45/70 loads

J

JasonYuke

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
152   0   0
Location
North Kawartha's
I have been playing with a couple of 45/70s over the last year or so and realy like these old buffalo beaters. I have a load nailed down with 350 grain jacket bullets but still looking for a good one for lead casts, been playing with Imr 3031, H4895 and cannon 405 casts with mixed results, tried packing and fillers but just cant nail down a 2-3 Inch grouper at 100, close but not there.
I have a wack of powders here to try and thought that 3031 was tried and true but not for me 4895 is the best so far.
I know there are lots of loads in my manuals but does not hurt to see what popular out there besides the ones i mentioned.
The gun I and trying to dial in with lead is a H&R buffalo classic 32" barrel, and leave my lever gun with copper bullets.

Does anyone have any more powder suggestions or a pet load you would share?
I realy enjoy shooting lead vs jacketed bullets and its alot of fun!:)

Thanks Jason
 
JasonYuke said:
I have been playing with a couple of 45/70s over the last year or so and realy like these old buffalo beaters. I have a load nailed down with 350 grain jacket bullets but still looking for a good one for lead casts, been playing with Imr 3031, H4895 and cannon 405 casts with mixed results, tried packing and fillers but just cant nail down a 2-3 Inch grouper at 100, close but not there.
I have a wack of powders here to try and thought that 3031 was tried and true but not for me 4895 is the best so far.
I know there are lots of loads in my manuals but does not hurt to see what popular out there besides the ones i mentioned.
The gun I and trying to dial in with lead is a H&R buffalo classic 32" barrel, and leave my lever gun with copper bullets.

Does anyone have any more powder suggestions or a pet load you would share?
I realy enjoy shooting lead vs jacketed bullets and its alot of fun!:)

Thanks Jason
Click to expand...


Your not goin to want to hear this but, sr 4759 and compress with pillow ticking
 
I have always had best luck with 4198 powder Jason.

I have a 500gn mold if you like to try it. Works very well with straight wheelweights.

Let me know you can pick it up on your way thru Combermere & give it a whirl!
 
JasonYuke said:
Yes that powder was on my hit list, senoir however I was worried about high preasures with it and a low load density, do you use a filler with it!
Click to expand...

Sorry Jason I shoulda paid more attenion!
I use it in a Siamese so load density is more of a can't get enough in than low density :rolleyes:

I have had decent results with it in the 50-70 with a filler.

Considering you problem have you tried RL-7 it's alittle bulkier?
 
45 - 70 cast loads

I've been shooting cast in the CBA's big bore bench rest match for a number of years, using a Danish rolling block in 45 - 70. I've used the old and out of production #44 powder from Ammomart(now Higginson Powders), Unique(13gr), WC845, and Alliant(formerly Hercules) 2400. My best results have been with 24 - 25gr of 2400 and a Saeco(redding) 425gr spire point bullet.

I cast 20:1 lead and tin, size and gas - check with a Lee sizer(better concentricity) seat to the first driving band, apply Canadian Tire Moly Grease by hand, seat to finished depth and wipe away the excess.

While that's far from a casefull, fillers have been counterproductive, and I've tried them several times.

This is an iron - sighted rifle(good double - aperature sights), and in calm weather it very seldom shows groups over 1.5" at 100yds. with the 2400 loads. My best year of competition, my average for 4 - 5 shot groups at 100 yds was 0.95". My smallest groups have been impossible to measure using a ruler, but I think something like 0.65". With the 13gr unique load, it's not quite as good.

The 20:1 alloy definitely shoots better than the harder alloys in this rifle.

It's obvious that there are serious differences from one rifle to the next - mine shoots VERY poorly with 4895, and hang - fires almost every shot, so no guarantees.

PLEASE CHECK THESE LOADS AGAINST YOUR LOADING MANUALS IN CASE I'VE MADE A TYPO.

Hope all this helps you, hope it works. Enjoy your 45 - 70.

Grouch
 
Thanks alot guys,
I do have have these pistol powders, I will try them out, IMR 4759 should work as will,

Can any one suggest a starting load I am thingking 26.0 and 28.0 to start with 4759, and 405 casts, I have about a dozen manuals but very limited data with these powder, cast wt combos.

I do have lots of data for 2400 and unique loads,
Thanks
 
Seems to me that 25 gr of SR 4759 was a nice load with a 400 gr cast. I also find that 43 gr of 3031 was also an accurate, easy shooting load. That was with the RCBS gas checked bullet
 
Make sure of your cast bullet sizing. It should be at least .459 or .460.
I've tried some cast at .457 and .458, and could not get them to shoot well at all. I jumped to the .459 in Jae-Bok Young's 420 grain Crater Lites, and his 550 grain Craters, using H-322 in both for 3 shot 100 yard groupd you can cover with a quarter.

Ricky
 
You can easily go 27 grs on the 4759 as the starting point. put in pillow ticking till just below casing top 1/16" or so then compress your projectile down onto that. give her a light taper crimp and away you go...What size are your bullets comming out of your mold? You know if you can get em to come out of a mold between 459 and 460 and just lube em your better off...Sizing is usually no friend of accuracy...And its virtually impossible to have a cast bullet to hard (Within reason)Its that frontal area thats doin the work
 
Last edited:
Filler

grouch said:
I've been shooting cast in the CBA's big bore bench rest match for a number of years, using a Danish rolling block in 45 - 70. I've used the old and out of production #44 powder from Ammomart(now Higginson Powders), Unique(13gr), WC845, and Alliant(formerly Hercules) 2400. My best results have been with 24 - 25gr of 2400 and a Saeco(redding) 425gr spire point bullet.

I cast 20:1 lead and tin, size and gas - check with a Lee sizer(better concentricity) seat to the first driving band, apply Canadian Tire Moly Grease by hand, seat to finished depth and wipe away the excess.

While that's far from a casefull, fillers have been counterproductive, and I've tried them several times.

This is an iron - sighted rifle(good double - aperature sights), and in calm weather it very seldom shows groups over 1.5" at 100yds. with the 2400 loads. My best year of competition, my average for 4 - 5 shot groups at 100 yds was 0.95". My smallest groups have been impossible to measure using a ruler, but I think something like 0.65". With the 13gr unique load, it's not quite as good.

The 20:1 alloy definitely shoots better than the harder alloys in this rifle.

It's obvious that there are serious differences from one rifle to the next - mine shoots VERY poorly with 4895, and hang - fires almost every shot, so no guarantees.

PLEASE CHECK THESE LOADS AGAINST YOUR LOADING MANUALS IN CASE I'VE MADE A TYPO.

Hope all this helps you, hope it works. Enjoy your 45 - 70.

Grouch
Click to expand...
I noticed your comment on fillers. One that has worked well for me is called Foam Backer Rod, made by Tago & purchased @ Home Depot. Figured the length required, cut to length & then slice a strip out so it will fit easily into the mouth of the case.
 
For Cowboy Action long range shooting in my Shilo-Sharps #3, I'm using 15.7 grains of Unique pushing a Bullet Barn 405 grain GC lead flat piont bullet at about 1,270 fps. Nice mild load, no problem firing 50 rds in a practice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom