45/70 too hot to handle

age

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Help. I have H&R Buffalo Classic, loaded some bullets 300 gr cast no filler 19 gr unique woked great. I then made some 500gr cast bullets using 14.8 gr unique and 1/4" dacron batting as a filler. Got the receipe here on gun nuts. The action keeps opening on its own when i shoot. Stupid question, but will less powder help or try something new? I have alot of 500gr to get rid of. Also i loaded this to reduce recoil and slow the bullet down. Thanks for any help AGE
 
I quit using a dacron filler with Unique. Now use a magnum rifle primer to get good ignition. Dacron raises pressures, may cause chamber problems, and is a pain in the butt anyway.
 
I get 1140 fps avg.with 14.8 gr Unique 500 gr Lee GC and is quite accurate...if your rifles' action is opening up at these low pressures you need to get that looked at and fixed. Have heard on various forums some of the owners have the same issues with their break top action opening on firing a round with these rifles.

When you get the problem cured...24.0 gr. Alliant 2400 at 1270 fps is a also a good load with my 500 gr. Lee GC. I use a filler for best accuracy..but it will still shoot 1.75 inch 3 shots/100 yd without fillers in both of my 45/70 s'
 
The same time i discovered the proplem i was shooting 405 rnfp with 36gr 3031 powder and 300gr rnfp gc with 34gr of 3031. The gun was ok and shot well. AGE
 
I know nothing of that gun, but I wouldn't own a gun where it's "normal" for it to "open on its own" with heavy loads. Are you sure there isn't something malfunctionning?

The 500 gr load you tried is up at about 35K CUP - I assume your gun is rated along with the strongest actions like the Ruger.
 
I don't believe the problem with those guns opening on firing is due to the loads used, it is a design or quality flaw, something wrong with the lockup, happens on alot of them.
 
All of the loads shown by "age," who startred this thread, are very low pressure, as are the loads shown with only about 35 grains of 3031.
Handloader Magazine, that once did so much testing of the Marlin 45-70, shows 52 grains of 3031, behind a 300 grain Nosler, as giving 1827 fps and less than 21,000 CUP.
A 405 grain Remington softpoint with 54 grains of 3031, is shown as 1830 fps and a pressure that did not exceed 35,000 CUP.
A very accurate light load in my 1895 Marlin, was 14.4 grains of unique, backed, with a 420 grain cast bullet. A five shot, 100 metre group measured 1.4 inches, but 4 of the 5 wint into .9.
22.5 grains of 4227 backed with weather stripping, was also light and very accurate.
I also found large pistol primers as being very accurate in these loads.
And hs4570, I'm surprised at the low velocity you got with 24 grains of
2400. I used 27 grains of Hercules 2400 and thought it seemed heavier than I would imagine it should have been.
 
H4831

In my rifle I found best accuracy with this powder at 24.0 gr A2400 and 500 Lee GC at the velocity specified...my notes indicate close to 1500 fps with 26.0 grains 2400 but got 3 inch groups....velocity was from my 22 inch brl #3 Ruger.

I can guess your load kicks a bit more then with 27 grains eh..
 
I quit using a dacron filler with Unique. Now use a magnum rifle primer to get good ignition. Dacron raises pressures, may cause chamber problems, and is a pain in the butt anyway.



I would caution about using no filler. See my post about tests done with Unique in a 38 spl. Pressures varied considerably depending on powder position in the cartridge.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=290656
 
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I would caution about using no filler. See my post about tests done with Unique in a 38 spl. Pressures varied considerably depending on powder position in the cartridge.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=290656

On the other hand, dacron filler may cause ringed chambers in rifles - although I had not experienced one. Anyway - without the filler, accuracy is more than acceptable suggesting the pressure variation is not extreme in the 45-70 at the loads I use.

BTW - good read on the 38 special test
 
Wondering if the gun opening after being shot has been happening from new?
I had a H&R ultra in 450 marlin and 25-06 and never had this problem. Am getting a H&R BC this week. I do know that slamming the action closed rather than closing the action gently will loosen any break open action.
 
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