Best all round powder for 45/70

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If you could only have one powder for a 45/70 what would it be ? I not looking for maximum power, just a good all round powder for 350-400 gr. bullets for fun shooting at the range.
 
I have loaded multiple thousands of rounds of 45/70 with everything from 350-525 grain bullets, cast and jacketed. I have never used anything but IMR 4198. There are many powders that will work fine but I have never found it necessary to try anything else.
Many shooters of the great 45/70 will recommend H4198, IMR 3031, Reloader 7. I know a few guys that won't talk to me about loading for the 45/70 because I prefer smokeless powder and they shoot pure black with paper patch cast bullets, but they can hit a 3 foot circle at 1000 yards with iron sights.
 
This is one of those questions that there is really no right answer. The condition , stength, design and age of all the 45-70's available to us all have different appetites.

A shooter using Ruger #1 that can shoot jacketed bullets all day at amost .458 ballistics will like any of the IMR powders already listed.
A shooter using lead cast bullets in a gun with a barrel 100 yrs old and only shooting Black Powder balistics will like the SR 4759 already listed or, in Mike Venturino's words " the best smokless powder ever made for old black powder cartridges" 5744.
 
Andy said:
I ike H4198. - you can load it way up, or way down.
Click to expand...

X2!!!

I have loaded for more than a dozen different marlin 45-70's, and they all shot exccedingly well with H4198.
Starting grain loads shoot without the severe recoil, but the max charges are not for the faint of heart!
 
I like Unique for 1200 fps loads, Blue Dot for for just under 1400 fps loads, and IMR-4198 seems to work well for going above that in the 45-70. I've tried Varget, and it was accurate IIRC, but what a dirty girl when you're done shooting and look through the barrel.
 
Thanks for all the quick replies. I was going to Wholesale Sports today to pick up a rifle I had on order and I remembered I hadn't decided on a powder for it. I bought H4198 It was kind of a toss up between H4198 and Reloader7 I thought the Reloader7 would have been more versatile for some of my other rifles but they were out of it. Thanks Again.:cheers:
 
I use RL7 for cast loads. Honestly I picked it out of the data and stuck with it, because I didn't want an IMR powder since most don't meter worth a damn. SR4759 may be good, but it bridges terribly in my Lyman 55 measure, meaning every second charge must be verified. With irons at the range I shoot, it's good enough for me.
 
I have loaded for four different 45/70's for the last fifteen years. I'm just a beginner compared to some but I feel that should entitle me to an opinion. With accuracy like this at 100yds, from my Remlin GBL, I have favored AA2015 for some time now.

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