45-70 load question

[Andrew Mason]

So, I got from a friend of mine several boxes of old 45-70 ammo
Some of it is reloaded.
There is a label on the box,
The recipe is a
300 grain Sierra jacketed soft point,
42 grains of IMR-3031
CCI 200 primer

Is this a "hot" 45-70 load? Or is this a load that will be safe in any 45-70?
I have another friend with a VERY old Remington rolling block that we would like to shoot.

Thank you

[waksupi]

I wouldn't shoot it. You don't know if the same cartridges are in the boxes as labeled. Bad ju-ju.

[John Allen]

Pull it apart and use the components. I would not shoot someones reloads. you just never know.

[oldred]

What he said! Shooting unknown reloaded ammo is just flat out dangerous in any gun ESPECIALLY in a firearm of questionable strength, don't do it.

[Le Loup Solitaire]

To answer your original question; 42 grains of 3031 behind a 300 grain bullet is not a hot load. It is moderate. I would NOT however shoot it in just anything. An 1886 (Win) in good shape, a win High Wall in good shape, a modern Marlin and several others, especially if checked out by a gunsmith, would handle that loading. NOt a trapdoor or other vintage/older firearm models. I would follow Waksupi's advice and not shoot the stuff...use a good bullet puller and take down the components...especially the powder. Use the components over (start with a powder that you know and are sure of and a good loading manual and that way you can be sure of what you have loaded. Its better to be safe than sorry. LLS

[wool1]

Powder is quite a bit cheaper than a new rifle if the unknown reloads are incorrectly loaded. I wouldn't risk one of my rifles for the little time it would take to pull the bullets and recharge with your powder load. Just pull the decamping pin if you want to use the primers installed, resize the necks, charge and reseat the bullet.....then you know.

[Andrew Mason]

Okay,
I will pull the bullets and re-use some of the components
Thank you.

[mdevlin53]

As someone stated you dont know if the same loads are in the box so i would be careful with the powder. I am not sure you can tell by looking at it what it is. it might be 3031 or it could be something different. caution is the word here.

['74 sharps]

I only shoot my reloads, or those of a few folks I trust. I would never pick up a round I found at a range and shoot it. Hard telling what the load is.