.45 70 and IMR 4895

[Chiefs50]

I am trying to develop a "pleasant to shoot" load for my .45 70 Contender. This gun a 14" barrel and a factory muzzle brake. I was thinking of trying 44.2 grains of IMR 4895 and the LEE 350 grain bullet. How does this sound to you?

[excess650]

I think 4895 too slow burning for what you're wanting to do. IMO, you would be better off with Unique, 2400, or something no slower than AA5744.

[Chiefs50]

I know 4895 isn't ideal. I guess I was trying to get by with a powder I had on hand and could find published data for. All I have is IMR 4895 and 4064, Bullseye, Red Dot, and Lil' Gun.

[excess650]

Buy a can of Unique.

[wiljen]

I'll second the unique comment. 12gr under the Lee 350gr in the contender is like a big .22lr. It gets about 1050 fps and recoil is next to nothing. My 12 year old daughter shoots mine with that load. If you want faster, you can go up to 16gr for closer to 1250-1300fps. (16 should be considered max, if you want more speed, pick a different powder).

Wiljen

[1Shirt]

Nothing wrong with any of the suggestions or recommendations. That said, I will stay with unique for small capacity cases for hand guns, and go with 20-22 gr of 2400 w/one grain dac fill for 45-70. Pleasent to shoot, reasonable in price for qty of powder.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Chiefs50]

Just got back from the range. I had loaded up a handful of .45 70's over the weekend, using the 350 grain Lee bullet and 44.2 grains of IMR 4895, and wanted to try them out. This load is a published starting trapdoor load but using a lighter bullet than the 385 grain bullet listed. I fired five shots offhand in an effort to see what the recoil was like and whether the cheap red dot sight would hold up. Recoil was not too bad but I think I'd like something a little tamer for an "everyday" round.

I guess I will take the advice given here and pick up a can of Unique or 2400.

[Rafe Covington]

I use 3031 in my encore 18 in. 45-70 barrel for heavy loads and 5744 for low velocity loads. I usually shoot a 340 gr bullet, have never used 4895.

Rafe Covington:redneck:

[Larry Gibson]

I regularly use 38 gr 4895 with a 1 gr dacron filler under a 400 gr cast bullet to duplicate 1350 fps out of my TDs. PSI (measured with a M43 Oehler) is well within TD limitations. The dacron filler is necessary for consistent ignition. Even then there is some unburned powder grains as with 5744. The exact amount of 4895 will depend on the flavor of 4895 used. It works for me and is quite accurate and is my usual smokeless load.

I would suggest starting at 38 gr with your 4895 and bullet and work up in 1 gr increments. se the dacron filler for best results.

Larry Gibson

[Lead Fred]

I made 10 with 4895 once. I shot two of them, looked down the barrel.
Then took the others home and took them a part.
There was black hunks & my shiny barrel was soot black

[Chiefs50]

I made 10 with 4895 once. I shot two of them, looked down the barrel.
Then took the others home and took them a part.
There was black hunks & my shiny barrel was soot black

I didn't have a problem with any soot. In fact, aside from a few grains of powder the barrel was still shiny and Kroil soaked patches came out almost clean. I was surprised to say the least. It may have been the Alox/Johnson Paste Wax lube I used.

[Lead Fred]

I was using 300gr Hornady jacketed, a wad & dacron filler.
That was before I found the wonder of the 405 cast.
Which I use only Reloader 7 with. (and holy black)

[Duckiller]

Trail Boss starting loads make for very little recoil. 14 gr under Lee 350 gr and 12 gr under 405 Lee. 405 gr gives a gentle push. The 350 gives a sharper jab. This is out of a Marlin 1895 with a 26" barrel. This is reported by #2 son who fired some Cor-Bon loads off a bench and against his collar bone. He complained for two days then went camping in the desert. These starting loads are 1200- and 1000- fps and are very comfortable to shoot. Trajectory is a bit of a rainbow.

[Jared]

I use 45.0 gr of 4895 pulldown surplus powder with a 405 gr RCBS FN. My lot is a bit slower than H 4895. I get just over 1400 FPS out of my 24" 1886. Accuracy is 2-3" at 100 yards. The load leaves a little unburned powder but not much. I have a couple hundred of those rounds downrange without cleaning the barrel with no problems.

[onondaga]

I gave up on H4895 for a while with reduced loads in my .458 Win Mag. It repeatedly left an annoying powder trail down the barrel. I solved the problem with BPI Original Filler. The weight of filler used has to be added to the bullet weight for a total projectile weight when calculating load safety, but that is just a little math. The bore stays clean and powder burns completely with the use of the filler. I use a plain base bullet weighing 329 gr. It is cast from the Lee 457-340-RN-F. with BHN 14 alloy.

The BPI filler also acts as a quasi gas check for plain base bullets and I get no leading at 1610 fps. with 53.3 gr H4895 in a 104% compressed load with the BPI Original Filler. Groups open right up with more velocity. This load does NOT translate into a load for your 45-70 as case volumes are very different and filler amounts would be very different. Filler loads are calculated. Compressed loads with a granulated lightweight filler like BPI is just what H4895 needs to burn completely in reduced loads. My supplier:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=695248

I am waiting on a PB CheckMaker from Pat Marlins for this bullet so I can get past 1610 fps. I hunt deer/bear with this load and would like a little more velocity and hope to maintain accuracy with a 2000+ fps load with this bullet.The rifle groups less than 1 inch at 50 yd. now but energy drops to 1/2 ton at 200 yd. We got some big bears and I don't run very fast anymore.:kidding:

Gary

[PB Guy]

Try 9.0 grns of Unique, it works well in my Encore.

Dick R

[crabo]

Just got back from the range. I had loaded up a handful of .45 70's over the weekend, using the 350 grain Lee bullet and 44.2 grains of IMR 4895, I guess I will take the advice given here and pick up a can of Unique or 2400.

You can load 4 rounds to one using Unique instead of 4895. Your powder money will go a lot farther.

I shot some with 10 grains of Unique and it was very pleasant. I didn't shoot it on paper.

[1Shirt]

Much depends on many things. Crabo's factor is economy, and sure can't knock that!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Daniel thompson]

I want to find a load for a 500gr cast bullet for my 45/70 guide gun marlin lever action. also if i need wading what to use or where do i purches the wading?

[stubshaft]

The starting load for a 385gr boolit is 13.5gr of Unique, not that 10.0 will cause any damage.

DT most 500gr moulds are too long for a GG unless loaded singly.