Intrigued by 45-70

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tlsdad

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Hi Guys...intrigued by this round and some of the beaut firearms related.

Anyone reload this?? If so, are components readily available?? ....or tough to get??? Any issues with this round?? How well does the brass hold up for reload?? All responses/comments are appriciated😊👍
 
I have been loading it for years, however, I load it as it was designed....with blackpowder. Never had a problem getting components, but I do cast my own bullets. IMHO, many beautiful Classics used this cartridge, using Holy Black just enhances the experience.
 
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The caliber is making a real comeback, and the great thing is that it is very forgiving for reloading. You can load it right down for plinking or right up for polar bear. I was at Cabela's and they had loaded 45 70 rounds from 4 different manufacturers. Once you get the brass components are relatively easy to come by. For plinking I use a 405 gr hard cast bullets from bullet barn and 13 grs of trail boss. and for full loads I have been using 350 gr Hornady jacketed flat point with 54 grs of varget. Word of warning though, a lot of these guns are on EE by someone who got it for a fun gun and got pounded. Recoil with such a light gun can be nasty, especially in a tee shirt in the summer, so a lighter load for fun can really make a difference
 

"New" technology like the Hornady 325 gr FTX
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Or "old school" like the 405 gr hard cast
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Real fun. Compontents can be expensive but berrys plated bullets are reasonable and it works with bp and muzzleloader powders as well as a number of smokeless powders.
 
dogzilla said:
. Word of warning though, a lot of these guns are on EE by someone who got it for a fun gun and got pounded. Recoil with such a light gun can be nasty, especially in a tee shirt in the summer, so a lighter load for fun can really make a difference
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"Full-house" loads in a light-weight 45-70 like the Marlin lever actions WILL catch your attention if shot incorrectly. I only own one rifle that has drawn blood from me and it is my Marlin 1895. Creep up on the scope when shooting steep uphill or down and you will get bit if it gets away from you.
 
I loves me a Pachmyer prefit decelerator for the 1895. Turns the sledgehammer hit into a padded sledgehammer hit. Fast powders generally produce less recoil and higher MV than mid burners. Incidentally I found shooting a starting load of 4895 under a 300 gr JHP had almost identical felt recoil to a mid load of 4198 under a 350 JFP. The real kicker? The 300 gr load was 1800 fps, the 350 was around 2000. Actually the 1895G was the real kicker. A near max load of H4198 under a 350 Hornady was my favourite load. Maneageable recoil and unmanageable holes in stuff.
 
My hubbies pig gun is a "JM" Marlin guide gun in 45-70 with an x/s sight and rail and a Leupold 1-4x20 heavy post scope on top.
The Weaver see-over scope mounts clear the x/s sights by enough to allow the operation of both the scope and irons without dismounting the scope out to 50 yards.
The scope is sighted for 50 yards with a load that pushes a 430 grain hard cast (BH:25) lead bullet to 1975 fps.
The x/s sight is sighted for 25 yards and is for fast moving target acquisition in "close and dangerous" situations.
The hubbies cousin has a 8" scar on his lower right leg where an enraged wounded boar ripped him to the bone.
A wounded hog is nothing to trifle with.
 
My 45/70 is a Pedersoli Rolling Block. The difference in recoil between 'modern' smokeless, 325 gn and traditional BP, 525 gn is night and day. The heavier bullet, propelled by BP has much lighter felt recoil with the bonus being it groups much better , as well. My theory to explain this is that the rifle was originally designed for the heavier, BP propelled round, therefore the barrel dynamics work better with a heavy, slower moving projectile. JMHO.
 
I am a recent convert and I absolutely love this caliber! Easy to reload and extremely versatile. I have bullet molds for 350gr, 405gr, and a 490gr hammer. Components are readily available and if you plan on getting one you pretty much have to plan on reloading. Factory ammo is expensive and mainly loaded to trapdoor levels. Case life is great from what I understand (haven't had it long enough to comment). There is really no reason not to have one!
 
.45-70 was one of the cartridges I started out reloading with, absolutely love it, great case life, numerous options for powder and projectiles. Besides the several other guns in .45-70 I've shot, I have owned a Handi-rifle, two Buffalo Classic's, a 95 guide gun and currently have a T and C Sharps that I am in love with. The safe seems empty without a .45-70. Since I started casting my own, I've had a lot of success with the Lee .458 cal, 500 grain Spire Points, they drop the perfect size for my Sharps and seem to be more accurate than me. I have been shooting either full loads of fffg Goex or 32 grains of IMR 3031. Both loads are quite mild in the heavy Sharps. It's a great cartridge with tons of history and it's fairly simple to reload, shooting black in .45-70 is guaranteed to put a smile on your face.
 
Improvements in metallurgy resulting in 'todays' fireams has rejuvenated the calibre. Todays 45-70 is a far cry from that of yesteryear. I had a Marlin 1895GS but with the loads it is capable of handling, I found that with the heavier bullets and hotter loads it could handle, the straight stock design was a little hard on the fingers.



My son has it now and I've replaced it with a 1895 Marlin GBL



and,;)to keep it 'company', a BFR made by Magnum Research

 
45-70 is a fun cartridge to shoot and not that bad to feed if you reload, as others have said the Berry's bullets are a cheaper alternative to jacketed bullets if you don't cast your own.
 
I have a new 1895 Marlin. very nicely made rifle. I fitted it with a Skinner
sight which is a big improvement over factory sight. I get very good accuracy
with 350 grain Berry's bullets loaded with 40 grains of H4198.

Terry

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The straight lever is notoriously hard on fingers at hot loads, the big loop solves that and allows gloves too
 
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