Loads for 45-70,3031????

cooner

cooner

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Was wondering if any of you have loads for 45-70 and 3031 powder? I already use it for my 38-55 and 30-30 so I have a supply.
I should say that I am using .405 cast out of a rolling block action, they are sized .459.
I know I can look up a load but want to hear from guys who have used it.
Do I need filler, mag primers, ect???
Thanks
cooner
 
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I don't see one in my "Modern Reloading" book, although there may be one.
You may want to contact the IMR to see if they have anything on it. (913-362-9455)
Having said that, I find Trail Boss a nice powder to use in my .45-70, topped off with some dacron filler.
I like the bulky powders in the large straight cases.
 
The only reason I haven't used 3031 in the 45-70 with 405 or heavier bullets, is because I don't have any 3031 on hand.
Some of the most experienced shooters and handloaders on these threads highly recommend 3031 for the 45-70.
See if you can get Why Not, on these threads to answer your question.
 
I use IMR 3031 powder almost exclusively...I developed loads for all I reload. It also depends on the bullet weight. my recipe is 405 gr cast...50 gr IMR 3031. 325 cast..48-5 IMR 3031.....
 
Hi,

IMR-3031 is the powder I use most for smokeless loads. Check with a good manual like Lyman's 49th as it has the most cast bullet loads for .45-70s.

The 405gr loads I shoot most are 38.5gr to 40.0gr of IMR-3031 in either Rem or WW cases. I've shot these out of all of my .45-70's with good results (from Sharps and High wall replicas to Marlins and Ruger #1's).

I chronied the 40gr load (405gr Bullet Barn bullet @ 0.459", WW brass, CCI 200 primer, 40.0gr IMR-3031), in 5 degree weather out of my 18.5" barelled Marlin. It ran at almost exactly 1200 fps in that short barrel. No fillers were used in this load as I did not find them necessary. The velocities were very consistent.

I would caution you against going really light with IMR-3031 as I tried some lighter loads from the old Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. They recommended a filler with loads in the 34gr range IIRC. I've never been a fan of fillers so I loaded them without. I experienced hang fires and position sensitivity so I won't go there again.

Some don't like IMR-3031 in .45-70 because it's not the cleanest burning powder until you use heavy bullets and a fair bit of powder. I don't find it a problem with accuracy but some complain about it.

Chris.
 
I don't know about a load of 3031 in a Rolling Block action...might give too much pressure. My load gives pretty stout results in my 1885 - 1950 FPS with a 48 Cast bullet. Definately too much for a Roller.
 
BigUglyMan said:
I don't know about a load of 3031 in a Rolling Block action...might give too much pressure. My load gives pretty stout results in my 1885 - 1950 FPS with a 48 Cast bullet. Definately too much for a Roller.
Click to expand...

I had a Pedersoli Rolling Block and with the suggested load levels for it, I found a lot of unburnt powder residue left behind using IMR 3031 in cast bullet loads. The accuracy didn't seem to be adversely effected but I didn't like the look of it. Using IMR 4198 I found the accuracy to be at least as good, without the unburnt powder issue.

In my Marlin 1895GS with hotter loads using the Speer 400grFN and/or the Remington 405gr, both powders work well. I presently have the 'loan' of a Pedersoli Sharps to try out so it'll be interesting to see cast and jacketed bullet results out of it are.
 
H4831 said:
The only reason I haven't used 3031 in the 45-70 with 405 or heavier bullets, is because I don't have any 3031 on hand.
Some of the most experienced shooters and handloaders on these threads highly recommend 3031 for the 45-70.
See if you can get Why Not, on these threads to answer your question.
Click to expand...

My all time favourite 45-70 load is 50 gr of 3031 with a 400-420 gr cast bullet. That gets over 1800 fps in my Marlin.

Having said that, I think your rolling block would be best served with around 40 gr. That will get you pretty close to the original 45-70 velocity, around 1350.

Ted
 
45-70 powders

I started out using 3031 in my Browning 45-70 and took two moose with it and my own cast Lyman FP 420 bullets.

Now I use Varget and 5744 in both my 45-70s and 50-70.

As for Trail Boss, the idea behind it is that it is such a bulky powder, fillers are not required. I'm among those who tried it in several calibres and gave up on it. I only had success with it in 45 Colt.
 
BigUglyMan said:
I don't know about a load of 3031 in a Rolling Block action...might give too much pressure. My load gives pretty stout results in my 1885 - 1950 FPS with a 48 Cast bullet. Definately too much for a Roller.
Click to expand...

Lyman's 49th lists a pile of loads in the "Trapdoor" strength category. Most of those actually produce significantly less pressure than a Trail Boss load will.

If it's an antique rolling block I'd say tread carefully, but if it's something newer like a Pedersoli reproduction, he'll be fine with the trapdoor level loads.

Chris.
 
Sharps '63 said:
I started out using 3031 in my Browning 45-70 and took two moose with it and my own cast Lyman FP 420 bullets.

Now I use Varget and 5744 in both my 45-70s and 50-70.

As for Trail Boss, the idea behind it is that it is such a bulky powder, fillers are not required. I'm among those who tried it in several calibres and gave up on it. I only had success with it in 45 Colt.
Click to expand...

Interesting result in your .45-70
I use in in my .45 Colts as well and decided to try it in my Uberti Hiwall.
It shoots cloverleafs at 100 yds using it and doesn't "pound" my shoulder the way some other powders did.
I hope my new Pedersoli Sharps does as well, or better using it.
Just variances from firearm to firearm I wonder.
 
I don't like to use 3031 in the .45-70 as I find it leaves too much unburned powder in the barrel, unless you are creating shoulder wrenching loads with associated higher pressures for the powder burn. If you want high velocity, it will probably work well as described above. If you want to operate in the 1200-1600 fps range, there are better powders, including 2400 and Reloder 7.
 
Cooner:
I use 3031 Imr With a ,405 gr.ww. The load I use is 38.5 grains and it splits the Crony at 1475 fps. I could up the load but it's so damn cumfie.I have an 1895 lever action and I carry it with me for protection.It groups 13/4 in. at 100 yds.I am happy with that and not getting my shoulder wacked to hell.

Grijim
 
I use a Higgenson powder, IMR 4579, which is said to have the same burning rate as 3031
and 53 grains of it behind a Lee 500 gr gas check bullet makes 1860 FPS, in a 22 inch barrel on a siamese mauser. The recoil is noticable.
 
Huh?

Someone 'splain why grains of 'unburned' powder in the barrel is such a negative. Some powders will be cleaner burning in some guns, depending upon a lot of factors - lube, bullet type, loading density, etc.

I once heard one guy say that it caused wear on the barrel! Gimme a break .....
a few grains of unburned powder is harder than modern barrel steel? Yeah, right, and Iggy will be the next PM.

Years ago I was amazed at how much powder was on the snow ahead of me after firing some .44 mag loads with 2400. Accuracy and power was there, but so was a lot of 'unburned' powder.

I can see this being a problem on an indoor range floor that doesn't get cleaned regularly
 
Of the powders I have tried, I think 4895 may be the most versatile, for mid to high velocity. Very accurate from the factory loading ranges, or a bit below, right up to as high a head jumping thumper as you want.
4320 seemed OK, also, and may be similar to 3031, which I haven't tried, but didn't try enough ranges with 4320 to make a comment on it.
Same applies to Norma 203.
4198 is also accurate for the mid ranges, but may not be the best for the higher pressure loads.
For the very light loads that make amazingly tiny groups, I did the best with IMR 4227, with the powder held in place by ½ inch round weather seal.
I didn't do anything spectacular with Unique and I found with 2400 it was very easy to get a higher pressure than I wanted.
 
I have a load of 40 gr 3031 with a bullet barn 450gr lead. It chronys at 1300fts. I ran rem factory 405gr at 1100 fts. The 450 gives a nice push.
 
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