Another possible good load for a plain base 45/70 bullet

Win 38-55

Win 38-55

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I had a can of IMR SR 4759 kicking around with only a little bit of powder left in the bottom. Yesterday, I figured I needed to finish that powder off, so used it to load up a few 45-70 cartridges with a plain base bullet. I was thinking that, since plain base bullets seem to like a little faster powder to obdurate the bullet to seal the bore, SR 4759 might work even better than 5744. The load was 26 grains of IMR SR 4759 and 1 sheet of 1-ply toilet paper loosely rolled and folded, under a 405 grain PB bullet sized to .4585". I'm saying this is a 'possible' good load because of two things. First, I want to buy some more 4759 powder to see if it gives results like this consistently and, second, there was a steady rain, so I could not chrono this load. I estimate it is around 1,350 fps. Below is the result for 5 shots at 100 yards. The group is 2 & 9/16" which I consider to be good, given it was shot with iron sights and the extra wide notch of a ladder sight (which I find the hardest type iron sight to shoot accurately with). The rifle was an original Winchester Model 1886 made in 1904, with a full octagon 26" barrel. Here's the target:

4759target.jpg
 
Looks good! What do figure the velocity to be? 1300 - 1400f/sec? With that weight of bullet in my Pedersoli, I got some pretty good results using 22 - 27grs of IMR 4227 with a filler. Going to try it in my guide gun next. In my 1st edition Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 22 - 27*grs of IMR 4227 and 23 - 28*grs of SR 4759 are in the 1200 - 1450f/sec range. Never used 4759, yet.
 
For a lighter cast bullet load, 2400 should do as well as any other. I was going to scan the page in my 1st edition Lyman Cast Bullet book and send it to you. Still can if you wish, however, the 2400 loads they list for that weight of bullet are 20.0 grs - 25.0* grs for velocities of 1175 - 1465* f/sec.
I save most of my existing supply of 2400, Hercules, for Keith type loads in the 357 & 44 Mags.
I can't recall if you've mentioned it or not, do you use a filler? A couple of days ago at Home Depot I replenished my supply of the filler I use.
It must be Christmas but I didn't think Christmas came this soon after Halloween. This afternoon, following my previous post, I lucked into a good deal on about 150 of the 405gr FPBB cast, a bag of 300gr Rem. SLHP, just under 200 400gr Rem. SJ and a handful of 500gr Hornady RNSP.:D Looks like some powder is going to get burnt.;)
 
Johnn, do they list a 2400 load for the 405 grain cast bullet that is around 1,350 fps? Do they mention anything about what kind of pressure those 2400 loads generate?
 
Win 38-55 said:
Johnn, do they list a 2400 load for the 405 grain cast bullet that is around 1,350 fps? Do they mention anything about what kind of pressure those 2400 loads generate?
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No, nothing specifically listed for 1350 f/sec, just what I've quoted. 20.0 - 25.0* of 2400 for velocities ranging from 1175 f/sec - 1465 f/sec. A rough guess, I would say 23 - 24 grs would put you around 1350 f/sec. You'd pretty well have to test with a chrono to get the velocity you're looking for.
As far as the preasures generated, no mention available in that book.
I just did a quick look in the Lyman # 48 edition Reloading Handbook and for the Lyman # 457193, a 405gr bullet there are some loads listed for both 1873 Springfield and others for 1886 Winchesters & 1895 Marlins strength guns. Velocities are generally higher but go from a low of basically 1189 f/sec to a high of 1828 f/sec. Whats a bit of a suprise to me is in the latest, 3rd edition, Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, doesn't have any cast loads listed for a 405gr bullet. Strange one of their manuals would have it and not the other, a cast bullet specific manual, especially as the 405gr is the most well noted weight for the .45-70.
A quick check in the edition of Pet Loads by Ken Waters that I have doesn't show any 405gr cast bullet loads either. A site such as Beartooth Bullets may have something. Give me a shout if a scan of the info in # 48 would be of any help to you.
 
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