Load data for Contender 45-70 carbine

[muta4warrior]

I picked up a 16" barreled Contender in 45-70 Government a while ago and want to load for it, we thinking about making some nice soft to mild shooting loads. Anyone have ideas on a load that will fit that bill? I have a bunch of 405grn cast to use.

[Winger Ed.]

I use the 405 that comes out more nearly 420.

Just use the trapdoor data in the Lyman book, and stay towards the left side of them.
They work, and are not so punishing to shoot.

[Conditor22]

around 12 gr trail boss is nice

[modified5]

70 grains of black in my contender handgun is a lot of fun to shoot and not punishing at all.

[Groo]

Groo here
Unless you have an ssk barrel ,, stick with trapdoor level loads.
A very good load is the federal 300 gr load for deer.
PS ssk uses a longer throat allowing the use of longer loaded rounds[aka 500 gr Hornidy 458 bullets crimped in the groove..

[Hickory]

I would consider a 300 gr. boolit because the Contender carbine will be a kicker even with the lighter boolit.

[arlon]

I just got a 10" 45-70 barrel with a nice 2.5x TC scope attached. I'm trying to figure out if I really want to keep and shoot the thing. It's a pretty heavy barrel and ported. I have a bunch of 45-70 loaded with a real light load of red dot (9 grains I think but not positive) and the Lee 405 hb bullet. They were fun to shoot in a rifle, might be ok in the TC. At least your 16" barrel has a little more weight.