Henry Rifle Forums

I picked some of this up a while back. Anybody using it in their 45/70's? Got a pet load?

I don't have my 45/70 anymore and dont remember my load, but I do know I was shooting a 420gr. cast boolit. Shot very well. Hope to get a new rifle in this cal. again soon.

Ive used it in mine but for plinking loads right now I just use unique. I use it in the 38-55 because it works good there. I use 18 grains in the 38-55 but Im not sure without looking where to start with 45-70. Al

Thanks, I've been using Unique for my low power loads. I bought some of this for building something a little hotter. Seems like the Lyman cast book has a lot of loads for it.

Howdy,
For silly-wet shooting, I've been using 5744.. 405 or 520 gr bullets: approx. in the 25-26 gr area...
I haven't settled on an exact amount.. That load does somewhat approximate the old black powder loads..
It is mild enough to shoot 75 rounds or so in an afternoon, yet strong enough to knock over the silly-wets..
Now, this in in a 10lb rolling block rifle.. I did use the same loads in a 12lb Sharps..

YMMV,

Paul

In my 18.4" Henry, 36.5gr of 5744 under a 300gr Nosler Ballistic Tip gave an average of 1,625 fps and minute of deer heart accuracy with a Skinner peep.

I use magnum primers with loads that leave a lot of air space...and I also always use a firm crimp to promote consistent velocity.

Very nice shooting load. Probably not fast enough to produce the kind of hydrostatic shock that makes for lightening kills. But I would imagine this would still be a very reliable killer of deer. I may use something similar this fall.

Hello Squatch, This is a really late reply because I joined the Forum only yesterday.

A couple of years ago I bought a Marlin 1895CB; that's the one with the 26" barrel. I went through 2 lbs. of Accurate 5744 shooting Oregon Trail 350 gr and 405 gr hard lead cast bullets. 25 -28 grs is fine for plinking, but as you increase the powder to boost velocity, the felt recoil becomes an issue. 33 grs was my limit, after that I began to flinch and accuracy diminished. Hornady's 9th Edition Reloading manual states that they found IMR 4198 delivered consistently good accuracy with both jacketed and hard lead cast bullets. I have been using 4198 for the last year, and have had good results with it. I load 38 grs for 350 gr bullets and 35 grs with the 405 gr bullets. Accuracy is superb with both bullets grouping at 2" at 100 yds. Velocities are about 1500 FPS. Lastly, IMR's 4198 sells for about a third less than Accurate 5744.

I have found 4198 to be a good powder for .45-70. My LGS does not sell IMR4198 but has H4198 and that is what I use. I think it is very close to IMR4198.