Need 45/70 data

Tossing some info into quickload with a 20" barrel and SAAMI specs, 350gr Hornady FP .458" bullet.
A load of 70gr of BLC2 giving near 26k psi but only 76% burn on the powder. My 55gr loads with H4198 don't have much extra space so depending on the density of BLC2 that might not even fit in the case.
Looking at my powder burn rate chart BLC2 is slower than anything I've heard of people using in a 45-70 before. It is probably just too slow of a powder to work well. Can't find any published data which could be for the same reason.

The Alliant site shows a load of 36gr of Reloader 10X giving 1481fps but that's a low velocity trap door load; levers could go higher. Quickload also shows that as having less than 60% burn on the powder. Would probably be dirty as hell as a result.
Quickload says a load of 60gr of R10X gives 30,225psi and 2304fps. Above trap door pressure but within modern lever pressure (35k psi most places). A decent 91.5% powder burn rate. Recoil would be pretty brutal at that level though. I shoot 300gr at 2400fps with H4198 and they are uncomfortable after more than a few shots.

This is all of course a use-at-your-own-risk situation as I've never used either in 45-70 before. I've done quite a bit of 45-70 loading from subsonic gallery loads to level 3 single shot loads as well as black powder loads. Never used either of those powders before though. For full house lever loads I use H4198 or H4895. For more moderate loads I use H4198 or SR4759. IMR3031 is another popular one for 45-70 and I have a pound sitting in storage but haven't tried it in 45-70 yet.

*edit*
Whoops, for some reason I read Reloader 10 when you wrote RL15. My bad.

RL15 is a tad on the slow side and there is no data on the Alliant site for 350gr bullets.
Quickload shows 70gr producing 29,777psi and 2223fps but only with 75% burn rate on the powder. That's also a lot of powder; possibly too much to fit? QL says it's a 7.7% compression which is larger than I've ever used except with black powder.
Probably too slow of a powder to work well. I'd look for a more suitable powder; something faster. H or IMR 4198 would work well, as would IMR3031.
 
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the one reloading manual i have list blc2 in 385-400g bullets but i cant remember the charge now. It did list a few other powders such as varget for one. If you list more powders that you have, some might be listed in the manuals that are on hand
 
Pretty much just varget, RL15, and blc2 and then my pistol powders, I don't really want to use my varget for these loads would rather save it for my precision cartridges, but a friend of mine runs a small supply outfit so I'll see if any of the powders he stocks can be used for 45/70
 
What rifle? Kind of suspect BlC-2 might be too slow. Way slower the any of your listed powders. Isn't listed in my Lyman book for either levers or Trapdoors. Isn't on Hodgdon's site or Reloader's Nest either.
No Rl 15 loads on Alliant's site. No 350 for anything but Trapdoors there.
Don't use 70 grains of BP out of a Trapdoor Carbine. Hurts to shoot and it's 55 grains for a Carbine.
 
Craig0ry said:
Pretty much just varget, RL15, and blc2 and then my pistol powders, I don't really want to use my varget for these loads would rather save it for my precision cartridges, but a friend of mine runs a small supply outfit so I'll see if any of the powders he stocks can be used for 45/70
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I can't comment on the other 2 powders, but Ive tried it and you're correct... varget is a waste....it was accurate but I found an excessive amount of un-burned powder, not only in the barrel but also in the ejected case
 
In what gun? It is a factor.

If it's for example a Marlin 1895, you could use compressed loads of BLC-(2) over a magnum primer, and potentially have an accurate load.
 
Just a handi rifle, My book lists load data for 500gr jacketed bullets with a starting load of 31.5gr of blc2 that gives a whopping muzzle velocity of 1250fps, I think I'll load some of those for fun
 
Craig0ry said:
Just a handi rifle, My book lists load data for 500gr jacketed bullets with a starting load of 31.5gr of blc2 that gives a whopping muzzle velocity of 1250fps, I think I'll load some of those for fun
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A Handi-Rifle will take anything a Marlin lever action will and more! Basically, you will become the limiting factor as they are quite light and the recoil becomes quite "brisk" with heavy loads. A constant diet of Ruger #1 loads will loosen up the action after a while though.
 
I tried a number of Ruger #1/level 3 loads in a Handi-Rifle some years ago and they usually popped the action open after each shot. Nothing weird on the brass, groups, or velocities but I took it as a sign to back down. I bought the rifle new so it wasn't heavily worn or anything. Less than 200rnds of mostly trap-door level loads though it at that point.
 
LUTNIT said:
I tried a number of Ruger #1/level 3 loads in a Handi-Rifle some years ago and they usually popped the action open after each shot. Nothing weird on the brass, groups, or velocities but I took it as a sign to back down. I bought the rifle new so it wasn't heavily worn or anything. Less than 200rnds of mostly trap-door level loads though it at that point.
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Obviously a Handi-Rifle isn't a Ruger #1.
The only other rifle I use the Ruger #1 level loads in is the Browning BLR.
Unfortunately there is no BLR in 45-70 but there is one in 450 Marlin.
 
I'd read from countless sources that a Handi-Rifle could handle the Ruger #1 loads from any manual. The same rifle with a different barrel only is available in 450 Marlin so it makes sense.
Considering the punishing recoil I figured there was no real point to it for my purposes. Ended up selling the rifle later on anyway when I got an 1895 Guide Gun. Bought a Buffalo Classic because I missed the handi rifle's single-shot action so much. Shoot mostly black powder with paper patched bullets through it.

*edit*
Looks like the handi rifle in 450 Marlin has been discontinued. Still comes in 45-70 and 444 Marlin.
 
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LUTNIT said:
I'd read from countless sources that a Handi-Rifle could handle the Ruger #1 loads from any manual. The same rifle with a different barrel only is available in 450 Marlin so it makes sense.
Considering the punishing recoil I figured there was no real point to it for my purposes. Ended up selling the rifle later on anyway when I got an 1895 Guide Gun. Bought a Buffalo Classic because I missed the handi rifle's single-shot action so much. Shoot mostly black powder with paper patched bullets through it.

*edit*
Looks like the handi rifle in 450 Marlin has been discontinued. Still comes in 45-70 and 444 Marlin.
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They make a Handi in 500 S+W Magnum which is no slouch either.
 
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