Looking for good 45/70 powder that is available

Shooter_HKT

CGN Regular
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Location
Nova Scotia
Hello,

I'm almost out of Reloader 7 that I've been using for years for my 45/70 and 405gr Rem bullets.

Any suggestions on a new powder that is available and you have had good luck with?

I'll be using it in my Marlin 1895GS.

Thanks!
 
I have seven 45/70 rifles and have loaded for them and many others for decades, in my opinion IMR 4198 is the best 45/70 powder
 
H4198 works very well. IMR4198 does too but a little less velocity/temp stability if that matters to you. More of a moot point in a big bore unless you're both shooting for and actually capable of tiny groups. IMR3031 is supposed to be a gooder too but I have not tried that one. Avoid medium and slow powders unless you like excessive recoil and blast with dismal velocity.
 
H4198 works very well. IMR4198 does too but a little less velocity/temp stability if that matters to you. More of a moot point in a big bore unless you're both shooting for and actually capable of tiny groups. IMR3031 is supposed to be a gooder too but I have not tried that one. Avoid medium and slow powders unless you like excessive recoil and blast with dismal velocity.

IMR3031 is indeed a good powder, for accuracy its the best i have seen but availability is the problem at the moment. IMR 4198 is more readily available.
 
Another vote for imr3031. Worked wonders with 350 rn hornady up to 2150fps and 400fp speer to 1900fps. Basically work up till your shoulder can't take it anymore. Scoped 22" marlin new manufacture lever would very easily hold 1.25" at 100.
 
I've used varget, benchmark, 4064 and 3031with 405gr cast and jacketed bullets. They all worked good with jacketed bullets and all but 4064 worked for me with cast. I have settled on varget as my 4570 powder because it works great and I load it in several other calibers as well.
 
Ok, I have some powder left from my 45/70 days I was gonna let you have to try. I used a lot of 3031, it was the most accurate powder in my Ruger #3, but, if you didn't crimp well it was dirty and it didn't meter well (stick powder). I also used 2400 with cast lead bullets at BP velocities, around 20 -24 grs under a cast 405 was just fun. H4198 meters really well, is clean and accurate load. Not as accurate as 3031, but, much easier to work up loads and cleaner.
 
Last edited:
4198 is about all I use, but there are many powders that work well with the 45-70 and 405 grain bullets in the Marlin Lever Gun.

If you can't find one of the 4198's, here's a list to consider:

3031
Benchmark
H322
748
BLC-2
H335
4895
Varget
4064
 
Optimum powder for the 45-70 can be put in two groups, depending on what level...from 1873 black powder level to the shoulder jarring almost .458 Mag level that you want to achieve. My experience has been that for the bone jarring variety, the 4198's and 30-31 work very well . for the mild loads I've had very good success with SR 4759 (discontinued & somewhat hard to find but sometimes available at a gunshow) and AA 5744, both very consistent at the lower velocity levels.
 
Back
Top Bottom