pet 45-70 load for pedersoli rolling block

[lyktohunt]

I have a buddy trying to work up a load for his rolling block.He has 405gr cast boolets and for powder Unique, IMR3031,4198 and 4895 to choose from.does any one have any suggestions for loads ,he will want to load on the light side.
These are for banging gongs not hunting.
Thanks in advance

 

[Karl]

Lymans Cast Bullet handbook is an excellent resource for this - about $25 at WSS.

For plinking with a Marlin 1885; I like 43 gr of IMR 3031 behind the RCBS 410 gr FNGC bullet.

 

[daBear]

Stay below 29000 for pressures and you will be fine. Lots of good recipies out there if u do the research
dB

 

[unstableryan]

12 or 13 gr of unique will make a nice light load, it's safe to go a couple more if you want a bit extra.

 

[longknife]

Loads for Pedersoli .45/70

Using a lead cast 405gr.bullet, try 13 grains of Trail Boss powder......the load resembles the old black powder load both in velocity and trajectory....do NOT use Trail Boss in muzzle loading firearms.

 

[Kevan]

Tell your buddy to give Black Powder a try if he hasn't already, 45-70s love it.
I have two 45-70s and they shoot really well with BP and cast boolits.

 

[ben hunchak]

I agree, soft lead bullets, Black Powder lube and a slightly compressed charge of Black Powder, things don't get much better.

 

[Dmay]

Yep....compressed FFg under a veg-fiber wad.....

 

[Pathfinder]

I have a buddy trying to work up a load for his rolling block.He has 405gr cast boolets and for powder Unique, IMR3031,4198 and 4895 to choose from.does any one have any suggestions for loads ,he will want to load on the light side.
These are for banging gongs not hunting.
Thanks in advance

With a 405 Cast boolit, Ive used 38.5 gr. of 3031, its a very light fun load for any 45-70 .

You can practically hear the bullet trundle down the range

That load came for Ken Water's pet loads (cast bullet section / safe in all rifles).

 

[lyktohunt]

Thanks for the info everyone, as usual good stuff here

 

[longknife]

.45/70 loads

When using black powder, NEVER leave any space between the powder and the bullets....it gets a bit complicated, but try and use a drop tube (available thru Dixie Gun Works) to fill the cartridge with powder, and then a fiber wad over the powder (I use Wonder wads), and then set your seating die to lightly compress the powder when seating the bullet.....

 

[Andy]

I have a buddy trying to work up a load for his rolling block.He has 405gr cast boolets and for powder Unique, IMR3031,4198 and 4895 to choose from.does any one have any suggestions for loads ,he will want to load on the light side.
These are for banging gongs not hunting.
Thanks in advance

I'll actually answer your question without suggesting that you use different powders or a different gun.

Those four powders are excellent for 45-70 in a Rolling Block. Stick to "Trapdoor" loads shown here: http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp and here: http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

 

[mwjones]

I would reccomend againt bp unless your friend wants to spend hours cleaning the gun after shooting. The bp residue gets into every little nook and cranny. Cleaning the brass will also be a lot more labour intensive.

 

[Andy]

BP is awesome, it's just not what he asked. More work in some ways, but not as much as many think. There's really nothing like it, and it can be very accurate.

 

[zuke]

Trailboss

 

[Snowy River]

I have a recipe for my pedersoli that has work very well, ( dont use unique in your riffle its hand gun/shotgun powder not meant for large riffles, I dont know a single person that uses it in their big bore riffle ) 405 gr cast bullet, CCI large rifle primers, IMR 4198 27 grains to start and work up from there. but 27 grains is a GREAT light gong hittin load.

 

[Andy]

I have a recipe for my pedersoli that has work very well, ( dont use unique in your riffle its hand gun/shotgun powder not meant for large riffles, I dont know a single person that uses it in their big bore riffle ) 405 gr cast bullet, CCI large rifle primers, IMR 4198 27 grains to start and work up from there. but 27 grains is a GREAT light gong hittin load.

Many people use "handgun/shotgun" powders in rifles, with Unique among the most popular, as well as others such as Red Dot, SR4759 and 2400. I agree that 4198 is a great choice, but there are some applications where it's not the best (e.g. very mild loads), and each gun has its own powder-bullet combination that works best.

 

[H4831]

As Andy said, those four powders are excellent for loading the 45-70.
There's tremendous information in the August 2007 issue of Handloader magazine, in the super comprehensive article by Brian Pearce. He loaded every combination of powder and bullet, seperated out into pressure sections, starting with loads that do not exceed 21,000 CUP, then going up to (not exceed) 28,000, 35,000 and 43,500 CUP.
All of these loads were chronographed in the various barrel lengths of the Model 1895 Marlin.
He states that factory loads usually run 18,000 to 21,000 and he doesn't reccommend loading beyond 21,000 for the trapdoor type rifles.
But wow, this includes some fairly stout loads! I have loaded the Marlin heavier than is comfortable to shoot, meaning a few shots gives me a headache, when shot off the bench, and I haven't been above the 28,000 CUP class.
An example in the "Loads that do not exceed 28,000 CUP," is a charge of H4198 that gives a 405 grain cast RCBS 45-405-FN, a velocity of 1,934 fps!

 

[longknife]

.45/70 loads

A lot depends on what rifle you are shooting.....be very careful with original or replica Trapdoors, use medium loads on the modern lever guns, and only use heavy loads on rifles such as the Ruger no. 1.
For lovers of tradition, BP is still viable. Very messy in lever guns but single shot rifles (Sharps, Ruger no. 1, etc.) are easily cleaned.
I have a Pedersoli Sharps......use a "drop tube"load of 55gr. of FFFG, a wonder wad on top of the powder, and seat a 405gr. cast bullet into the case, compressing the powder. Good accuracy.
Using 13gr. of Trailboss, no wad is needed, and using the 405gr. bullet I get about the same performance as the BP load.
There is nothing like a gout of flame and smoke out of my Sharps to get attention at the range.

 

[Snowy River]

Many people use "handgun/shotgun" powders in rifles, with Unique among the most popular, as well as others such as Red Dot, SR4759 and 2400. I agree that 4198 is a great choice, but there are some applications where it's not the best (e.g. very mild loads), and each gun has its own powder-bullet combination that works best.

Yeah ok , my diesel truck will run with french fry oil but i dont put that in my tank either....a new guy is asking what the best gong banger is and I gave it to him ( 4198 IMR or similar ) you mad scientist types can use whatever you want in your gun designed in 1874 and I will use what is meant for it. ask anyone competing in long range shoots ( who are most of the people who know WTF they are talking about and find out how many of them regularly put Unique in their Sharps/springfields/etc ) that will be none ! unless they are lazy, or broke and trying to share powder with their handgun/shotgun. Get a grip.