45-70 loads!

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m_moss23

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What is everyones favorite combo in 45-70? Im looking for a recipe for 350grn cast pills . Also some data i see calls for wad on top of the powder ?? Im new to 45-70 the thought of adding a wad scares me a little . Any advice appreciated
 
I load all kinds of bullets for my 45-70, 45-90 and 45-110............never used a card wad yet. I'd likely go with either 4198 or 3031 and no wad required. You are obviously not looking for hot, smoking loads with cast lead bullets so either of these powders, or RL 7 if you have it works wonders for mid range 45-70 loads. Try and pick up Lymans manual, or Cartridges of the World, or Waters Pet Loads for cast bullet data.
 
I was thinking thoose two powders as well . I checked lyman cast bullet book and the only data is for a 366 grain 30 grain of 3031 to start . Im figuring its prob safe to start there and work my way up .
 
11 grains Unique with a 1/8" thick, pink packaging foam wad over powder. A very light and accurate load. I've shot many hundreds of these loads at Big Bore silhouettes out to 200 mtrs.
The foam wad burns up completely and no issues with a cardboard wad striking the bullet.
 
m_moss23 said:
What is everyones favorite combo in 45-70? Im looking for a recipe for 350grn cast pills . Also some data i see calls for wad on top of the powder ?? Im new to 45-70 the thought of adding a wad scares me a little . Any advice appreciated
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35gr of IMR 4198 behind a 350gr hard cast from Bullet Barn averaging 1440 fps out of my 18" barrel Henry 45-70 Steel. 3" group at 100 yards with all my realistic shot at around 50 yards.

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Been using the Lyman 457193 cast 405gr bullet 50/50 WW and pure lead, 2 coats of lee alox and Lyman's starting load for lever actions using IMR 4198 and been getting about 2 inch groups if I do my part. Going to be trying IMR 4895 next. Hodgdon lists a trap door load with IMR 4895 that should produce 1500 FPS and it is almost 100% load density. Hoping it shoots well and will report back. I'd give charge weights but I'm not going to post them from memory when it is easy to loom up online.
 
My most accurate load is a TLC360-360-RF "Ranch Dog" cast from clip on wheel weights and water dropped. Tumble lubed with Ben's Liquid Lube and sized to .460" with Gator gas checks. Load them in Starline brass with Dominion LR primers and Varget. Both my 1895 GBLs will shoot that load better than I can shoot with open sights. It's a light shooting load that packs a good punch. Would be a good deer and black bear load.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Not trying to be a #### (but possibly accomplishing the unintended mission) but I wouldn't be satisfied with that group. Not by a long shot.
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If I was "long range precision shooting" with my 45-70 I'd agree. But from a hunter's perspective with shots under 50 yards, more like 25 yards from my ground blind or tree stand... my 100 yard group is more than accurate enough for bear and deer. This combo works for me and that is what the OP asked.
 
aric84 said:
Been using the Lyman 457193 cast 405gr bullet 50/50 WW and pure lead, 2 coats of lee alox and Lyman's starting load for lever actions using IMR 4198 and been getting about 2 inch groups if I do my part. Going to be trying IMR 4895 next. Hodgdon lists a trap door load with IMR 4895 that should produce 1500 FPS and it is almost 100% load density. Hoping it shoots well and will report back. I'd give charge weights but I'm not going to post them from memory when it is easy to loom up online.
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I use the same bullet. Drops from my mould at 418gr before lube/sizing. I use 3031 in a load from Ken Waters Pet Loads that runs at 1950 FPS from my 1885.
The ROC said:
If I was "long range precision shooting" with my 45-70 I'd agree. But from a hunter's perspective with shots under 50 yards, more like 25 yards from my ground blind or tree stand... my 100 yard group is more than accurate enough for bear and deer. This combo works for me and that is what the OP asked.
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The problem with that logic is that, when your rifle could throw the bullet 3.5" in any random direction from where your sights are then you have to consider that your ability to hold a rifle has to be 3.5" inside the perimeter of the vital zone. So your 8" kill zone becomes a 1" kill zone because if you are within 3.5" of the edge then the shot could be outside. Even at your revised "more likely" range of 25 yards that margin for error leaves you with a 6.25" kill zone.

My point is, why make your ability to kill an animal that much more difficult? You could shoot just as accurately, maybe moreso, with a bow.
 
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I've been using 15.5 gr.Trail Boss under a 350 gr. lead bullet and getting good accuracy at 200 yards.
I don't use any filler or wads.
 
BigUglyMan said:
I use the same bullet. Drops from my mould at 418gr before lube/sizing. I use 3031 in a load from Ken Waters Pet Loads that runs at 1950 FPS from my 1885.
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Hoo boy! My shoulder hurts thinking of that! I'm running my loads through an 1886 Miroku Winchester with the crescent butt plate, certainly gets my attention. I have a cheap Butler Creek pad on there now and while ugly it does make the rifle bearable with hot loads now so I'm going to keep making the hotter until I get something I am comfortable hunting with. Going to be switching to the 457643 mould with the larger meplat, hope it shoots as well.

I'll have to try out some 3031 at some point.
 
BigUglyMan said:
Not trying to be a #### (but possibly accomplishing the unintended mission) but I wouldn't be satisfied with that group. Not by a long shot.
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If this is a group shot with open sights, from a rifle with a magazine tube attached to the barrel, using cast bullets, this isn't bad at all.

I'm sure that with jacketed bullets and a scope, the groups would be smaller.

In the 1970s, I owned a .45-70 Marlin 1895 that I fitted a Leupold 4X scope to, and shot cloverleaf groups with 350 grain JSP handloads.
 
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