H010 45-70 With Hornady Leverevolution 325 FTX

[Stray Cat]

I finally had a nice day last Saturday to take "Hank" (nickname for my 45-70) to the range for dialing in my Leupold VX3 scope.
My Site Lite laser bore site had it on paper on the 1st shot at 50 yds. I made a few scope adjustments; then a few more shots
and before long I was flirting with the bullseye. I moved the target to 100 yds.

Again 3 shots, a bit of trimming on the turrets, repeat. All of my shooting to this point was in a Lead Sled rifle rest.
My results are shown from my first box of cartridges are labeled on target "set 1". I changed targets and started on a new box
of cartridges to confirm I was good from one box to another. Same brand, grain, point of aim, and I got different points of impact
shown on the target labeled as "set 2".

My scope didn't move in the mounts, my eyes are good, and I'm pretty steady with the Sled. I ran my Ripcord and bore brush through
several times between the two boxes and did not see any heavy fouling...Hornady shoots very clean in my opinion.

Is it common to see that much variance from one box to another of identical ammo?
Regardless, for an 18" barrel brush gun, I think Hank has decent accuracy to put down a whitetail at 100 yds.

[GunnyGene]

Let's just say it's not uncommon with factory ammo. The reason has to do with allowable tolerances for powder charge primarily, which effects muzzle velocity and therefore flight path of the projectile. When you're pumping out millions of rounds there is unavoidable variation in loadings. Since they can't 'test' every round they have to rely on sampling from each lot, and that has it's own error of judgement as to the conformance of the lot to specifications.

PS: There is no such thing as 'identical' ammo.

[JEBar]

let me say up front that our Henry CCH 45-70 doesn't like Levervolution ammo and neither do I .... your second target shows a pattern that could put venison in the freezer .... have you tried any other brand of ammo .. .. doing so might help you determine just how much your rifle likes FTX bullets

[BigAl52]

I had some success with the FTX bullets in my All Weather when I still had it. But CCH Henry likes the Hornady 350gr Flat point bullets with reloader 7 behind them. I agree with Gene. Factory ammo will vary box to box because a machine is loading them. I like reloading my own I can watch each shell and make sure they are all the same.

[Stray Cat]

So far Hornady is all I've shot. I'd like to try something different, but for now I'll have to wait until inventories catch up and be glad I bought enough to keep me going for a couple seasons of hunting. I now understand better why many of you like to load your own. Is the Hornady brass worthy of reloading? Thanks for your valued input.

[JEBar]

I now understand better why many of you like to load your own. Is the Hornady brass worthy of reloading? Thanks for your valued input.

Hornady makes good brass; HOWEVER, their Leverevolution brass isn't standard length .... it is designed to ONLY be reloaded with their FTX bullets ....

[GunnyGene]

So far Hornady is all I've shot. I'd like to try something different, but for now I'll have to wait until inventories catch up and be glad I bought enough to keep me going for a couple seasons of hunting. I now understand better why many of you like to load your own. Is the Hornady brass worthy of reloading? Thanks for your valued input.

Underwood produces excellent ammo in many calibers including 45-70. They use new Starline brass, which is preferred by many reloaders. Unfortunately, they are sold out of everything just like everyone else. But here's the site for future reference, and you can also sign up for notification when it comes back in stock :

https://www.underwoodammo.com/collectio ... government

About a 18 months ago I did a chronograph comparison of .41 mag (BBSC) from Hornady and Underwood, and discovered that the heavier Underwood (210grn XTP) gave not only a faster mv, but was far more consistent than the lighter (190grn Hornady LeveRevolution). The group size on 100yd targets also showed a significantly tighter group for the Underwood. I expect you'd see a similar result with the 45-70. Here's the data:

Hornady:



Underwood:

[Stray Cat]

I now understand better why many of you like to load your own. Is the Hornady brass worthy of reloading? Thanks for your valued input.

Hornady makes good brass; HOWEVER, their Leverevolution brass isn't standard length .... it is designed to ONLY be reloaded with their FTX bullets ....

That is really good to know. I wonder how may have gotten in trouble with that.

[Stray Cat]

I just checked the Underwood link. Holly smokes, +P in a 45-70 My shoulder would have a serious talk with my brain if I shot one of those!
Thanks for the link Gene

[GunnyGene]

I just checked the Underwood link. Holly smokes, +P in a 45-70 My shoulder would have a serious talk with my brain if I shot one of those!
Thanks for the link Gene

I edited my post above while you were replying, to add data from a chrony test I did a while back that you might find interesting.

[fortyshooter]

Not a Henry but my Marlin 1895 GS .45-70 seems to like those Hornady 325 rounds. They do pack a good punch!

[Greyhawk]

Not a Henry but my Marlin 1895 GS .45-70 seems to like those Hornady 325 rounds. They do pack a good punch!

I just tonight went into my local fleet store, they actually had about 200 boxes of 9mm, 1 box of 454 casull and 10 boxes of the Hornady 325, 45-70 pointy rounds... It's the first time there has been anything on the shelves for weeks. So, I grabbed 2 boxes of the 9mm (limit 2 boxes) cleaned them out of the 454 and grabbed 2 boxes of the 45-70. I'm going to try them out in my 1895 and see what they do. (might just go and buy two more boxes tomorrow too ) Still no primers though, they had some come in last week and they were gone in a day.

[BigAl52]

How much were they chargin for the 9mm Greyhawk

[Greyhawk]

How much were they chargin for the 9mm Greyhawk

50 round box of 115 grain Browning target $15

[Stray Cat]

[/quote]
I just tonight went into my local fleet store, they actually had about 200 boxes of 9mm, 1 box of 454 casull and 10 boxes of the Hornady 325, 45-70 pointy rounds... It's the first time there has been anything on the shelves for weeks. So, I grabbed 2 boxes of the 9mm (limit 2 boxes) cleaned them out of the 454 and grabbed 2 boxes of the 45-70. I'm going to try them out in my 1895 and see what they do. (might just go and buy two more boxes tomorrow too ) Still no primers though, they had some come in last week and they were gone in a day.
[/quote]

Curious, were the Hornady priced under $40 / box? I'd imagine there are some deer hunters in my area that are going to be skunked for45-70 ammo. The shelves were so bare at Fleet Farm last Wednesday you couldn't even find a box of Winchester rifled slugs....just sad compared to a year ago.

[fortyshooter]

How much were they chargin for the 9mm Greyhawk

50 round box of 115 grain Browning target $15

Dang... that's a deal and I'm surprised!

[BigAl52]

Sure is Im seeing 30 to 35.00 a box for target 9mm. But I have a line on some here and if it takes place I think the price will be good.

[Greyhawk]

I just tonight went into my local fleet store, they actually had about 200 boxes of 9mm, 1 box of 454 casull and 10 boxes of the Hornady 325, 45-70 pointy rounds... It's the first time there has been anything on the shelves for weeks. So, I grabbed 2 boxes of the 9mm (limit 2 boxes) cleaned them out of the 454 and grabbed 2 boxes of the 45-70. I'm going to try them out in my 1895 and see what they do. (might just go and buy two more boxes tomorrow too ) Still no primers though, they had some come in last week and they were gone in a day.
[/quote]

Curious, were the Hornady priced under $40 / box? I'd imagine there are some deer hunters in my area that are going to be skunked for45-70 ammo. The shelves were so bare at Fleet Farm last Wednesday you couldn't even find a box of Winchester rifled slugs....just sad compared to a year ago.
[/quote]
$34 a box for the Hornady' s... I picked up two more boxes today. It seems like they are still selling at last years prices (when they have it)

[Stray Cat]

That's good to hear they are holding the prices in check when they wouldn't have to. Good for you to snag a couple more boxes of thumpers