45-70 Range Load

[JEBar]

given --- as a result of age and blood thinning meds, my days of firing very many (if any) full power loads in our 45-70 have been over for a good while

given --- I don't buy safe queens

given --- the it doesn't require elephant hunting level ammo to punch a hole in a paper target or to ring a gong

decision --- I need to develop a 100 yard range load that I can and do enjoy firing

decision --- the load will be built around firing Nosler 300 gr Ballistic Silvertip bullets ===> http://www.shootersproshop.com/loading- ... -50ct.html

decision --- first choice in powder IMR 4198 --- second choice Unique

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this past summer while in South Dakota I used our portable reloading equipment to assemble some test loads .... late yesterday evening I had an opportunity to fire 20 of them, 10 through a chrony .... preliminary results look good :

average muzzle velocity 1675 fps .... as a comparison, 405 g cast bullets HSM Cowboy Action ammo fired through the same chrony by the same rifle had an average muzzle velocity of 1821 fps

per our ballistics calculator with a zero of 100 yards = +0.3" @ 25 yds .... +1.8" @ 50 yds .... +1.6" @ 75 yds .... Zero @ 100 yds

felt recoil very mild, less than that of our Henry 44 Mag .... more of a push than a punch

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before showing the powder charge, I need to pull a couple of bullets and double check the power weight .... I've lost my notes and going by my memory isn't a good thing .... secondly, I need to fire some groups to determine how well our CCH Henry likes them .... at least the process is underway

[Hatchdog]

With age comes wisdom!

I like the look of those bullets especially the lubalox coating. Lets see, 300 grain bullet with a .458 diameter traveling at nearly 1700 fps........yep, gonna still pack a punch!

I’m with you, I see rifles for sale on our local website that are magnums and I just pass them by. Nice you can still enjoy your 45-70.

[runnin n gunnin]

Nice JEBar ! I use both 4198 and H322 on the 45-70, prefer the 4198 seems to be more consistent. I am pushing a MB 405 grain buffalo round.

I am going to be interested to see your final product and give it a try ! ! !

[John E Davies]

I am a fan of Trail Boss for light plinking loads. The main reason I use it is that as I age (pushing 70) I get more and more concerned about a double charge. It is physically impossible to charge any case with TB to a danger point. Often the max load is the best load. Unique..... it could blow up your rifle.

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showth ... 5-70-loads

I am not sure what fps you would get in a .45/70 300 gr TB load, in my .44 Mag 17” barrel it is 900 fps with a 240 gr plated bullet. A gallery load indeed. No pain and almost hearing safe.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[JEBar]

as mentioned, I purchase firearms to shoot and from day one, the recoil of our 45-70 with "Dangerous Game" loads has been one I could and would hunt big game but not target practice with .... accordingly, my first effort was making a series of upgrades to reduce felt recoil .... they most certainly helped but with high power ammo, simply couldn't reduce it enough .... next I "Cowboy Action" level ammo and along with the mods, felt recoil moved into the tolerable range .... currently, my goal is to get it into the fun to fire category .... to do so, I'm moving from 405g to 300 g bullets and reducing the powder charge .... within a hundred or so yards these bullets will easily take out deer size game and if I ever have the opportunity to hunt thick bodied critters like elk or moose or most certainly to go after dangerous bears, I can always go back to full power loads

[JEBar]

I am going to be interested to see your final product and give it a try ! ! !

as a disclaimer, if Nosler makes a bullet for my firearms, that's what I use .... in our 30-30 I've found their 150 g Ballistic Silvertips to be exceptionally good .... they shoot flat, hit hard and group well ... these bullets come as a result of a joint effort by Winchester and Nosler and so far, the ones I've loaded for our 45-70 have proven to provide equal results ....

[JEBar]

I am a fan of Trail Boss for light plinking loads. The main reason I use it is that as I age (pushing 70) I get more and more concerned about a double charge.

John Davies
Spokane WA

I've heard good things about Trail Boss powder but haven't ever used it .... as to pushing 70, I pushed by it a few years ago .. .. understood on a concern about double charging .... with IMR 4198 if I was to double charge a case powder would pour out all over the press .... so much so, it would do so in an amount that would make it impossible to miss

[BigAl52]

One thing I do when loading rifle shells is double check each shell. I charge the cases in a tray. Then before bullet seating is done one last look with a bright flash light to check for double charges. Jim waiting for results on paper with those loaded rounds.

[Rifletom]

Jim, are you talking about "trapdoor" type loads? If so, IMR 3031 looks to be good with your bullet. Right in your wheelhouse.

[JEBar]

Jim, are you talking about "trapdoor" type loads? If so, IMR 3031 looks to be good with your bullet. Right in your wheelhouse.

I haven't seen much load data on "trapdoor" so I'm not sure .... if I had to guess, I'd say our would be in that neighborhood ... if I can't get IMR 4198 to work, I'll certainly keep 3031 in mind .... my prime motivation for using 4198 is we have several cans on hand

Jim waiting for results on paper with those loaded rounds.

I dropped off a round at our son's where our equipment is located ... hopefully he will be able to take it apart soon to confirm the type of powder and weight used .... once that is done I'll try to get over there when he's home for us to load 25 or so test loads .... will most certainly post pictures and comments as soon as is possible

[fortyshooter]

I like Unique for my mild 405 gr. steel plinking loads 14 gr. works well with that. IMR 3031 works very too at 38-40 grs. for a bit more power.

[JEBar]

QUESTION FOR THOSE WHO LIGHT LOAD THEIR 45-70

do you find that it matters if you use a regular or magnum primer ..

[BruniX]

I never use magnum primer.
only large riffle standard,
with lyman 330grs #457122 Mold.
or with lyman 457193 405 grs
BruniX

[JEBar]

I never use magnum primer.

BruniX

interesting .... thanks for that info

[BigAl52]

Ive never used a Mag Primer for 45-70

[JEBar]

10-4 .... Nosler doesn't call for magnum primers .... my thinking centers on very light loads and the primers I have on hand

[Blackhawk]

I use Blackhorn 209 under a 433 grain cast bullet in my Shilo Sharps 45/70 and get nearly 1300 fps. When used in my Henry 45/70 I get just under 1100 fps (probably due to barrel length). You can shoot this load all day long and still enjoy the sound of the smack when the bullet hits the target!
jrf

[JEBar]

You can shoot this load all day long and still enjoy the sound of the smack when the bullet hits the target!
jrf

that is exactly what I'm looking for .... good to hear you've found one that works for you

[JEBar]

before showing the powder charge, I need to pull a couple of bullets and double check the power weight .... I've lost my notes and going by my memory isn't a good thing .... secondly, I need to fire some groups to determine how well our CCH Henry likes them .... at least the process is underway

finally got a chance to pull a Nosler 300 g Ballistic Silvertip to confirm I'd loaded 44 g of IMR 4198 .... I believe I still have 3 or 4 rounds that were loaded this summer .... I need to decide if I should simply fire them for a 100 yard group .... somehow I have a hunch they will perform well .... consequently it would probably be best to load more for use in adjusting the scope and a thorough accuracy test