Load testing

Johnn Peterson

Johnn Peterson

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I did a little 'preliminary' 45-70 load testing today with a selection of different bullets, primarily the Remington 405gr. I see what 303carbine ment with the accuracy results he experienced in this caliber using IMR 4198.:) Even though conditions weren't the best, I pounded out a couple of pretty good groups, for me. The best was three shots @ 100 yds with my Marlin 1895GS that measured 1.052". :D
 
Ain't nothin wrong with that load if I do say so myself, If I got that with any of my rifles first round I was happy because I knew where it would kill for sure. Just my thoughts, ps is the Vaux Rd range still there in Duncan, pounded on the ole gong many times.
 
Johnny G1 said:
Ain't nothin wrong with that load if I do say so myself, If I got that with any of my rifles first round I was happy because I knew where it would kill for sure. Just my thoughts, ps is the Vaux Rd range still there in Duncan, pounded on the ole gong many times.
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That brings back memories! The last time I saw the gong at 200 yds was just before I 'hit' it with my 458wm and knocked it 30' into the bush, chain & all.:D
The range is still there. I no longer belong to the club but did in the past. Prior to the present range being established, we shot outdoors at Bob Trotmans on Normandy Rd. in the summer and at what is now a parking lot where the indoor winter range used to be. Wood blocks were the butts as I recall. At the gun show last weekend I saw #### Pollock, one of the oldtimers, even older than me.;) Time flies when we were having fun.:)
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I did a little 'preliminary' 45-70 load testing today with a selection of different bullets, primarily the Remington 405gr. I see what 303carbine ment with the accuracy results he experienced in this caliber using IMR 4198.:) Even though conditions weren't the best, I pounded out a couple of pretty good groups, for me. The best was three shots @ 100 yds with my Marlin 1895GS that measured 1.052". :D
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Right on Johnn! Glad you finally got a chance to test those out. Nice shootin as well :cool:
 
Johnn Peterson said:
The best was three shots @ 100 yds with my Marlin 1895GS that measured 1.052". :D
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How much powder did you stuff in there ?

I just picked up a few boxes of 45-70 from a guy who told me they were factory loads.

It looked suspicious so I pulled a few and found that the 350 gr. Loads had 54.6 Gr of powder, Im not sure which powder but I doubt its a factory load.. The 405 Gr. loads had 29.7 gr which seems factory-ish.

Should be fine in my Marlin but the point is some guy with an old Trapdoor gun could of bought it and :eek:
 
Pathfinder said:
How much powder did you stuff in there ?

I just picked up a few boxes of 45-70 from a guy who told me they were factory loads.

It looked suspicious so I pulled a few and found that the 350 gr. Loads had 54.6 Gr of powder, Im not sure which powder but I doubt its a factory load.. The 405 Gr. loads had 29.7 gr which seems factory-ish.

Should be fine in my Marlin but the point is some guy with an old Trapdoor gun could of bought it and :eek:
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The load I was using with the Remington 405gr bullets was 39grs of IMR 4198. Previously a load I had that was 'almost' as accurate was 53grs of IMR 3031 with the Speer 400gr FN. and I tried some of them yesterday as well. In addition I tried the 405's with IMR 3031 and some Hornady 350gr FP with both powders but the best results was with the first load I mentioned.
I also 'played' around with two cast bullet loads in the 444 Marlin, using 250grGC SWC and a 325grGC SWC but the accuracy I was getting was about a Minute Of a Hockey Puck so I have a little more work to do there.
There's a couple of guys I shoot with on occasion and I'd probably shoot their reloads but for the most part I kinda' shy away from shooting anyones reloads. If nothing else, and if I were you, I'd try and find out exactly what they're loaded with and what gun they were loaded for to eliminate some of the guess work. If they were loaded up for a Ruger #1 or a custom bolt action, they could be a little on the warm side. Find out what you can then make your choice.
 
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If you run short of 4198, try AA2015 that is the powder that got us to 2100fps with the 405gr. weight and good accuracy. AA2015 may be harder to find, it is in our neck of the woods. We are playing with a 420gr. Long Flat Nose gas check bullet at 2000fps. that hits like a freight train. I'm finding it hard to type after a couple of days worth of recoil from those LFNs.
 
ben hunchak said:
If you run short of 4198, try AA2015 that is the powder that got us to 2100fps with the 405gr. weight and good accuracy. AA2015 may be harder to find, it is in our neck of the woods. We are playing with a 420gr. Long Flat Nose gas check bullet at 2000fps. that hits like a freight train. I'm finding it hard to type after a couple of days worth of recoil from those LFNs.
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I've seen some load listings for AA2015. I haven't used that powder, yet, but I'll have to give it a try.
Today I've got an idea concerning your comment on recoil as yesterday I booted out 100 rounds in total, 444 & 45-70 loads. That'll cure my appetite for the bigger stuff, for a couple of days anyway.;)
 
NAA said:
Sounds like a keeper load to me....
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Definately. Thanks to crazy_davey for the 405gr Remington bullets and his recommendation of them to me. I got a heads up on using IMR 4198 from 303carbine. His info seems to be confirmed for the most part by what's listed in the Sierra manual as a powder in some of their accuracy loads for the 45-70.
Yesterday was a lot of 'big stuff' in one day so I think I'll play with some of the smaller calibers for a while. I have some 325grGC, 420grGC and 530grGC cast bullet loads to work on next in the 45-70.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Definately. Thanks to crazy_davey for the 405gr Remington bullets and his recommendation of them to me. I got a heads up on using IMR 4198 from 303carbine. His info seems to be confirmed for the most part by what's listed in the Sierra manual as a powder in some of their accuracy loads for the 45-70.
Yesterday was a lot of 'big stuff' in one day so I think I'll play with some of the smaller calibers for a while. I have some 325grGC, 420grGC and 530grGC cast bullet loads to work on next in the 45-70.
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Both IMR 4198 and H4198 was really accurate for me in the 45-70, and having it burn clean without a lot of unburnt powder in the barrel was an added bonus.
 
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