Lots of 4831 in the .45-70?

[Catshooter]

I have read several times that you can load 4831 in the 45-70 like it's black powder. That is to say, fill the case up until you just have room for the boolit you're using. Anyone done this for real? What kind of ballistics are you getting?

I have a couple of 45-70s and lots of 4831, I've just never put the two together before.

Thanks.


Cat

[looseprojectile]

I just went out to the shop and checked.
I have used 51 grains in the 40 65 with the RCBS 300 grain boolit. I shoot em in a Cimarron high wall. To be truthful I don't remember how they shoot but after shooting some of them I didn't rush home and pull the remaining rounds.[smilie=1: I still have some that I loaded a couple of years ago. I should shoot them and get a fresh perspective.
Way in the dim past I remember reading about detonations resulting from leaving some space in the case when loading 30 06 kinds of loads with 4831. I am not sure but I think a man could use a filler if the load didn't fill the case.
Slow powder works well in overbore cases such as my 6mm284 wherin I use a full case of T5070. Works for me. Never tried T5070 in the BPCRs. Might do it.
As of now the only 45 70 I have is a rolling block and the alignment of the breechblock with my cheek doesn't inspire me to get wild and crazy with experimental loads8-).

Life is good

[bigted]

ive loaded buckets of 270win shells with 4831...imr...and i swear by it but i never worried about the case being "full" of powder. they all worked just fine for me.

i never heard of this great powder being loaded in a 45/70 but like you im very interested. somebody chime in that has gone down this road before please

[Al_sway]

Tried it once and I decided it was a huge waste of powder, and not very good. It is a low pressure load in a .45-70 which means lots of scorched and unburnt powder granules in the barrel and action.
May have been an idea when surplus 4831 was going for pennies a pound, but there are lots of better choices, depending on what you want to do.
I normally use 2400 for lighter loads and Reloder 7 for hunting loads up to 1600 fps. Good accuracy, good consistency in velocity and repeatable results. No unburnt powder.

[dualsport]

Get a copy of "Forty Years With the 45-70" by Paul Matthews. He used 4831, amongst other things. I've tried it and got good results. I think I remember him using a small kicker charge of fast powder too, to improve the burn.

[NickSS]

I used it when it was selling for $1.50 a pound but quit using it rather fast due to huge quantities of unburnt powder. Accuracy was OK but it poured so much powder into the action of my rifle that it was a house cleaning problem. However, if you got lots of it it does work and you load it just like black no air space and a bit of compression. As I recall compression is about the same too compress it about 1/16 inch and it works fine.

[bobthenailer]

the most accurate load in my 1895 bpcr is 50 gr 3100 like 4831 and a saeco 540 gr cast bullet for 2 1/2 inch 25 shot group at 200 yards the load is slightly compressed , you can feel a slight bump when seating the bullet.
accurate arms has loading date for mr3100 and the 45/70