A good powder for 45-70?

ipscgraz said:
Anyone have a powder they really like for a 45-70?

I'm using IMR 3031 with 300 gr JHP's right now and it's fine, but before I order a whack more I should take advantage of other's experience...
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I have good luck with H4198 or IMR 4198 under 420 grain cast bullets.
420 gr. gas checked cast bullet
40 grs. H4198
Velocity 1630 fps
Marlin Guide Gun
Every other powder I have tried leaves lots of unburnt powder goobers in the barrel, either one of the 4198's leave it clean. I have shot clover leaf groups with this load,it is easy on the rifle and the shooter.
 
Sounds like you have really hit the jackpot with that load, John. Certainly 1600+ is plenty for big game, and if it burns that clean, there's not a lot more to ask for.

Which bullet are you using, and how is it lubed?

Ted
 
Why not? said:
Sounds like you have really hit the jackpot with that load, John. Certainly 1600+ is plenty for big game, and if it burns that clean, there's not a lot more to ask for.

Which bullet are you using, and how is it lubed?

Ted
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A local guy casts them up,the lube it feels like like wax and works really good.The mould is an RCBS in.458,the bullet weight with the gas check is 420 grain.
 
I load 4198 and 300gr flatnose in my #3 ruger,works good.
an article in guns and ammo a few years back they chronagraphed long ronge loads for 45-70 with 500gr bullets and different powders and they(can,t remember their names) concluded that black powder was the most consistent and accurate.
 
Maybe a factor of ignition in such a large case. Even with a really bulky powder, like Trail Boss, that cavernous case isn't near full as it would be using Holy Black.
As a matter of interest, how much Holy Black can you get into a .45-70 case?
I've started looking into using black and have been playing around and trying to measure the charges going into the case but don't seem to be able to get up to the traditional 70 grains using FF
Haven't completed any loadings or firing of these BP loads until I know more about using BP in a cartridge.
 
Another vote for H4198 in midrange loads. I've gotten slightly better results with it than H4895. The Speer 400g JSP works well.

As far as the Holy Black goes, you won't get 70g into a modern case unless you have a really long throat and can seat some kind of bore-riding bullet pretty far out, and compress heavily. My Pedersoli Sharps has a pretty long throat and I can seat the Lyman 457125 (525g) with one grease groove and half of the next driving band exposed. IIRC that lets me get about 65g of Goex 2F and an .030 fibre wad under with mild compression. There are many factors that you can play with, which should keep you entertained for years ;-)
 
I use 50gr of imr 4198 under a 350gr hornady rn in my marlin guide gun,I'm not sure the velocity but end result is a nice clover leaf 100yrds down the way
 
Cold Lake Kid...you need to determine OAL,(how much your bullet can stick out)this will tell you how much room you have for BP, you then drop tube the charges, which could gain you a qtr. inch or so, you can also compress the black, giving you more capacity. Some BPCR boreriding bullets let you seat the bullet way out, others not. But I have used as much as 75grs. of black(GOEX) in the 45/70, however now, i am using Swiss BP which doesn't like the compression.
 
With the FF I have, getting 70 grains is tough. I read somewhere that the current black powder is, or tends to be, bulkier to the old time stuff, because of modern manufacturing processes.

With lighter loads of smokeless, I use a filler wad in the 45-70. I use quilt batting. (cotton waste) and fill the case completely.
Not filling the case when using a filler wad, is rumored to be a cause of ringed chambers.
 
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