Need some advice for 45/70 H&R Handi rifle.

[PhilB]

I ordered a standard Handi-Rifle(as opposed to a Buffalo Classic) to have a little backyard fun with my nephews. Looking at getting a 340gr or 405gr Lee bullet mold as soon as I can find one in stock. Will there be problems shooting sub-sonic loads using pistol powders like Unique or Red Dot with bullets of this weight? I want my nephews introduction to the 45/70 to be fun and not painful. I ask about pistol powders because I have those on hand and right now any reloading components are scarce. This gun is only going to be used for plinking at paper or water filled milk jugs from 25-100yrds as that is the max distance available at the ranges in my yard. I already have a Handi-Rifle in .357 and my nephews love it. Sub-sonic loads in it are accurate and about the same noise level as a .22 rifle. Any advice and help would be greatly appreciated as this is my first 45/70.

[wgr]

check lymans cast boolit manul. i think you will find what you need

[ReloaderEd]

i dont understand the rifle you have now will do all you want.
I know you do reload for it too.

The 45/70 can be down loaded. You need a light .458 diameter bullet plain base. 3 to 5 grains of bullseye will do the job. Use dacron filler over the powder charge to hold the powder back in the case. Maybe a 3/4" square 1/2" thick. This helps accuracey. For hunting I use the 300gr rcbs gc bullet, lr primer and 38 grs of imr3031 powxer. Also a dacron filler. In an 1884 trapdoor springfield. Good luck. Be safe

[Hyphenated]

Yes you can use 13gr of Unique with the 340gr or 405gr boolit. You don't need a filler. As the boys get comfortable shooting that load you can add powder until you reach 17grs. When the boys have mastered the Unique loads and it's time to go hunting, use either boolit over 25grs of 2400. Once again no filler needed. Good luck and have fun.

[PhilB]

Yes you can use 13gr of Unique with the 340gr or 405gr boolit. You don't need a filler. As the boys get comfortable shooting that load you can add powder until you reach 17grs. When the boys have mastered the Unique loads and it's time to go hunting, use either boolit over 25grs of 2400. Once again no filler needed. Good luck and have fun.

Sounds good but you can't hunt much but varmits with the 45/70 here in Indiana. For deer hunting the max legal case length is 1.8in. I did read where an Indiana hunter trimmed 45/70 cases to 1.8in and loaded the round to the same overall cartridge length. He also carried machinist rule in his truck as well as a letter from the DNR stating that 45/70 was legal if trimmed to max legal length. That was just in case he ran into a game warden.

[Texantothecore]

Try a .457 roundball with 25 grains of BP topped with corn meal filler. A real hoot and cheap to shoot, little recoil and accurate.