New to reloading the 45-70

You likely have the Micro-groove barrel ? May or may not like cast
I went with the Hornady 350 RN over 4895 loaded to about 1830 fps
Easy to shoot and deadly
 
Probably the most versatile round you can find for a reloader. Lots of jacketed bullets for it but cast lead makes it shine. I shoot 405 grain hard cast loads using Red Dot, 700X, Imr 4198, Imr 4064 etc, etc. My fun plinkers are at 1200 fps and the serious ones are at 1600 fps. In my youth I shot 500 grain cast at 1880 fps, not sure if it was more dangerous in front or behind the rifle, it is a 1972 JM Marlin with the 22 inch barrel.
 
Star line brass is good I've been loading mind up with 300gr sierra game kings and using imr 4198 powder (somewhere around 55 grains). I'm getting superb accuracy out to 200 yards with mine.

I've played around with the 325 grain ftx offering from hornady. If you buy the lever evolution ammo you can reuse the brass as it is already trimmed.. Fair warning - Hornady loads them pretty hot and it seems to be hard on the brass haha.

Have fun!
 
It's my view that - especially in 45 - 70 - the advantages of hard cast bullets are often wildly exaggerated. should be able to reach 'most any velocity the 45 - 70 is able to achieve with a softer alloy like the 16:1 listed on the factory box for 45 - 90 or the 18:1 lead and tin that I use. Also, I find it hard to believe that there's ANY accuracy advantage to either hard cast or jacketed bullets in the 45 - 70.
Grouch
 
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