Henry Rifle Forums

All data from my 45/70 Brass Henry unless noted.

Hornady 325 gr leverevolution factory ammo. I only had a couple of these left and don't really care for the very sharp recoil. They also don't feed well in my Henry.

Henry
1864 fps

H+R Handy-Rifle
1968
1969
1969

Winchester 300 gr soft points factory ammo.

Henry
1662
1564
1610

H+R Handi-Rifle
1381
1381
Then he shot my chrono! Done for that day! He was shooting with a scope and didn't see the Chrono.

45/70
300 gr MBC coated RNFP
WLR primer
15.5 gr Trail Boss

1291
1253
1269
1271
1269
1265
1268
1266
1266
1267
AVG=1,267

405 gr MBC coated RNFP
12.5 gr Trail Boss

1017
1017
1005
1005
1008
1008
1008
998
984
1004
AVG=1,006 fps

45/70
Berry's 350 gr plated RNFP
15gr Trail Boss

1093
1077
1077
1061
1070
1055
1073
1054
1049
1054
1007
1004
1040
1084
1051
1037
1055
1044
AVG=1,060 My Henry loves this load. With it I have shot 1.75" group at 100 yds and made several ragged single holes at 50 yds. Low recoil you can shoot these all day.

45/70
300 gr MBC coated RNFP
10gr Unique
WLR primer

1044
1039
1038
1040
1016
1026
1028
1052
1025
1034
1034
1044
AVG=1,035 fps

Same bullet and primer 12 gr Unique.

1177
1187
1156
1157
1151
1173
1153
1165
1160
1151
AVG=1,163 fps

405 gr MBC coated RNFP
WLR primer
10 gr Unique

925
909
935
924
935
926
923
AVG=925

Same bullet and primer 11gr Unique

1029
1034
1030
1003
1023
AVG=1,023 fps

45/70
350 gr Berry's copper plated RNFP
WLR primer
11 gr Unique

887
930
938
928
922
AVG=921

45/70
350 gr Berry's copper plated RNFP
WLR primer
35 gr 5744

1676
1544
1560
1523
1529
1520
1544
1548
AVG=1,555 fps Warning this load is a level 2 load suitable for Marlin modern 1895 and similar. Not Safe for trapdoors, sharps ect.

Recoil is STRONG!

45/70
405 gr MBC coated RNFP
28gr 5744

1410
1707
1409
1409
1409
AVG=1,468 fps Warning this load is a level 2 load suitable for Marlin modern 1895 and similar. Not Safe for trapdoors, sharps ect.

Thought - This is a 405 gr bullet. That's a 357 mag and a 44 mag bullet both combined and a little extra. It's traveling at 44 mag speeds. Shoulder beware! Pretty much the same for the above load also. The boom is quite impressive.

Recoil is STRONG!

All cases are new Starline, sized, trimmed, expanded with .459 M style "lead expander not .458 jacketed expander.
WLR primer used on all.
Data collected at various times over the last couple of years.

The Unique and Trail boss loads are on the light side and similar to black powder loads. I'm told the 45/70 loaded with black powder was about 1,000 -1,250 fps. maybe one day I'll load a few just to chrono them from my gun.

As always check any loads against published data. I've shown this for informational purposes and you use it at your own risk.

Thank you this is great information. I'm bookmarking this page.

Squatch wrote:Then he shot my chrono! Done for that day! He was shooting with a scope and didn't see the Chrono.

very understandable .... very understandable indeed .... don't ask me how I know ..

A wonderful report! Thank you for sharing your info with us!

As always feel free to add your info to this thread!

For the most part the data I use comes from: The manufacturer of the powder I'm loading.
The latest edition Lyman's cast bullet book. or other bullet books.

The really light stuff comes from here: http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

I also check web posts to see if numbers of people have used a certain load and their impressions.

Squatch is your 45-70 the short barrel? I see its the longer barrel I went back and reread the first part of your post. Al

Chrony results for our 45-70 CCH 22" barrel .....

300 gr Jacketed Nosler Ballistic Silvertips .... 51.5 gr IMR 4198 .... average 2265 fps

400 gr Jacketed Barnes Buster .... 43 gr IMR 4198 .... average 1783 fps

405 gr lead .... 40 gr IMR 4198 Missouri Bullet Co .... average 1717 fps ---- 44.5 g IMR 4198 .... average 1818 fps

500 gr coated lead RNFP .... 30 gr IMR 4198 .... average 1404 fps

Squatch, Love your Chrono reports and appreciate the amount of effort you put into them.

Thanks