in need of loads for 300gr and 400gr for 45-70

[mooseman1]

i'm new to loading cast ,i have rcbs 300 & 400 grain GC molds as well as a 330hp and a night owl 500gr ,i use reloader & imr powders on my jacked loads ,but i'm wanting to know if i can use them on my cast and how much for a plinking load (IE Reloader 7 ) in the 400 and 500 grain .
i'm reading alot about the unique loads anywhere from 16gr and down ,but i'm new and don't want too screw up my almost new marlin SBL.

[NickSS]

I have never used reloader 7 but have used a lot of AA 5744 and IMR 4198 as well as unique. I believe that reloader 7 is similar in burning speed to these powders but I am not positive. Personally my go to smokeless powder in the 45-70 is AA 5744 and between 25 and 30 gr of it makes for a good light lad with both bullet weights you list. You really do not need gas checks for these light loads if your rifle will shoot them accurately. I have found that my three marlins like bullets sized to .459".

[btroj]

For an easy shooting load try 2400. I like 22 to 24 grains with a 405 grain bullet.
Reloader 7 will certainly work but I don't know how slow you can go with it. For a 1500fps load or faster the reloaded 7 would be excellent.
The 5744 Nick mentioned would also be a good choice. Another good option is Trailboss. As long as you don't compress it Trailboss will work fine for low velocity loads. It also has the advantage of not being able to be double charged as it is too bulky.
45-70 is easy to load for. Biggest problem is deciding what velocity range you want then picking a powder that works well in that application. I use vert different powders for gu ting as opposed to plinking loads.

[TCLouis]

The RCBS 300 grain GC boolit comes in at 325 grains for me with GC, lube and my alloy.

Lyman 3rd edition listing with 1/2 grain Dacron wad with Unique
These are listed as 1886/Marlin loads


457122 (322 grain PB boolit)

9.5 963

14.5 1295 (24,400 CUP)


447193 420 PB boolit 1/2 grain Dacron wad

11.0 1006

13.5 1163 (27200 CUP)

[pls1911]

GOOD choice of bullets, I would add a Ranch dog 350 when you can.
Don't try to go slow with Reloader 7... use unique or 2400.
the 24 grain /2400 load suggested above works fine.

Unique at 12 grains for either bullet will provide hours of fun and remains plenty for deer under 50 yards, and it's easy on your gun and your body.

40-42 grains of Reloader 7 for either bullet works fine, but won't be as much fun for an afternoon shoot.
Even to 300 grainer will penetrate though 46" of Texas pig, starting at either end.

You'll do fine if you make sure your bullets are not less than .459, gas checked , and hard .

[bigted]

i'm new to loading cast ,i have rcbs 300 & 400 grain GC molds ,i use reloader powders on my jacked loads ,but i'm wanting to know if i can use them on my cast and how much for a plinking load (IE Reloader 7 ) in the 300 and 400 grain .
i'm reading alot about the unique loads anywhere from 16gr and down ,but i'm new and don't want too screw up my almost new marlin SBL.



:drinks:congrats on your "sbl" i just brought one home and i like this rifle better then any marlin ive ever owned...7 last count...most of these gone in trade n such.

i find this rifle to be sweet no matter what i feed it but a couple of loads stand out as sledgehammers for hunting.

500gr rcbs 45-500mould boolit
42gr 3031 [imr]
fed lr primer
rem case
equals 1450 fps and what a thumper

lyman 400gr 457643 mould boolit
49gr 3031[imr]
fed lr primer
rem case
equals around 1700fps...another thumper

my favorite load is
the rcbs 500gr 45-500 mould boolit
25gr 4227[imr]
fed lr primer
rem case
1235fps and what a dream to shoot

moose on table load
horn 350fp j-words
41gr rl-7
fed lr primer
rem case
around 1600fps and at 150 yds it kia moose in their tracks...drt!

you will have fun with this rifle and i know of no other lever that is so comfy to shoot at least for this long armed galoot

mine wears a 2 - 7 power leo scope, has a limbsaver slip on for length, and the furnished hammer extension for using a scope. the closest i came to scope ring eye was the rcbs 500gr load that stepped out at 1450fps. this load in this lite gun is a real thumper but a ton of fun every once in awhile. it should be minute of grizz if one stepped out being all snarly n such.

have fun and report back with your success and failure if god forbid you should experience this...none of us has ever yet to experience this phonemonem but should be able to slink along with you should this ever happen to ya...lol:roll:

[peerlesscowboy]

i'm new to loading cast ,i have rcbs 300 & 400 grain GC molds ,i use reloader powders on my jacked loads ,but i'm wanting to know if i can use them on my cast and how much for a plinking load (IE Reloader 7 ) in the 300 and 400 grain .
i'm reading alot about the unique loads anywhere from 16gr and down ,but i'm new and don't want too screw up my almost new marlin SBL.
My pet loads for these two RCBS bullets are;

45-300-FN, sized (459) 310gr cast from Ly #2, 36 gr IMR4198 topped with 1.9cc cornmeal, av vel 1789 fps.

45-405-FN, sized (459) 405gr .........".............., 48 gr IMR3031, av vel 1735 fps

Once the bullets are seated these loads will look indistinguishable so you'll want some foolproof method of telling them apart. I use CCI 200 (silver) primers in the 300s & Rem 9 1/2 (bronze) primers in the 405s for that reason.
Reloder 7 is a good powder for full power loads in this rifle but I think 4198 is better for reduced loads while 10 gr Unique w/std pistol primer is the "plinker" load.

John C. Saubak

[GP100man]

The 2400 load in btroj`s post no.3 do you need 1/2gr. dacron !!!

Or will it go by itself under a 300gr boolit ????

[btroj]

I do not use a filler in anything these days. I have not used it with as light as a 300 gr bullet but would have no problem using it with no filler.
I do not find 2400 to be very position sensitive. I use 17 gr in 30-30 and 18-22 in 30-06 with no filler. It seems to go just fine, accuracy is all I can ask for.

Give 2400 a try, it is the best overall cast bullet powder for me.

Brad

[mattbowen]

+1 for what btroj said, I shoot 405 and 340 and am using 24gr. of 2400 with both and am impressed with the accuracy (I can;t wait to try it on game). I was using 16.2 gr of trailboss with good results but found out that 2400 produced lower pressures so I changed (I don't like pressure).

[GP100man]

Thanks Fellers !!!

Been using 2400 in my 06 loads , just did`nt know if it needed to be kept next to the primer or not .

[mooseman1]

I did get a 500gr night owl mold for it as well as a lyman 330hp . I haven't gottin around to trying the 500gr yet.


:drinks:congrats on your "sbl" i just brought one home and i like this rifle better then any marlin ive ever owned...7 last count...most of these gone in trade n such.

i find this rifle to be sweet no matter what i feed it but a couple of loads stand out as sledgehammers for hunting.

500gr rcbs 45-500mould boolit
42gr 3031 [imr]
fed lr primer
rem case
equals 1450 fps and what a thumper

lyman 400gr 457643 mould boolit
49gr 3031[imr]
fed lr primer
rem case
equals around 1700fps...another thumper

my favorite load is
the rcbs 500gr 45-500 mould boolit
25gr 4227[imr]
fed lr primer
rem case
1235fps and what a dream to shoot

moose on table load
horn 350fp j-words
41gr rl-7
fed lr primer
rem case
around 1600fps and at 150 yds it kia moose in their tracks...drt!

you will have fun with this rifle and i know of no other lever that is so comfy to shoot at least for this long armed galoot

mine wears a 2 - 7 power leo scope, has a limbsaver slip on for length, and the furnished hammer extension for using a scope. the closest i came to scope ring eye was the rcbs 500gr load that stepped out at 1450fps. this load in this lite gun is a real thumper but a ton of fun every once in awhile. it should be minute of grizz if one stepped out being all snarly n such.

have fun and report back with your success and failure if god forbid you should experience this...none of us has ever yet to experience this phonemonem but should be able to slink along with you should this ever happen to ya...lol:roll: