45-70 loads for short barrels

Donkin

Donkin

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Hi All,

Looking for some tips and advice on loading 45-70 for short barrels. I recently acquired a 12" barreled chiappa lever action rifle.

I do load for my Marlin 45-70, but am looking for advice or tips to load up for this short barreled beast.

My starting point will be using the data for Contender pistols.

What has worked well for you?

Cheers,
Donkin
 
I have a Magnum Research BFR revolver in 45-70 with a 7-1/2" barrel.
I am using 1895 Marlin loads as recommended by Magnum Research.
I just started my load development and my first load was 35.8gr of IMR 4198 over a 300gr Cam Pro RSFP.
The recoil feels much tamer than that from my S&W 460V. The load in the 460V is 49.2gr of H110 over a 200gr Hornady FTX.
free image host
 
Do you just want light loads or full house? Whatever powder makes the most velocity in a long barrel will also make the most in a short barrel.

So use any trapdoor loads or lever action loads you see listed.

There is no long/short barrel powders unless your barrel is less then 4" long.

There is just stout/weak loads for rifles vs pistols
 
H4198, IMR4198, Re7 and basically any powder suitable for the longer barreled 45-70 will be just as suitable in your 12 in barrel. You will likely see increased muzzle flash but that's what happens with shorter barrels.
 
thump_rrr said:
I have a Magnum Research BFR revolver in 45-70 with a 7-1/2" barrel.
I am using 1895 Marlin loads as recommended by Magnum Research.
I just started my load development and my first load was 35.8gr of IMR 4198 over a 300gr Cam Pro RSFP.
The recoil feels much tamer than that from my S&W 460V. The load in the 460V is 49.2gr of H110 over a 200gr Hornady FTX.
free image host
Click to expand...

Awesome, thanks for the info. nice collection of wheelguns.
 
Evanguy said:
Do you just want light loads or full house? Whatever powder makes the most velocity in a long barrel will also make the most in a short barrel.

So use any trapdoor loads or lever action loads you see listed.

There is no long/short barrel powders unless your barrel is less then 4" long.

There is just stout/weak loads for rifles vs pistols
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply, I've experimented a fair bit with my Marlin 45-70 wrt stout and weak loads, but was more concerned about unburnt powder due to the short barrel, if that makes sense or is even possible?.

There is no doubt its going to produce a fireball, either way.

I see you're a 20min boat ride from where i am.

Cheers.
 
jethunter said:
H4198, IMR4198, Re7 and basically any powder suitable for the longer barreled 45-70 will be just as suitable in your 12 in barrel. You will likely see increased muzzle flash but that's what happens with shorter barrels.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jethunter, and they're some of your cast bullets i'll be using. Ive got some IMR4198 that i'll put to use.

Cheers,
Donkin
 
Donkin said:
Thanks for the reply, I've experimented a fair bit with my Marlin 45-70 wrt stout and weak loads, but was more concerned about unburnt powder due to the short barrel, if that makes sense or is even possible?.

There is no doubt its going to produce a fireball, either way.

I see you're a 20min boat ride from where i am.

Cheers.
Click to expand...

The unburnt powder is from low pressure for that power. Some powers burn easy at 30k psi some need over 40 before they burn clean. If the pressure if correct for the powder it all burns in the first 3" of the barrel.

Cool are you over in horseshoe Bay or lions bay?
 
Evanguy said:
The unburnt powder is from low pressure for that power. Some powers burn easy at 30k psi some need over 40 before they burn clean. If the pressure if correct for the powder it all burns in the first 3" of the barrel.

Cool are you over in horseshoe Bay or lions bay?
Click to expand...
Yeah, in HSB
 
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