45-70 with rl 7 and 420 gr wlngc

[Soulrebel0831]

I worked up a load for my Henry 45-70 lever gun. I started my ladder at 45.0 gr and ended at 48.0 gr. The 48.0 was by far the most accurate load. My average velocity from four shots was 1886 fps. I do not get flattened primers or sticky extraction. I’ve been reading about this bullet and powder combination and people aren’t using that much rl 7 in their lever guns. Is this a safe charge for this combination? Long time reader first time poster.
315887

[HWooldridge]

I use RL7 in many of my loads, including the 45-70. I think you are fine at this combination.

It’s hard to get a dangerous overload with RL7 because it’s bulky and fills the case. I hear more complaints that velocities are typically lower than with other powders.

[gc45]

Once used R7 in my Browning 4570 but not to the velocity mentioned. I found it to be very accurate; your recoil must be most uncomfortable.

[Sgt H]

What is the purpose of the loads? I am sure those are rather unpleasant in the recoil department. I suspect your 48 grain load was the most accurate as at that level you are just getting up to the 25,000-28,000 psi single base powders need to burn efficiently. If you want something slower to lower the recoil RL7, 4198 or other single base in that burn rate are not going to give good performance with respect to ES/SD numbers. Double base powders will perform much better at lower pressures/velocities. I have achieved very good results with 400 grain boolits in the 45-70 with 2400 and 5744. 22-24 grains of 2400 or 26-28 grains of 5744 will give you about 1350fps give or take a bit and closely duplicates the original 45-70-405 service load. Several of the fellows I shoot gong matches with every month are loading 14 grains + or - a few tenths of Unique under 400 grain boolits for about 1150fps and even lower recoil. They do very well with these loads out to 450 yards.

[Soulrebel0831]

I use them when I go to kodiak for bear defense. I have quite a few other like unique h4198 I use for target. That load does have a pretty good thump.

[BLAHUT]

I use a 515 gr FP in pure lead with 27 grs of 5744 over a mag primer, in my bear guide gun, very accurate for me. Thumps on both ends. If I remember correct, they clock in at about 1200 FPS.

[Chill Wills]

BAck when I used a Winchester 1886 for hunting elk and then deer too if the chance came along, 41 grains of RL-7 under the RCBS version. GC 425 grain bullet and 1635 FPS at the muzzle. It was the accuracy load, but I never tried as much powder as you are using. That bullet will go through anything I hunted.

[Frank V]

I’ve had great results with IMR3031 & a 405gr bullet in the Marlin. Getting just over 1700fps & 3gr below max.

I like being below max!

[Rapier]

Not going to list the loads but my 45-70 Mausers with R 7 run to the bottom of the 458 Win Mag loads without flattening the primers. They produce interesting recoil. So do not count on seeing a flat primer in a lever action with a full case of R7.

[muskeg13]

I'm rediscovering loading with RL-7, most lately in a .303 Savage, .30-30 and found it's a tack driver in a 6.5x55.

It's been a while, but I worked up a 45-70 loads using the RCBS 45-405 GC (that actually went 415gr) and RL-7 in a Miroku M1886 with a 22 inch barrel. 46.5 gr averaged 1905 fps, and 47.0 averaged 1925. You may also want to try Varget, Benchmark and H322. I settled on 50.0 Benchmark for 1840 fps as a bear load. I could have gone for more, but that was enough for me.