.45-70 load data for 350 gr cast

KyleM

KyleM

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I bought a box from P&D of their bullet barn 350 gr RNFP beveled base. So then I looked all over the place and I can't find anything published for a 350 grain cast bullet. Rifle is a new 45-70 Marlin guide gun. Any suggestions?
 
KyleM said:
I bought a box from P&D of their bullet barn 350 gr RNFP beveled base. So then I looked all over the place and I can't find anything published for a 350 grain cast bullet. Rifle is a new 45-70 Marlin guide gun. Any suggestions?
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Can't you find lots of loading information for the 350 grain jacketed bullets?
Load it up. You rifle won't care if it gets a cast bullet, instead of a jacketed.
 
I shoot the Lee 340gr which weights in around 347 lubed in Rolling Blocks with 32gr of IMR 4198 (and just about any other reasonable weight cast bullet). You could use data from a heavier bullet that is close in weight. Most of the cast data I have for this round is centred around the less powerful 1873 Springfield strength loads.

Lyman 49 says:

1873 Springfield level loads
IMR 4198 34-38gr max 330gr cast bullet
IMR 3031 43-47.5gr max 330gr cast bullet

IMR 4198 30.5-34gr max 385gr cast bullet
IMR 3031 40-44.5gr max 385gr cast bullet
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1895 Marlin Level Loads
IMR 4198 40-44gr max 330gr cast bullet
IMR 3031 50-55gr max compressed 330gr cast bullet

IMR 4198 35.5-39.5gr max 400gr cast bullet
IMR 4198 36.5-40.5gr max 405gr cast bullet


This data is for specific Lyman mold bullets at specific OAL, but I was able to make it work for my bought and home cast bullets. You may find something in between that works for you, but like anything you read on the internet it may not be 100% correct.
 
Well, yes.. but these are exactly the first bullet I ever tried to load with my 45-70 and I found that at about 1500 or so they just peeled lead in my barrel. It took a long time to clean. They are a little undersize and very hard with crappy pistol type lube on them.

Not saying they are a bad bullet, just that they are happy not really fast.

I don't suggest going more than 1300-1500 fps with them.

What powders do you have? They would make a great 9-15gr unique or trail boss load.

What do you think Bruce?
 
unstableryan said:
Well, yes.. but these are exactly the first bullet I ever tried to load with my 45-70 and I found that at about 1500 or so they just peeled lead in my barrel. It took a long time to clean. They are a little undersize and very hard with crappy pistol type lube on them.

Not saying they are a bad bullet, just that they are happy not really fast.

I don't suggest going more than 1300-1500 fps with them.

What powders do you have? They would make a great 9-15gr unique or trail boss load.

What do you think Bruce?
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Very good to know. I will have to watch that. I have a bunch of test loads made up for some of the 405 grain bullets I bought at the same time as the 350 grainers that I was planning to try out this week, I will have to keep a very close eye on the barrel when I do.

I have H322, IMR 4198, H380, IMR 4350, H4831SC, H414 and Win 748 in rifle powders on the shelf, if you want the complete list.
 
KyleM said:
Very good to know. I will have to watch that. I have a bunch of test loads made up for some of the 405 grain bullets I bought at the same time as the 350 grainers that I was planning to try out this week, I will have to keep a very close eye on the barrel when I do.

I have H322, IMR 4198, H380, IMR 4350, H4831SC, H414 and Win 748 in rifle powders on the shelf, if you want the complete list.
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I have a bunch of BB 405GCs so I'd be interested in how they perform for you.
 
Hard, bevel based,too small, hard lubed cast bullets may not be the best combination for top end loads in the 45/70, like someone else suggested, I'd stick with pistol velocities. Many powders will work, TrailBoss, 4759, AA5744, 4198, etc.
 
I have had excellent result with cast bullets for the 45-70 of 405 and 420 weight. My rifle is the Marlin 1895, which is just a guide gun with a longer barrel. My barrel is Ballard cut and has never picked up a bit of lead.
I have tried a lot of powders and most of them work fine. I see the OP has 4198 and 4895. For medium and heavy loads, those are the two powders I liked best. For loads that would be similar to factory loading, either is good. My most popular plinking loads is about 43 or 45 grains of 4895.
 
a fun plinking load is 40 grains of 3031 behind 350gr. bullet.....you can hear the bullet twist down range before it hits the target.......I cant tell you how fast its going buts its slow so put on your steel toe boots just in case :) Not sure How much more you can turn it up for cast bullets if you are looking for a faster load.
 
I've been shooting 350gr cast (OMA cast) out of Marlin and my single shot H&R. The single shot likes 44gr of IMR3031 and the Marlin likes 48gr of IMR3031.

Be careful, shooting cast bullets out of the 45-70 is very addictive.;)
 
stanway said:
I've been shooting 350gr cast (OMA cast) out of Marlin and my single shot H&R. The single shot likes 44gr of IMR3031 and the Marlin likes 48gr of IMR3031.

Be careful, shooting cast bullets out of the 45-70 is very addictive.;)
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Another addict here.
I'm feeding two (an 1885 Winnie clone and an 1874 Sharps) and going for more.
In fact I'm getting the shakes as I write this.
She-Who-Must-Be-Obeyed knows the signs and is shaking her head.:redface:
Maybe a trip to the range today.........:D
 
Another Addict:
I have one mold, it is the 500 gr RN LEE mold, and I shoot gas checked bullets at about 1700 fps.(53 gr of imitation 30301 that I bought at Higginson years ago, I think it is 4579) It kicks like a mule, but I watched the blood splash up on a moose horn on impact. A buddy, infact the buddy who got me addicted to the 45/70 shot a moose behind the shoulder, and the moose was quartering away from him a bit, and it pulled a rib through the hide for a foot. Needless to say, that moose stayed put.
 
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