How High and Low Can Can You Push 45-70

[Azolink]

Has anyone here put any serious time into experimenting with 45-70? Id love to hear all about your experiences.

 

[4fifty8]

Norma lists 3 .45-70 pressure levels: 29k, 43.5k & 58k psi. 300gr TSX@2600 fps mv from my .45-70 Ruger No.1-S (22" barrel).

https://www.norma-ammunition.com/en-gb/reloading-data/45-70-government-58-000-psi

 

[HeliMD]

For the low end plinking loads I was using 405 gr cast bullets with Unique powder. Fun loads you can shoot all day wont brake the bank or the shoulder. cant remeber the powder charge or velocity though. sure more will chime in soon.

 

[saskgunowner101]

For the low end plinking loads I was using 405 gr cast bullets with Unique powder. Fun loads you can shoot all day wont brake the bank or the shoulder. cant remeber the powder charge or velocity though. sure more will chime in soon.

I shot a bunch of watered down loads with Unique powder/405 grain cast. About 14 grains gave me 1150-1175 fps IIRC. A guy could go lower than that if he wanted.

 

[4fifty8]

45-70 subsonic loads possible 410gr@1075 fps mv.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/45-70-government-gr-sub-x#!/

 

[a j cave]

My Ruger #3 pushes 405gc at ~ 1750 over 50gr of 3031. An accurate load but not tops ( for pressure, but about alli want to hang on to). Don’t load others much hotter.

 

[vagrantviking]

Lowest I've tried was 5gr of 3f goex and a 135gr round ball. Nice slap sound hitting the cardboard at 10m.

It's really good fun to take down steel rams at 500m using 72gr of 2fg and a 500gr bullet.

Just started loading smokeless for a revolver so that should be interesting.

 

[keith mokry]

Winchester 1885 16” brl using Barnes tsx 250 and aa1680 and get 2350fps
Marlin guide gun Remington 405 and h322 for 1925fps
Ride is bumpy with these two loads
Use rem 405 and imr 4198 38-40g and is pleasant to shoot

 

[Brutus]

I found this online, not sure of the velocity for PB cast 405. Twelve grains of Trail Boss in an antique drilling damascus barrels. Pretty good accuracy 55 yards.
This was considered to be safe in good condition shoot able antique Trapdoor rifle or carbine.
With three points of lockup on the drilling I figure this is a good handload.

 

[4fifty8]

45-70 hunting loads: Marlin GBL 400gr Buster@~1800 fps mv, Outfitter G2 400gr Buster@~2000 fps mv.

GBL: https://i.imgur.com/4BBghv0.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/0ovVuoB.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/5xQGEQ5.jpg

G2: https://i.imgur.com/pRqezdf.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/Ss2H8kf.jpg

 

[woodlotowner]

Hodgdon's Trail Boss is great for reduced 405 grain cast loads and RL-7 is great for stout 400 grain jacketed bullet (Speer) loads.

 

[4fifty8]

Good results with my G2 45-70, Blue Dot & 405gr@1450 fps mv.

https://i.imgur.com/1nyBSxf.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/AOxt6tB.jpg

 

[woodlotowner]

Good results with my G2 45-70, Blue Dot & 405gr@1450 fps mv.

https://i.imgur.com/1nyBSxf.jpg / https://i.imgur.com/AOxt6tB.jpg

Interesting. Blue Dot turned out to be my best powder for 44-40 loads...

 

[CzyHorse]

The Hodgdon 'Lever Action' starting load (same as the Max. Trap Door Load) for a 300gn Sierra over H4198, gets me a MV of 2150fps & ~3000ft-lbs ME from my pistol grip 18.5" Marlin 1895GBL.
When I had it, at these load levels, I could not hang onto the straight grip Marlin 1895G, well enough to get any sort of accurate follow up shot.

My shoulder has imposed a similar 45-70Gov breach preasure limit as Garrett 45-70 ammo, 33,000Cup/35,000psi.

 

[hatman1793]

I watched “Who-Tee-Who’s” recent test fire of CVA’s stainless single shot 45-70 rifle on U-tube. One of the loads he tested was Winchester’s 250 grain factory loading that choreographed @ 2030 fps. Plus the rifle looked really neat…..

 

[Unholysavage]

Elmer Keith's go-to load was a 405gr in front of 53gr of IMR3031 in his Marlin.