45-70 BFR Hornady 325 FTX load data

[mcal762]

Hello,

picked up a box of the Hornady 325gr FTX bullets this weekend and was wondering if anyone has any accurate load data this bullet.

shooting the 7.5" barrel BFR with 2x leupold scope.

Thanks..

[Ramjet-SS]

Trim your cases to 2.040 you must do this with these bullets.

Due to the longer ogive it is critical that cartridge cases be trimmed to the length specified.

Work up slow little at a time paying attention to pressure signs.

Marlin level loads starting at

IMR 4198 is starting 40.5 ending at 47.9 grains

H4198 is starting at 42.0 grains ending 47.9 grains

[mcal762]

Does this overall case length still matter if using it in a revolver, BFR?

[Ramjet-SS]

I would follow the recommendations regardless of the firearm. Trimming is not going to hurt other loads really all reloads have to be worked up to the optimal and safe loads.

[mcal762]

Sounds good, will give it a try this week.

[mcal762]

Do you know the pressure on a IMR 4198 47.9gr load?
I'm guess is safe for the BFR?


Took this from the Hodgon webpage for Modern Rifles:
IMR Powder IMR 4198 Bullet Diameter .458"
C.O.L. 2.650"
Starting Load Grains 50.0 Velocity (ft/s) 2,149 Pressure 37,000 CUP
Maximum Load Grains 54.0C Velocity (ft/s) 2,292 Pressure 44,100 CUP

[Ramjet-SS]

Marlin level loads

[mcal762]

Started out with 45.0 gr of IMR 4198 and cci 200 hope to test today...

[mcal762]

Range report:

325gr FTX 45.0 4198 cci 200 1/2 group at 50 yds!!!
awesome load!!!!

Moderate/strong recoil but not painful.
will chrony next time..

[mcal762]

The 45.0 gr 4198 loads produced 1450fps.. Very impressive load! Found the slug in the sand pile and it expanded very well, not sure how it would expand on a deer.

[Cornbread]

They expand really well on deer, especially in the Marlin level loads out of a 45-70. Depending on how fast you push them the exit wound you can almost put a fist in at 60 yards. It imparts enough energy to the deer to make a 200lb Montana whitetail do a sort of sideways cartwheel and they don't move after that. I don't use anything but cast anymore but I have in the past shot some really nice bucks with ftx bullets out of my Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70. You don't have to worry about expansion but choose your shot carefully if you don't want a ton of meat damage.

I have not used the in my 7.5" BFR though but from past experience in it with a very short rifle I would say so long as your MV is in Marlin level territory you should have no issues.

[mcal762]

Most of my shots will be 50yds or less so I'm pretty sure the ftx at 1450fps will take care of any deer. I also have some 405 cast loaded with 2400 that shoot very well 1275fps out of those.

Question: where do you aim with a cast vs a ftx/sp bullets?

thanks...

[Cornbread]

For me personally if I use hard cast I aim to break one or both of the shoulders on any big game.

With soft nosed cast(annealed nose 50:50 or BruceB's double pour method with nearly pure lead and COWW) or FTX bullets I try to make sure I am behind the shoulders and through both lungs but well forward of the liver.

In my head when I shoot I look to go one inch behind the shoulder crease. But in reality it may be more or less than an inch I've never measured. I just put the sights on the crease and then move back what I feel is an inch and squeeze.

Hard cast through that area kills them too but they can sometimes go a little ways. With hard cast since I get no expansion I shoot to break the shoulders. Not much meat damage as you get a clean pass through but you will have to clean up some bone pieces etc.

I haven't eaten store bought meat in many years now so what I am shooting for is quickest kill but with minimum meat damage. At your estimated shot distance average of 50 yards or less both of your loads will kill any game in North America, you should have no problems dropping a whitetail with those loads no matter how big a buck it is.

[mcal762]

Makes sense to me with the Hard cast and that was my plan was to aim for the shoulders... My plan is to hunt with the 405gr cast bullet at 1275 fps.. that bullet is rolling like a freight train and I would suspect not much would stop it.. I'm looking forward to hunting season... I really hope to squeeze the trigger on a deer with this pistol..

have you done the poor man's trigger job... I took one leg off and the trigger is really light now about 3lb or just a hair less.. super nice! took less thank 5 minutes..

[Ramjet-SS]

I shoot all broadside deer lower third right behind the near leg I try and wait for that deer to step that near leg forward.

I do do not shoot deer through the shoulders as the mess and ruined meat is horrendous.

I have never ever lost any deer I shot using this method in fact I cannot think of one that went more than 50 yards. You punch and disrupt the boiler room deer will expire very quickly. The large WFN or LFN me plat will push allot of tissue out of the way and destroy it as well as exiting the off side letting the air out so to speak. The number of deer I have taken in my lifetime is over 175 deer.

[mcal762]

has anyone put the Hogue rubber grip on your BFR? I saw that you can use the one for the super black hawk?

[Cornbread]

If you look up those grips on Amazon there are a couple of reviews saying they fit on a BFR. I have not personally tried it though.

[mcal762]

yeah there was a review on Midway where a guy put them on his BFR and really like them and it fit good.

[mcal762]

So I ordered a Hogue super black hawk grip for my BFR and its fits right on with no modes or trimming.. its about 99% fit, just the back strap has about 1/16th that isn't flush but outside of that it fits good. makes the gun feel better in your hand.. figured for $20 its was worth a try...

[lar45]

I put a Houge Mono Grip on my 475 BFR, but I had to dremil the hard plastic insert some to get it to fit. This was awhile ago, so maybe the new ones are inletted differently.

Here is a pic showing the difference in the grip frames right behind the trigger gaurd.
150094

Here it is with the Mono-Grip on.
150095

[bosterr]

[QUOTE=mcal762;3389521]So I ordered a Hogue super black hawk grip for my BFR and its fits right on with no modes or trimming.. its about 99% fit, just the back strap has about 1/16th that isn't flush but outside of that it fits good. makes the gun feel better in your hand.. figured for $20 its was worth a try...[/QUOT

mcal762... Research told me that "JT" serial numbered BFRs have different grip frames than previously built guns. I tried a Hogue rubber grip for a round trigger guard SBH and it came up way short of fitting my JT gun. Magnum Research told me Hogue rubber was discontinued a while back and all that was available is the Hogue wood, which is what I ended up with for $80+., but they are pretty large even for my extra large hands. If you don't mind me asking, what is the 2 letter serial number prefix of you BFR? And did you get a SBH Hogue rubber grip for a square trigger guard SBH? My experience with Hogue rubber vs. wood for S&W revolvers is that their rubber are somewhat thinner than the wood. Sorry about the hi-jack.

[44man]

All of mine are JT and came with Uncle Mikes grips, and have a small gap behind the guard. Looks like they were for a SBH. BH grips will not fit. I use Pachmeyer signature grips on the SBH with the square guard. I have not tried them on my BFR yet to see if they fit.
OK, tried and it looks like they will, I can't seat them fully because I have sling studs on the bottom and the hole in the rubber does not line up.

[mcal762]

Hogue Monogrip Grips Ruger Super Blackhawk Rubber Black Hogue #:84000


the serial on my BFR starts with BR

I bought the grip from Midwayusa
Product #: 287993 Hogue#:84000 UPC#:743108840009