.45-70 smokeless loads for 1874 Sharps
- Thread starter Claven2
- Start date
Claven,
The most accurate cast bullet load I have found in my hi-wall is 30 grs of SR4759 behind a LEE 405 gr FP. This load was given to me by a friend who shoots a Pedersoli Sharps. It is very pleasant to shoot, out of my 30 inch bbl it clocks at 1400 approx. I believe 30 grs is nowhere near max either even with a sharps, but double check that one for sure. I imagine I could get better accuracy with a bullet other than a LEE but those $30 molds are hard to argue with as a starting point! BTW this load shoots sub MOA with vernier sights out to 200 yds, I haven't had opportunity to try it a longer yardages yet.
Steve
The most accurate cast bullet load I have found in my hi-wall is 30 grs of SR4759 behind a LEE 405 gr FP. This load was given to me by a friend who shoots a Pedersoli Sharps. It is very pleasant to shoot, out of my 30 inch bbl it clocks at 1400 approx. I believe 30 grs is nowhere near max either even with a sharps, but double check that one for sure. I imagine I could get better accuracy with a bullet other than a LEE but those $30 molds are hard to argue with as a starting point! BTW this load shoots sub MOA with vernier sights out to 200 yds, I haven't had opportunity to try it a longer yardages yet.
Steve
Claven,
The most accurate cast bullet load I have found in my hi-wall is 25 grs of SR4759 behind a LEE 405 gr FP. This load was given to me by a friend who shoots a Pedersoli Sharps. It is very pleasant to shoot, out of my 30 inch bbl it clocks at 1400 approx. I believe 25 grs is nowhere near max either even with a sharps, but double check that one for sure. I imagine I could get better accuracy with a bullet other than a LEE but those $30 molds are hard to argue with as a starting point! BTW this load shoots sub MOA with vernier sights out to 200 yds, I haven't had opportunity to try it a longer yardages yet.
Steve
The most accurate cast bullet load I have found in my hi-wall is 25 grs of SR4759 behind a LEE 405 gr FP. This load was given to me by a friend who shoots a Pedersoli Sharps. It is very pleasant to shoot, out of my 30 inch bbl it clocks at 1400 approx. I believe 25 grs is nowhere near max either even with a sharps, but double check that one for sure. I imagine I could get better accuracy with a bullet other than a LEE but those $30 molds are hard to argue with as a starting point! BTW this load shoots sub MOA with vernier sights out to 200 yds, I haven't had opportunity to try it a longer yardages yet.
Steve
Here's a couple of 45/70 loads in the 24-28K range that I've used (in the 43 Mauser using 45/90 brass with aloxed 390 grain cast bullets, but will perform much the same in yours):
SR-4759 - 28.0 gr - 1500 fps (powder available from Stittsville)
H4198- 40.0 gr - 1700 fps (Higginsons - where else?)
I tried a variety of loads with RL-7 and did not like it in the 45/70, but it works well in the 303 Brit. Position sensitive and even if I tipped the gun up before each shot, I got wide velocity variations. I am leaning more and more towards slower powders and fuller cases, i.e. Varget. Uses more powder, but gives same velocity at lower pressures and is not posiiton sensitive. Still, I'm also playing with Higginson's surplus N-69 using Alliant 2400 loads and it is working ok, just the position sensitive thing again.
SR-4759 - 28.0 gr - 1500 fps (powder available from Stittsville)
H4198- 40.0 gr - 1700 fps (Higginsons - where else?)
I tried a variety of loads with RL-7 and did not like it in the 45/70, but it works well in the 303 Brit. Position sensitive and even if I tipped the gun up before each shot, I got wide velocity variations. I am leaning more and more towards slower powders and fuller cases, i.e. Varget. Uses more powder, but gives same velocity at lower pressures and is not posiiton sensitive. Still, I'm also playing with Higginson's surplus N-69 using Alliant 2400 loads and it is working ok, just the position sensitive thing again.
