cowboy model for the hunter or casual shooter. His explanation was the straight grip butt stock made the shooter pull the butt into his shoulder with the little finger in the lever loop. He said after a few shots his finger got tender, he didn't pull the rifle tight enough against his shoulder, and it got a "running start" in recoil. I followed his advice and ordered a standard rifle.
Last edited by Norske; 01-28-2019 at 10:36 AM.
I guess it all boils down to: Yep, you can get a 405 up to 2000 fps, but the question is, do you have a level one, two or three shoulder? If you really want 2000 fps, the you might think about a 300gr boolit. I think you will find that 1600 fps is all you will want. You want to quit shooting thinking "that was fun" instead of "where are the pain killers".
Whats the saying "Good choices come from experience, experience comes from bad choices"??? Have fun with your rifle.
IT AINT what ya shoot--its how ya shoot it. NONE of us are as smart as ALL of us!
If you start shooting at 2000 fps, don't be surprised when the magazine tube starts backing out of the receiver.
The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
John Taylor - "African Rifles and Cartridges"
Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!
Recoil will not be your friend with that desired velocity. Remington's express load for that bullet weight is rated for 1330fps. TRy to match that first to check your accuracy. You may find you don't need the other 700fps.
I Cast my Boolits, Therefore I am Happy.
Bona Fide member of the Jeff Brown Hunt Club
My take on the OP not posting more is that he is probably discouraged by the amount of people telling him that it is a pretty stout load. Some people are more sensitive and get embarrassed or get hurt when they may do a faux pas. (Which is what it kind of seems that the OP was) I think we should give him some time to lick his wounds. With all due respect to him and all.
How in the Sam Hill is simply asking for a recommendation on a specific SAFE load for the stated parameters a faux pas??????? Yes it's going to kick. If it is more than the OP wants he simply won't load anymore. The faux pas's came from people that had opinions but lacked any facts. The OP has zero wounds to lick...…………………………...unlike some others.
Last edited by M-Tecs; 02-02-2019 at 04:34 AM.
I should have worded it differently. I think that some of the feed back may have made the op feel like it was a faux pas. I meant it to imply that maybe we should be a bit more sensitive to a question like that instead of piling on. Obviously I am some form of fool for saying so.
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |