45/70 360350rfgc load needed

[hornsurgeon]

just got the group buy 360350rfgc mold, now i need some suggestions for a load for the 45/70. i'm looking for a hunting load, but not an arm breaker. this will be in a marlin 1895.

viable powders i have include varget, 4895, 3031, and lots of 5744.

any suggestions?

[rhbrink]

Just got one myself if you are talking about the 460350rfgc, might be able to get to the range Friday going to try RL#7, 4198, and SR4759 too. Looking for the same thing good hunting load don't need any arm breaker stuff. Shooting mine in a TC Encore very much on the light side as far as weight goes.

[excess650]

I got my mold last week, cast, loaded, and shot. The only powder tried so far was AA5744 in RP cases. The best groups were with 31.6 and 32.6gr, and both were 1" or less CTC at 58 yards, peep sight in a Marlin 1895S.

[hornsurgeon]

well, i've got some loaded up with 33-35gr 5744. i'll try to get out this weekend with them.

[rhbrink]

Got a chance to shoot my new boolit today everything that I sent down range worked well with the largest group being 1 1/4" with 37 grains of 5744 didn't burn very clean either. 43 grains of RL#7 shot ok around a 1", 36 grains of IMR4759 shot about the same, 38 grains of the same opened the group a little to over 1". The best was 38 grains of IMR4198 one ragged hole shot very clean. All these were shot at 50 yards in a TC Encore with a 2.5 Leupold scope will load up some more 4198 and try the 100 yd. line next time. Used wheel weights aircooled, LBT lube, didn't crimp any loads but did seat the boolits to just kiss the lands. Recoil was "brisk".

[DragoonDrake]

I like 48grs of Varget with a LBT 340 WLN(?) (bought it second hand and it is packed up right now) out of both my contender pistol and my marlin. I have not hunted with it yet but it is clearly a contender for the chance this year. It does knock down a 100lb steel plate at 100 meters real nice though.

Adam

[Gee_Wizz01]

My light hunting loads for my 1895GG are the 460-350, 30.5 grs of 5477, Starline brass, and WLR's. Shoots groups around 2-2 1/2" at 100yds and doesn't beat you up. 5477 certainly is not a nice clean powder, it always leaves a few granules in the bore and in the case. I get best accuracy with H322 and IMR 4895, but these loads really thump your shoulder.

G

[casey]

I have been shooting the 460-350 with 52.0grn H4198, Win. brass, and WLR. 2073f.p.s. out of my 1895g and very accurate!! Hodgdon shows 54.0 grn. as max with a 350 Hornady round nose.Went off of that load. A might stout off the bench !!

[TCLouis]

A plinker light hunting load (1105 fps) is Ranch dog 460 350 (378 grains in my alloy) and 10.5 Unique (actually using a milsurp look-a-like) .

VERY accurate close in 50 yards, have no idea at 100.

23.5 4759 is good also and 12?? fps in my 1886.

[btroj]

Just loaded some up with 24gr of 2400. I expect about 1400 or so. And I expect good accuracy too. This load just seems to work well with 405 to 425 gr cast so it ought to be good with the 350 too.
Might even shoot me a deer with this load. Will have to see about that.

Brad

[hornsurgeon]

well i shot the 460-350 with 33-35gr 5744. 33 gr shot about 1.5-2" @ 50 yards, 34 about 2.5-3", and 35 around 4". not overly impressed yet. i had some ammo the last owner of this marlin loaded using a 4XX grain cast boolit with 322. (can't remember how much now, but it was a heafty but safe charge) those went into about 3/4" at 50, but hurt at both ends. i think i may try a different powder once.

[btroj]

I had good luck with 24 gr of 2400. One big hole at 50 yards. I will shoot some later this week with 43 gr of re7.
This boolit looks like it will be a good one.

[rhbrink]

I've been having really good luck with IMR 4198 and IMR 4759 in mild to medium loads. 1600 to1700 fps range I shot a group today at 100 yards with 31 grains of IMR 4759 that a quarter would cover 5 shots. Don't know how consistent this load is as I will be loading up some more and give it a through test. I was shooting 5 round groups of various loads just to get a idea of what would work at 100 yards and was pleasantly surprised with this one needless to say I'm a happy camper right now. These boolits were cast 20:1 sized .459 lubed with LBT and used a dacron filler over the powder. Can't say for sure but seems like that the softer boolits are shooting better that harder wheel weights in my rifle anyway.

[excess650]

In my reply I stated that my best groups were at lower charges than where you started. Back the 5744 down 1gr at a time and see if it doesn't help.

4198, AA2015, and H322 should be good choices.

well i shot the 460-350 with 33-35gr 5744. 33 gr shot about 1.5-2" @ 50 yards, 34 about 2.5-3", and 35 around 4". not overly impressed yet. i had some ammo the last owner of this marlin loaded using a 4XX grain cast boolit with 322. (can't remember how much now, but it was a heafty but safe charge) those went into about 3/4" at 50, but hurt at both ends. i think i may try a different powder once.

[hornsurgeon]

yeah, i've been mulling this over and think i will try that first. i had ok results with 33gr, so i'll start backing it down a little.

[hornsurgeon]

well, i tried 28, 30, 32 grains of 5744. groups were good with 28 and 32, both around 1 1/2". that'll have to do for now, season opens in a couple of weeks here. i know i can get better, but that will have to wait.

[Shooter6br]

My Ruger NO 1 likes Varget , 4759 and H322. with 350 g Ranchdog. i use 4759 for paper punching at 1200 fps 23 grains. H322 I get 1500fps. i dont use gas checks. The 45/70 is very flexible .

[onondaga]

Rel #7 burns cleaner but you can make Accurate 5744 burn completely by using a filler like BPI original if you do some math. The amount of filler weight is added to the bullet weight for a total projectile weight. Your new load is based on the new total projectile weight and if it falls within safety pressure limits you are good to try. You can even get 4895 to burn cleanly in the 45-70 with reduced loads and filler. the filler should be added over the powder to achieve a 105% compressed load, then It will burn cleanly. The rifle will kick like it has a bullet heavier by the amount of filler you have added because you are shooting the filler too.. Kapoc or cotton filler can be used but the BPI will run through a powder measure or can be scooped easily.

[Old Goat Keeper]

I know I'm dumb so I asks questions guys. Just exactly what is "BPI"????

Tom

[onondaga]

BPI Original Filler is a ground high heat plastic in particle flake like form Made by Ballistic Products Incorporated. It is used as a buffer in buckshot loads to cushion the buckshot and it is also used in rifle and pistol loads as a ballistic filler in cartridges where load density is low to enhance ignition by taking up the empty space and keeping the propellant pressed against the primer flash hole for good ignition. It also acts as a gas check on plain base cast bullets with no copper or other gas check. I purchase it at:
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=695248

I prefer this particular product over the two competitive products I have tried because it is very light weight per volume and it meters well by scoop measuring or powder measures used in reloading. Unfortunately, there is very little literature available to reloaders on the safe use of ballistic fillers but these products are very helpful in solving ignition of propellant problems, reduced load reliability and gas checking of plain base cast bullets along with the original product design as an inert buckshot buffer.

I use BPI original in reduced loads for .308 Win with cast bullets, .500 S&W reduced loads with cast bullets and .458 Win Mag reduced loads with cast bullets. I had low density load problems causing misfires and squib rounds and the filler eliminated the problem and also improved accuracy and enabled higher pressure loads with cast plain base bullets due to the gas check effect the product also exhibits. The filler also eliminated a serious problem I had with a particular .458 WM reduced load using a 340 gr lead bullet in my .458 Win Mag with Rel #7. A particularly light load I tried had muzzle flash detonations and the BPI eliminated the problem.