starting point for reduced loads for 45-70

[mebe007]

ok i am wanting a starting point for reduced loads for my 1895 marlin with the lee 405 HB

first powder for reduced is unique. i have seen reports of 11grs working well

other powders on hand are IMR 4198, 3031, 4064, 4350, reloader 22, reloader 17, H110, W231. i know of these arent useable in the 45-70 but was just throwing my inventory out there.

Note: firearm is a marlin 1895 GBL w/ 18.5" bbl

[btroj]

For reduced loads you mentioned the one to start with. Unique will do fine. Of the others you mentioned I would only use the 4198 or 3031 and they are not really for what I call "reduced" loads although they can be used for loads that will reduce your shoulder to jello.

[1Shirt]

Trail Boss!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Maven]

mb007, I've been quite happy with 13gr. of Unique in my Marlin #336 and CB's up to 405gr., including the Lee 405HB: Easy on your shoulder and accurate. For more velocity (and recoil), 25 - 27gr. IMR 4198 is also good, and it will stabilize 450gr.+ CB's too.

[mattbowen]

I agree with 1shirt if you want a nice load I would try Trail boss I use 16gr under 405 and have very good accuracy at 100 yards, I am going to try it for my 500 gainers to see how they do.

[MtGun44]

Anywhere around 10-14gr of Unique will work well. NOT position sensitive, so it is
easy and accurate.

Bill

[Dframe]

Trail Boss!
1Shirt!:coffee:

What he said. Trail Boss is custom made for exactly what you're looking for.

[mebe007]

how fast does trail boss get consumed? i notice it comes in 8-9oz cans which are normally 1lb cans

[BoolitBill]

Trail Boss is very bulky and you cannot get 1lb into the standard sized containers that the other powders fit 1lb into. I am not trying to be disrespectful with this answer but, it should be 9/16th the amount of time it takes to go through a one lb can. It is bulky but you are still using X amount of grains per case. And by the way I love it for reduced 45/70 loads. My son can shoot my Marlin guide gun all day with 12 grains and a 405 grain boolit, gets about 1000fps.

[Taps]

G'day from down under,
I have used trailboss in everything from 32-20 , 44mag , 30-30 , 7-08 , 270win and 45-70. Basic rule of thumb is to fill the case to just below the base of the bullet , DO NOT COMPRESS IT ! Recoil is very light and accuracy is good. 16gr in the 45-70 has the recoil of a 222 , in my Sharps 1874 anyway. It is very bulky , 1.5kg comes in a 5 litre bottle.

Taps

[GH1]

If you go to www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm theres quite a bit of info on reduced loads using pistol powders in leverguns.
GH1

[Longwood]

I don't like using "ANY" powder that I can double charge with unless the gun can take it without it being dangerous.
I am experimenting with light loads of W860 surplus powder. I have settled at between 35 and 40 grains. I like it for a few reasons. It is fun to shoot, I can't over charge with it, it is a ball powder that meters well and it does not "STINK" as bad as the, in my opinion, over priced Trail Boss.
The guys here told me, in order to get a good burn, to use magnum primers, a booster of 3-4 grains of a fast powder and a filler to keep the powders from mixing.
The Hiwall is new and every time I go out, everyone there wants to shoot it so I have not done very much in the way of group size testing but I can say this. We don't miss our plinking targets very often!

[cowboy]

Howdy-
Have used Triple 7 ( black powder sub) with good results, also 5744. Had not tried Trail Boss yet, though I use lots of it in 45 Colt and Schofield loads. ( GREAT in the shorter Schofield with 165- 185 gr bullets, while using around 3 gr less powder than in the big Colt cases ).

[dgslyr]

I tried 12 grs of Trail Boss in my Pedersoli/Green Mountain barrel Rolling Block with Lee 405's.After I got the elevation dialed up to 300 yards on the el cheapo tang sight they went into about 5 inches.I think most 22 pistols were louder.In a 12 lbs. gun recoil was nonexistant.

[plainsman456]

I have to admit that Trail Boss is quite surprising when firing 325 grain boolits out of a Trap Door.
It seems to be close to what the sights are regulated for out to 600 yards.And my wife who is about 4foot something even shot it and she loved it.

[Prairiewolf]

I'm loading 12.5 gr TrailBoss with the 405 gr boolits, which gives around 1020 fps in both my Marlin 1895 Cowboy and my Buffalo Classic, with excellent accuracy and very pleasant to shoot.

[DLCTEX]

I like 4759 in the 45-70. Another bulky powder that I've gotten good results with behind RD 460-340 and RD 460-420 boolits, as well as a 340 gr. flat base, fired in a Guide Gun.

[405]

I too like powders similar to either 4759 or 5744 for light loads in the 45-70. Keeping the vel down to around BP levels you'll find many of these powders, especially 5744, will leave partially burned carcasses of individual granules in the bore and case. That used to bother me, but learned to ignore it. I've never found the partially kernals to affect accuracy or performance. There are many powders that will work fine. Also, powders like Rel # 7, 3031 and 4198 also perform well from fairly mild starting loads right up thru medium loads that will "get your attention" especially in that light weight gun. None of the powders mentioned seem to be hard to light. I'd avoid the slower ball powders for your application. While they may seem attractive on paper load lists, giving the highest velocities in some instances, they can be harder to light and don't lend themselves at all to the lower pressure, lower velocity starter loads.

[LVRFAN]

28.0-30.0 gr. of IMR-4198 OR AA-5744 works well for me and gives velocites in the 1300-1400 fps range.