45-70 Loads

HIGHRPM

HIGHRPM

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Looking for tried and true handloads for my sons new 45-70. He wants it to be a bear safety gun so the loads should be leaning in that direction. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated !
 
There are basically 4 levels of 45-70 loads if black powder is included. These levels relate to the different rifles that are chambered for the cartridge with their relative strengths taken into consideration. You didn't specify the rifle so you really need to give more information AND get good reloading manuals.
 
As mentioned by others, what action you are shooting your 45-70 loads in is absolutely critical information, as loads that are perfectly safe in one action can blow up another action.

IF you are using a Marling 1895 action (very common) then 3031 powder is very pupular.

Personally I'm using Varget (I just got a good deal on a few pounds is all...) to push Lee 405gr HB boolits to just over 1900 fps.
 
Assuming your son is shooting a Marlin: I use Remington 405 gr JSP bullets in my Marlin 1895 with 46 grains of IMR 3031. That's for about 1600 fps and is at my "max" of comfort level. They can be pushed harder, but remember, hitting what you aim at and can control for a second shot are at least as important as "punch" in a bear rifle.
 
You can push a 405gr cast, gas checked, bullet to 1700fps or so using Reloder7 and be well under pressure limits.

I use Remington brass, 43gr Reloder7, CCI 200 primers, and a 405gr hard cast bullet with a gas check. I've run it over my chrony and get just over 1700fps with an 18.5" barrel. Some push them harder but I think this load is hot enough for my Marlins. If I want to go faster I use the Ruger #1.

Chris.
 
gunlaker said:
You can push a 405gr cast, gas checked, bullet to 1700fps or so using Reloder7 and be well under pressure limits.

I use Remington brass, 43gr Reloder7, CCI 200 primers, and a 405gr hard cast bullet with a gas check. I've run it over my chrony and get just over 1700fps with an 18.5" barrel. Some push them harder but I think this load is hot enough for my Marlins. If I want to go faster I use the Ruger #1.
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A 405gr at 1700fps is actually the black powder equivalent load that is under the 28,000 CUP pressure limit set by SAAMI for all 45-70's including antique trap door and rolling block rifles. Marlin lever rifle data often goes up to 35,000-40,000 CUP. You can push a 400gr bullet at just shy of 2000fps at that pressure. Falling block rifles like the Ruger #1 are often loaded up to 50,000 CUP which can launch a 400gr bullet at up to 2100fps.

55gr of H4198 pushes a 300gr JHP's to 2300fps out of an H&R Handi-Rifle (similar strength action to a Marlin lever).
40gr of H4895 launches hardcast 500gr spire points to 1450fps. Goes clear through 12"+ poplar trees. No gas checks needed below ~1700fps.
16gr Bluedot under the 500gr spire points gives about 1100fps and are more comfortable for target shooting.
I have loaded up a pile of 340gr cast bullets over various powders but haven't had a chance to test them yet.
 
While I have a lot of reloading manuals, they show only factory tested rounds which is at best just some of the safe rounds that work in any certain rifle. I always ask other shooters what they are shooting and what works and what doesn't and as long as you are smart about it, which I am, it won't hurt you. Thank you everyone for your loads ! Greatly appreciated !
 
stocker said:
There are basically 4 levels of 45-70 loads if black powder is included. These levels relate to the different rifles that are chambered for the cartridge with their relative strengths taken into consideration. You didn't specify the rifle so you really need to give more information AND get good reloading manuals.
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Other than a ruger single, what lever action models can take the hottest loads?
 
bandit86 said:
Other than a ruger single, what lever action models can take the hottest loads?
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The hottest loads are not recommended for any lever gun. There are variations between sources but usually it is grouped like this, from lightest to hottest: 1873 Trapdoor Springfield - Marlin 1895 levers - Ruger #1 and #3.

Sometimes the Winchester 1886 is grouped in with the Marlin, sometimes it's not.
 
I have a Marlin 1895 and use Varget with 405gr hard cast bullets. Start low and keep working up till you find some decent accuracy. I have tried a few different powders and came back to varget. If you try to push them too hard the rifle will pound your shoulder so find a nice load you can handle that shoots well. 1800fps will kill a bear just as well as 2000fps but one will be comfortable to shoot while the other won't.
I'm trying to duplicate the 325gr FTX Leverevolution load now, my rifle shoots those into an inch at 100yds.
 
Longwalker said:
Assuming your son is shooting a Marlin: I use Remington 405 gr JSP bullets in my Marlin 1895 with 46 grains of IMR 3031. That's for about 1600 fps and is at my "max" of comfort level. They can be pushed harder, but remember, hitting what you aim at and can control for a second shot are at least as important as "punch" in a bear rifle.
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I load although sometimes I substitute in the 400Gr Speer FNSP. It's a great load that I started using after reading a Mike Venturino article few years back. Before that I was pushing them faster with same powder but kinda agreed with what he was saying and tried it out. Has been accurate from day one for me and I have yet to recover a bullet from a deer.
 
I have loaded for at least a dozen different Marlins. Every one of them shot H4198 powder the best 350-400 grain bullets. VERY hard hitting! I typically get around 2075 fps with the 400's (18.5" barrel) on the guide gun.

With a 22" barrel, I only get about 50fos more on average. Burns clean and normally shoots inside 1.25" at 100 yards. Good enough for me!
 
Winchester/Browning high walls (dropping block action) and Mauser actions also usually fall under the same 50,000 CUP pressure as the Ruger #1/#3 (also dropping block action).
 
LUTNIT said:
Winchester/Browning high walls (dropping block action) and Mauser actions also usually fall under the same 50,000 CUP pressure as the Ruger #1/#3 (also dropping block action).
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I was just going to ask this! I just got a original highwall with a new heavy custom barrel and was wondering what the load limit would be!
 
Hey...

I reload for the 45-70. When I started loading for it, I was a bit weary of taking load advice from other loaders...descrepancies in rifles, powder types, bullet weight, primer temperature, etc. makes it too variable. Go to http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
It shows all the data you need, along with being able to search by powder, bullet weight. Be safe, and take load data from the company that makes the powder...
 
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