Small game cast ball loads in 45/70

[jh45gun]

I posted how the 45/70 is versatile at a other site saying if it was the only caliber I could have I would be satisfied as you can shoot round ball loads in it for small game to the 500 plus grainers for about anything that walks and excellent loads inbetween with the 300 grain and on up ect. Anyway some one asked me about the round ball loads and to be honest I never used one. Anyone here have any info and loads on the subject. I figure you guys are the ones to ask. :) Jim

[w30wcf]

jh45gun,

I found that 8 grs. of Unique worked very well under a .457" Hornady round ball.
It would shoot into 1/2" @ 50 feet if I did my part. I seated the ball flush with the case mouth and put a little lube around the inside of the case neck.

w30wcf

[beagle]

I've used single, double and three ball loads in the .45/70.

M1895 Marlin (Ballard rifling)
2 - .457” Round Balls (Bumped to .459”) – 285 grains total payload
.45/70 case
12.0 grains Unique
1 - .040” Card wad
Velocity…1198 FPS
25 Yards – 100% hits on 8” X 10” target
50 Yards - 25% hits on 8 X 10” target

3 - .457” Round balls (bumped to .459”) – 427.5 grain payload
.45/70 case
12.0 grains Unique
1 - .040” Card wad
Velocity…1112 FPS
25 Yards – 100% hits on 8” X 10” target 6” pattern
50 Yards – 67% hits on 8” X 10” target

The single balls are fairly accurate although I didn't test them when I compiled this data as I was messing with multiple ball loads. Plenty of accuracy for small game. Results above for the double and tripple ball loads.

From my experiences, 50 yards is about as far as they're accurate and powerful enough to do any good. All loads tested penetrated a 2" board.

I can tell you that cranking out five three-shot loads at 25 yards on a pine board lays a lot of whoop ass out.

These were all .457" balls and I bumped them to .459" in a .459" sizer. Then, they were dipped in liquid alox and allowed to dry.

A M die was used to seat the balls and a slight crimp was applied to the top ball after seating.

I used a .458" card wad under the ball payload. This was pushed in with the first ball.

Lot of fun using and messing with these./beagle

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I load 3x457 rb's over 35gn 3031 in my Ruger No.1. Groups about 8" at 50yds but is great for wild boar & rabbits in close cover.

[dk17hmr]

Ok I'll bite.

The groups ya'll are talkin about is it a straight line group up and down or is more of a pattern?

[Johnch]

.490 RB cast out of WW run thru a .460 push thru sizer with a little Hornady spray case lube .
Lubed with a thinned LLA
Crimped in the middle lightly , sprue up
9 gr of unique , no filler
Never checked FPS

But sub 2" at 50 yds out of the Marlin and around 1" - 1 1/2" out of the H&R Handie rifle

No real recoil
My small game load
LOW noise

Johnch

[beagle]

The groups that I attained with the .45/70 were more or less of a pattern. I was using 25 yard pistol centers as a reference point and usually all rounds woul stay in the black centers.

I loaded some two ball loads in my .38-55 and it did better than the .45/70 did. One powder tested did give me vertical stringing with it.

You imagination is the limit with RB loads. I compressed sone .319 RBs in a sizer to .360" diameter and loaded three in a .38 Special case. These weigh about 51 grains each. The pattern at 25 yards was good. At 15 yards, it was awesome. This would make a great cottontail load or at even closer distance, a load that would wipe out a rattler. With these, you can load a whole cylinder full and not worry about the capsules breaking apart./beagle



Ok I'll bite.

The groups ya'll are talkin about is it a straight line group up and down or is more of a pattern?

[trk]

I'd get a good triangle at 25 yards or so with 3 in .375 Win.

[Charley]

I've used a copy of the gallary/practice military load from the 1870/1880 time frame. 20 Grains FFFg, with a .454 ball seated down in the case on the powder. A lube cookie helps. works fine out to 20 yarsd or so.

[1Shirt]

Beagles data is good, and fun, and have shot the same and variation of same in my #1. Also have had good luck and about the same results with 1,2 & 3 ball loads in 444. Agree that 50 yds is about max for either, and 25-30 is probably best. The 3 ball loads would also make a whale of a defense loading if you were inclined to keep a 45-70 or 444 in the bedroom to greet the night intruder!
Happy New Year!
1Shirt!:coffee: