45-70 Target/ Practice load for my Marlin 45-70 GG

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MrUndertow

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Hey does anyone have a suggestion on a good soft shooting reasonably priced target practice load for the 45-70 guide gun.
I just got some new skinner sights and I want to shoot this beast a ton this spring.



I seen that the bullet barn has 350 Gr 45-70 RNFP SLG BB for cheap. Anyone have experience hand loading these puppies for a modern 45-70?
This will be my first time reloading for the 45-70. I am not new to reloading, but have always worked with factory (hornady, sierra ect.) components and a good manual. Never dabbled in cast bullets.
 
I find that Jetbullets makes better cast than bulletbarn, but I am comparing a bunch of jet against one box of BB.

8-16gr of unique or trailboss makes a nice comfy load with anything in the 350-420gr area.

The 4198 or 3031 trapdoor loads are very effective on deer and stuff and are still very soft.
 
My favorite plinker load in 45-70 is a 405 grain cast bullet, with 14 grains Unique. It'll run 1,175 -1,190 fps. Or BlueDot, 20 grains behind same bullet, will run right around 1,385 fps. These are fairly fast burning powders, so be careful to confirm no double charges. If I want faster than 1,400 fps, I'd just go with IMR-4198 (I just like the stuff).

I tried 42 grains Varget with the same 405 bullet, and while accurate enough, seemed a waste of Varget (and dirty) to only get 1,200 fps.

Same 405 with 46 grains IMR-4064 got me 1,425 fps.

Same 405 with 30 grains of IMR-4198 gets 1,265 fps. I like IMR-4198 for the 45-70, but higher charges.

A 500 grain cast Lee bullet with 14 grains BlueDot got just over 1,000 fps.

So there's a little food for thought.
 
The 45/70 is so easy to load for. I like using trapdoor data for plinking, Unique has been mentioned. 2400 is another interesting 'peppy' load from the old Lyman manuals.
4198 and H322 for hunting rounds.....pick yer poison, but play safe
 
I too love to shoot/plink with my 45-70 (Marlin 1895 Classic). If any one post pictures with load data using Unique powder it will be greatly appreciated. It is my go to powder as I load a lot of pistol ammo. Cheers.
 
I have used IMR4198 for almost everything in 45-70, from subsonic plinkers to 2000 fps loads. I have a keg of D4198 that I need to try in 45-70.

Unique works well in 45-70 and so do several other pistol/shotgun powders. Heavier bullets 400+ gr have worked better for me in plinking loads than lighter bullets.
 
I use 13 grains of red dot behind a 405 grain hard cast.
This has been written up in gun rags as ‘the load’ and has been around for a while.
Very accurate and no leading.
This is not a low pressure load and shouldn’t be used in legacy firearms.
That fast pistol powder pressure spikes pretty fast.
Safe in Remington 1895s & modern Winchester 1886s in 45-70.
No Dacron or filler required.
 
I'll second the motion for Jet bullets as my 1892/44-40 loves them so I bought a 1000.Gonna try and run one through a whitetail this fall.
 
I've used light charges of trail boss under jacketed bullets in a GG. First round actually made me laugh a little since I'd only ever fired full power loads out of it before. I still have a 300 gr Hornady HP that I fired across a gravel pit in the winter. I found it in the spring with minor damage to the front of the jacket where it impacted. Other than that it looked like it could be loaded and fired again.
 
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