Your Favorite 45-70 Load

[No_1]

Title says it all. Post your favorite 45-70 load!

[hornsurgeon]

noe 460-350-rf RD copy, ww, 46gr re7, wlr primer. this is in a marlin 1895

[btroj]

460420 plain base, 24 gr 2400. Hands down what I shoot the most.

[Baja_Traveler]

550 grain Paul Jones Creedmoor over 60 grains Swiss 1 1/2 F - as it should be...

[44 flattop]

RCBS 405gr (420grs) and 42grs 3031. 1512fps out of my 26" '86 and exits a 1/2 dozen or so elk for me.

44

[Keyston44]

Ranch Dog 425-460, 46 gr Hodgdon H322, CCI 200 Primer, Starline Brass.

Key

[Shooter]

Lyman Goulds 335 over 14 Gr. Unique and a TP wad.

[Nobade]

RCBS 459-325-FN-U over 1.9cc 10B101

I use this in cowboy silhouette to very good effect. About 1400 fps with tolerable recoil.

[TCLouis]

Nobade

What gun are you shooting the 1.9cc of 10b101 out of?

Huh, my favorite load . . .

Oops sorry was busy trying to get info on using that Milsurp Powder

Meant to weigh that out yesterday when was loading and forgot

Anyways my favorite for now is 10.5 #105 ( old Unique speed) or 23.5 Milsurp 4759.

First gives me about 1100 and the second middle 1200s if I recall correctly and I think the RD 365 grainer sized .459 with FWFWL.

[Janoosh]

A quick three:
405 Lee HB .458, 12.5 Trail Boss.
.457 Rnd ball, same Trail Boss.
405 Lee solid base, 65 grns 3F Clear Shot (bulk) compressed, card wad.
All accurate in my Navy Arms Rolling Block.

[DragoonDrake]

LEE C457-500-F over 46grs of Varget lit by a CCI LBR

[crabo]

460420 plain based boolit
AC 50/50 pure lead and WWs with C Red
40 grains of 3031
WLR primer and a tuft of dacron,
all in a Starline case 10 shots average 1475 fps from a guide gun.

[Link23]

are these safe for trapdoors?

[Larry Gibson]

This one can really dance all over the place as the particular 'level" of 45-70 load was not asked for. Might caution some who want to try any of the above to double check the load against a manual to make sure it's safe in what firearm it is intended for.

Larry Gibson

[Cimarron Red]

In single-shot rifles, C. Sharps and Browning 1885 high walls, Paul Jones Creedmoor 542 grain bullet over 71 grains of FFg Swiss. In Winchester (Miroku) 1886 lever guns, RCBS 300, 405 or 500 grain bullets -- all gas check -- 26 grains of SR-4759.

[pipehand]

460420 plain base and 25.3 grains of 2400. Leaves the barrel of my Guide Gun @ 1330fps or so.

[littlejack]

Uberti 1885 Hiwall. 522 grain Lyman Government boolit, 20-1 alloy. 70 grains of Goex 2F.
Jack

[TheGrimReaper]

Lee 405 backed by 13.5gr of Trailboss. CCI LR primer in Starline brass.

[Westwindmike]

Lee 340gr, 25.5 gr of 5744, Win primers= 1200 fps. Nice mild load.

[softpoint]

The RCBS 325 plainbase with 27 grains 5744 and a pinch of filler, and the Lee 340 gr. cast from pure lead and wrapped with 2 wraps of tracing paper, loaded with 47 gr. RL7.:coffee:

[Mark Daiute]

In my trapdoors:

20/1- lead tin. Lee 405 grain hollow based boolit. BAC lube by White Label. 22.5 grains 4759. Shells expanded with full-length expanding die boolits seated with no crimp. No wads, no fillers.

Boolits seem perfectly snug.

[Paydaypig]

Hello all, I'm new to "castboolits" and lead casting in general. My reloading experience is moderate but competent.

My friend gave me some 300 gr cast bullets that he made and I would like to know if anyone could recommend a load using varget or H1000. These are the only powders I have and I really don't know if they're compatible with 300 gr cast.

I'm shooting a Marlin 1895.

Any help would be appreciated.

paul

[725]

460420 - 30 gr 4198 & a tuft of dacron
460420 - 40 gr 3031 no filler
round ball & 9 gr Unique loaded even to the mouth

[Bodydoc447]

Hello all, I'm new to "castboolits" and lead casting in general. My reloading experience is moderate but competent.

My friend gave me some 300 gr cast bullets that he made and I would like to know if anyone could recommend a load using varget or H1000. These are the only powders I have and I really don't know if they're compatible with 300 gr cast.

I'm shooting a Marlin 1895.

Any help would be appreciated.

paul

Paul,

Try about 40 gr of Varget to start with and see how that does. Ought to be a light load so there is room to work up. Your mileage may vary, of course.

Doc

[stubshaft]

I use 46.0gr IMR 3031 behind either the RCBS 405 or RD 425 for hunting and for play I shoot the same boolits ahead of 28.0gr 2400. Lubed with Felix for the RCBS and Xlox for the RD. Both loads give exceptional accuracy and quick kills.

[zuke]

NOE 330Grain HP that's paper patched,16 grain's of Trail Boss

[hydraulic]

72 grs. Swiss 1 1/2 compressed .250, RCBS 535 gr., ACWW, Emmets lube, oatmeal box .30wad, Starline brass, Shiloh Long Range EXpress.

[TXGunNut]

Got my RD 460-350GC mould a week or so ago, finally put it all together and took my trusty Guide Gun to the range. I've tried a few GG boolits in my GG but it hasn't liked them much. That all changed today. I like the 2400 load but my rifle really likes hornsurgeon's RL7 load! :drinks:
Wasn't happy with the crimp so trimmed the cases and will tweak it tomorrow.
Thanks again, guys! :mrgreen:

[Iowa Fox]

Mine is my old 456192 over 13grains of Unique.

[hornsurgeon]

it's a fairly stout load but not max by any means. if you want to find out about penetration, find an older pine planting and shoot down the row of trees. mine went thru 4 12" pines before vearing off into the wild.

[1Shirt]

405 OHAS PB, 16-18 BH, Can. Red lube, .459, 26 gr. 2400, Dac. filler!
1Shirt!:coffeecom

[TXGunNut]

it's a fairly stout load but not max by any means. -hornsurgeon


Noticed that. :bigsmyl2: Actually it's more pleasant to shoot than some of my 330 and 405 loads and more accurate to boot. 330 load jams my thumb knuckle into my nose just as it starts grouping nicely, not a good thing for a hunting load. :veryconfu Headed out to confirm my results, trimmed the cases and used a taper crimp instead of a roll crimp today. Forgot I had the T-crimp die, wasn't happy with the light roll crimp I used yesterday.
I'm guessing velocity is around 1700-1750, ever chrono'd it in a Guide Gun, hornsurgeon? May have to dig out my old Chrony.

[TXGunNut]

Findings confirmed! Thanks hornsurgeon, your load worked great again in my rifle. Ran out of daylight "working on other projects" but found time to fire 10 quick shots, 7 out of 10 were well under 2". High shot was a called flier and the hits @ 3 o'clock were flinches, pure and simple. That's why I call the little brute "Thumper". ;) Kid shooting with his family on the next bench enjoyed the fireballs. GG with a muzzle brake puts on a good show about sundown.:-)

[Ramslammer]

G'Day
Mihec 457122 sized to .459 federal gold medal primers and 14.4 of trail boss. Pushes the rams over easy

[white eagle]

my two most accurate are
a 340 gr Accurate molds boolit w/53.0 gr 2015
440 gr Hoch nose pour w/47.0 gr.3031

[peerlesscowboy]

This one can really dance all over the place as the particular 'level" of 45-70 load was not asked for. Might caution some who want to try any of the above to double check the load against a manual to make sure it's safe in what firearm it is intended for.

Larry Gibson
My thoughts also.
The .45-70 is so versatile it's hard to recommend a "favorite" load without knowing what you want to do with it. 10 gr Unique behind a Ly 457191 makes a sweet little gopher load but I don't think I'd wanna' shoot a Grizzly bear with it?

John C. Saubak

[TXGunNut]

The .45-70 is so versatile it's hard to recommend a "favorite" load without knowing what you want to do with it.--peerless cowboy

And therein lies the beauty of this round. It can be a fun plinker or (in the right rifle) a good rifle to pack along if you decide to hunt big tough critters that like to run both ways. Could also load it to most any level in between. At one time I was developing a "Sharps" load and a "Marlin" load and they had almost nothing in common. In one I was shooting BP and big, heavy GG boolits and in the other I was shooting the most modern propellants and LeverWhatever bullets. My 45-70 Sharps turned out to be a 45-90 and I finally convinced my Marlin that it likes boolits. :)
I got two good loads from this thread, one pretty serious hunting load and another accurate and more pleasant load. Very happy with both of them and I'm making notes on a few more.

[TJF1]

350gr rd 25gr 4759 good in 3 marlins and 2 double rifles.

Terry

[blackpowder man]

My 1885 Highwall likes the Lee 500 grain as cast with 22.5 grains of SR 4759 for smokeless or 3 grains of SR 4759 under 62 grains of Goex FFg seated into the rifling. I'm amazed at the accuracy every time I shoot it. Therapy that's what it is.

[MtGun44]

My favorite is 57 gr of W748 under either a cast 405 RCBS or Rem JSP. Either shoots about
1.5" at 100, makes 1750 from my GG and Brian Pearce reports that it meets
trapdoor pressure limits (very slow powder for the cartridge). I use a mag primer.

Field tested on zebra and blue wildebeeste. One shot each, dead within 25 yds.

Bill

[StrawHat]

For hunting I really like the Lyman 457122 over a full case of blackpowder.

For everything else, either the 405 HB or the 500 grain Gov't bullet and a case of blackpowder.

These two loads work in every 45-70 I have ever owned and work for hunting as well.

[Jim]

Lyman 462560 over 50 grains of IMR 7383, LMR primers.

[Kraschenbirn]

405 OHAS PB, 16-18 BH, Can. Red lube, .459, 26 gr. 2400, Dac. filler!
1Shirt!:coffeecom


What weight does your 405 Ohaus mould drop in that "16-18 BH" alloy? I've got that same mould and it throws 442 gr. in 50/50 ww/Pb. My Pedersoli RB loves it but I've always been puzzled why a mould labled as a "45-405" would cast that much overweight.

That boolit, lubed with Emmert's, and loaded over 29.5 gr AA2015 with tuft of dacron fill is my "go-to" load for the roller. Will print 1 1/2" (or better) 100-yd groups all day and once...on a real calm morning...I put 10 rounds into just a smidge over 6" at 300M (iron sights, sitting, using X-sticks).

On BP side, my H&R Trapdoor Carbine favors the Lee 405HB, as-cast (.459) from 30-1, lubed with Emmert's, loaded over 55 gr FFg (no card wad), and lit with a Fed 215 Primer. Straight from Spence Wolf's book, I know, but why mess about reinventing the wheel?

Bill

[Hang Fire]

This one can really dance all over the place as the particular 'level" of 45-70 load was not asked for. Might caution some who want to try any of the above to double check the load against a manual to make sure it's safe in what firearm it is intended for.

Larry Gibson

Very good point.

[Hang Fire]

Lyman 457406, 465 grain Hollow point sans GC over 60 grains Graf's FFG.

The 457406 is not a OEM hollow point mold, I hollow pointed this mold.

[dlbarr]

My FAVORITE 45/70 load?

Like I can only have ONE?

Lyman 457193, 70gr 2fg Goex
RCBS 45-300-FN, 46gr 3031
Swaged 143gr wadcutter, 10gr Unique (for squirrels :mrgreen:)

[JackQuest]

Not a favorite - a development load. I have a considerable amount to WC844, pull powder for 7.62x51 (SOCOM). Preliminary load of 55.5 gr WC844 behind an RCBS 45-405, gas checked, high copper alloy - no real indication of pressure, clean burning, heavy recoil. No chrono so I can't quote muzzle velocities. This out of my Ruger "#2" custom stocked in laminate.

I also purchased a batch of IMR 4320, started with 49.0 gr and the same RCBS bullet. This is a lot dirtier, recoil is lighter, assume lower muzzle velocities. Should be able to load up to around 54 grains of powder.

[aspangler]

Try 25 gr 2400 under a tuft of Dacron and a Lee 405 gr. boolit. Trapdoor levels for pressure with about the recoil of a 20 ga. field load. My average is 1450 fps with ES of 12 fps. Very accurate in my Mosin conversion.

[hickstick_10]

32 grains of reloder 7 under the Lyman 457125 500 grain government roundnose bullet. Fired from 32 inch barrel shiloh sharps

Not traditional, but it is very very accurate.

[ColColt]

64 gr of Swiss 1.5 and Walter's .030" wad all under a Brook's "New Postell" 530 gr bullet cast 1:20 in a Browning 1885 BPCR. The Lyman 457125 is a close contender with 62 gr of Swiss 1.5, .030 wad and both with Federal 215 primers. Either will give 1-1/2" groups if I hold my mouth right.

[dh2]

405 Gr. NOE mold HP pushed to the max for Marlin with IMR4198

[plainsman456]

Been doing a lot of shooting with my Marlin 95 with several powders.
The only one that jumps out,without my notes is the ones with Trail Boss,1 is with 13.5 grains and the other is 16.5.
These are Rem brass with CCi large primers and the lead chunk is from a MM mold that throws a 325+-.
Te other powders i have shot are RL-7,H-322,IMR-4227 and some i can not think of right now.

They do cover a lot of types of rifles and all are fun to shoot.
Longest being out to 600 yards,takes a lot of windage out there.

[Shooter6br]

Target 12.5 g Unique with 350 g bullet...Hunting 52 g H322 with same bullet

[Jack Stanley]

Most of the time I use a three hundred fifty grain LBT sized at .360" and lubed with Alox . I use either a thin card wad made from a cereal box or similar material or .030" card wads . Sixteen grains of Unique into a R-P case and crimp on the forward driving band . I've been using Winchester large pistol primers with this and shooting with a seventies Vintage Marlin .

Jack

[Red Elk]

My all around load in my previous Marlin 1895 was 405 gr Speer over 52gr IMR 3031. Shot wonderful. A tad stout perhaps, but effective on elk, deer and black bear.
Now I have a newer guide gun, and a bunch of 350 gr cast and I am looking for a decent load. Big Brown Bear here, and I need something which will be final. I don't currently have any 400 gr bullets. Kinda hard to get here. The 350gr look ok...Any ideas on loads would be appreciated.
re

[dlbarr]

I have no experience with "big brown bear" but I had a 350gr load of 55gr 4198 which had a great deal of authority, to say the least. I shot that out of my 1895, btw. I can imagine your 405 + 52g of 3031 would be "stout". Don't know how big a guy you are, the 4198 load bounced me around abit. I could shoot it again but don't really want to...but then I'm on the smaller side...

[jrmartin1964]

Remington nickel-plated cases, flash holes opened to 0.096" (#41 drill, ala Spence Wolfe);
70 grains (by volume) GOEX 2Fg Black;
0.030" vegetable fibre wad, 0.460" diameter;
Lyman No.457125, cast from an older mould with square lube grooves, passed through a 0.459 diameter die (virtually no sizing) and lubed with SPG.

This combination shoots dead-on to the sights of my Springfield Model 1884 rifle.

[JimP.]

Lyman 457125 cast 500 gr bullet. 32.0 grs RL-7, filled to the top with puff-lon filler and seat the bullet to cover the grease grooves. Taper crimp to take out the case bell. JimP.

[waco]

I'm saving up for a new mold so for now it's the Lee 405 HB over 24gr SR4759.

[cephas53]

405 gr. Lee HB with 25.0 grs. 5744. Trapdoor level. Just over 1200 fps. out of my Handi rifle.

[Shooter6br]

Range work 12.5 g Unique/Universal 350 g Ranchdog . Nice and accurate 1200FPS in my Ruger No.1`

[dlbarr]

405 gr. Lee HB with 25.0 grs. 5744. Trapdoor level. Just over 1200 fps. out of my Handi rifle.

Think I'll try that powder load behind my NOE 460-405 out of my own HR. Thanks.

[cephas53]

Think I'll try that powder load behind my NOE 460-405 out of my own HR. Thanks.
FWIW, from advice of others I found a decent crimp helps for a cleaner burn with this powder. Also I experimented with using a filler, tuft of dacron, but found no advantage with it in this load.

[echo154]

My older JM 95 loved a 350 gr Hornady JSP over 53 gr of IMR-3031 …..still looking for one for my NOE 460-405 fp for a new SBL

[dlbarr]

My older JM 95 loved a 350 gr Hornady JSP over 53 gr of IMR-3031 …..still looking for one for my NOE 460-405 fp for a new SBL
Yep, mine too. That exact load was a winner.

Think I got it out of Paul Matthews' book: 40 Years with the 45/70

[Klaus]

62 grs FFg Straight Black, 520 grs Gov.Bullet ,LP primer ,Cardwad ( Milkcarton) Emmerts Lube

Klaus :p

[Lead Fred]

Ranch Dog 425gr FNGC
42gr Reloader 7
Winchester LR Primers
Starline brass
1750fps, will kill anything that walks on the planet

The Taylor Knockdown chart says the energy of a 12 gauge slug at 10 feet is a 53 on the chart
The round above measures 45 on the chart at 100 yards

[1trapper]

I'm new to the site so please be gentle on me...
It's common knowledge that most of these loads are "Group" I, II, III specific. As such, the info presented is interesting but relative!
I'm presently trying to develop loads for an "original" Winchester, 1886, in .45-70 and would be scared to death to throw some of these loads into the chamber and let fly. If anyone can steer me in that direction I'd appreciate it very much.
Thanks...

[dlbarr]

I'm new to the site so please be gentle on me...
It's common knowledge that most of these loads are "Group" I, II, III specific. As such, the info presented is interesting but relative!
I'm presently trying to develop loads for an "original" Winchester, 1886, in .45-70 and would be scared to death to throw some of these loads into the chamber and let fly. If anyone can steer me in that direction I'd appreciate it very much.
Thanks...

1trapper, get the Lyman reload manual and it should have loads that are appropriate specifically for the 1886 Winchester. Having said that, it my take a specific version of the Lyman manual that includes the 1886...if so, someone here undoubtedly knows which one.

[tomon]

21 grains of 2400 over a 378gr. RNGC cast by Burnham Bill!

[1trapper]

1trapper, get the Lyman reload manual and it should have loads that are appropriate specifically for the 1886 Winchester. Having said that, it my take a specific version of the Lyman manual that includes the 1886...if so, someone here undoubtedly knows which one.

Thanks for the input... I have the Lyman Cast Bullet book and have used it regularly. I was sort of interested if anyone had a load that worked for them in that specific rifle. IMR3031 seems to be the best powder but I was trying to avoid using up a lot of lead getting to a satisfactory load.

[Clay M]

As far as accuracy in my Ruger #1 this one:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/176802/saeco-2-cavity-magnum-bullet-mold-017-45-caliber-458-459-diameter-350-grain-flat-nose-gas-check?cm_vc=ProductFinding

I have not tried in on game but 43 grs of Rel 7 shoots really well..
I suspect it will kill fine although it doesn't have a big Mephat .I would trust it and it is one of the more accurate cast bullets I have shot in the .45/70.No problem in short throated rifles.

[dlbarr]

Thanks for the input... I have the Lyman Cast Bullet book and have used it regularly. I was sort of interested if anyone had a load that worked for them in that specific rifle. IMR3031 seems to be the best powder but I was trying to avoid using up a lot of lead getting to a satisfactory load.

OK, well as to 3031, I have used experimented with 45-50gr behind 350gr FN bullet; somewhere in the 45gr range behind a 405 FN. Both these loads out of my HandRifle and my 1895 Marlin shot very respectably.

But, granted, I don't have a 1886 Win so I couldn't speak to that...

[Clay M]

I have had good luck with IMR 3031..but I seem to have more luck with H4895 and Rel 7 in most of my .45/70's
That is my Ruger #1 and my two 86 repors..

[cajun shooter]

RCBS 500 BPS mold drops at 515 grains .460 with my alloy, sized at .459 62.4 gr. Olde Enysford load compressed .175 and use a .30 Walters wad. Use a Lyman taper crimp die to run neck from .480 to .477 and loaded into an annealed Starline case. Lubed with NASA lube that has Carnauba Flakes added.

[oscarflytyer]

Trapdoor safe load - very

38.5 grns IMR 3031 pushing Lee 405 HB of WW + 2% tin at about ~1350 fps in Marlin 1895. Very gentle on my rebuilt shoulder and thumps the snot outta a deer out to 100 yds! Straight outta Waters' Pet Loads

[robtattoo]

510gn Hunters Supply creedmore profile boolit over 25gn of AA5744. Hornady brass & Wolf large rifle primers. Gives me 1235 (+/-) out of a 30" Uberti High Wall. 1½ groups at 100yds & not too stout on the shoulder.

[tdoyka]

a 405gr fbfn seated atop 35.0gr of h4198. it goes roughly 1400fps and it doesn't kick much at all. the 45-70 handi-rifle with a meuller red dot scope gets around 1 1/2" at 50 yards, plently for my type of hunting.

[HPT]

66 gr Swiss 1.5 FG, .060 poly wad, BR2 primer, 530 gr BACO Creedmore



149396

[johnson1942]

37 grains of relaoder 7. 60 thousands thick poly or fiber wad. a 450 grain swaged by me .451 bullet. true round nose like a 45 roundball cut in half. deep cupped base with a strong lip. dry wrapped with number 9 all wood fiber paper, no lube. shoots perfectly in a 1/22 gain twist smith barrel in my cpa 44 and 1/2. and my buffalo 1/20 twist classic. no need for anything else. crimped lightly.

[rfd]

with black powder and lead/tin boolits, the load data depends on many factors starting and ending with the rifle, and nothing about anyone else's load will or should matter.

my current main rifle load (pedi rolling block) is a 459525m3 523 grain boolit that's gato dip lubed, 66.20 grains of swiss 1-1/2, one .025" milk carton wad, two .002" news wads, ,035" compression (with milk wad), fed 210 primer, thumbed-in boollit (zero neck tension of a fire formed case). but that shouldn't matter much to anyone but my rifle and me. :cool:

[FergusonTO35]

Gents, I have a 22" barrel 1895 and a bunch of Lee 457-340-RF cast up. I would like to get a consistent 1500 fps and decent accuracy. Powders I have include SR4759, Reloader 7, Hodgdon 4198, IMR 8208XBR, and IMR 4895. Any suggested loads out there?

[John Boy]

Post your favorite 45-70 load!

!4 out of 25 bullets in the ragged hole ... 70gr Goex Ctg - Lyman 457132, COWW + 0.5% Tin - Br 2 primer & 1/8"felt wad

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd220/Meadowmucker/Targets/LymanPostell100Yds.jpg (http://s222.photobucket.com/user/Meadowmucker/media/Targets/LymanPostell100Yds.jpg.html)