Reloading .45-70 Ruger No.1

[4fifty8]

• No.1-S 22" 1:20 barrel / Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm
• many bullet & powder options chose Hornady 500gr & Re7
• CCI 200 / Starline brass
• lightweight rifle ~1600 fps mv max
• ~3" group could improve change powder charge/alternate powder
• off hand accuracy check good practice

 

[hoytcanon]

I hunt with my No.1-S .45-70 and prefer a lighter 350 SPFN at 2100 fps... it actually has surprisingly decent trajectory at common hunting ranges... you can get another 150 fps with this bullet, but it is a pleasant load at 2100... very effective on game.

 

[NormSC]

What powder you using for that load, Hoytcanon?

 

[gunlaker]

4fity8 you are a brave man . I've tried similar loads in a Ruger #1. Those are eye watering .

Chris.

 

[hoytcanon]

what powder you using for that load, hoytcanon?

h4198

 

[4fifty8]

Results with CamPro 405gr copper plated / Re7 handloads@~1400 fps mv & Remington 405gr Core-Lokt ammo@~1200 fps. Gonna try IMR 4064 higher load density good accuracy in my .458 WM. Next up.

 

[4fifty8]

Results with IMR 4064

Same 1600 fps mv groups bit tighter than 500gr / Re7 load. Accuracy not optimal with this bullet either powder.

 

[Smcx]

• No.1-S 22" 1:20 barrel / Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm
• many bullet & powder options chose Hornady 500gr & Re7
• CCI 200 / Starline brass
• lightweight rifle ~1600 fps mv max
• ~3" group could improve change powder charge/alternate powder
• off hand accuracy check good practice

Nice shootin’ off hand.

 

[4fifty8]

300gr / Re7 results

• Sierra 300gr JHP & 300gr TSX same charge TSX way faster
• scope change Nikon Omega BDC-250 3-9x40mm plenty eye relief
• 300gr TSX good accuracy no excess pressure could load faster

 

[Big bore dinosaur]

Now your cookin..
Bet those 300 smack loud..

 

[DGY]

I should get je of those no1 in 45-70, I have one in 30-06 one in 9.3x62…. Or maybe even a “bigger” one in 416 Rigby or rem mag….

 

[hoytcanon]

The No.1-S .45-70 is one of the best balanced rifles you can take afield.

 

[4fifty8]

.........................

 

[hoytcanon]

The .45-70 does not require high impact speed to be extremely effective... shoot 300 TSX or 500 Hard Cast, either result in a dead animal. I tend to stick to the middle of the road, to equal effect. To my thinking, choosing the .45-70 and then hot rodding it does not make a great deal of sense... if that is the case, choose one of the bottle neck .40+ cal cartridges and shoot to Max pressure.

 

[4fifty8]

Sweet's 7.62 Solvent to remove bore copper fouling works great use as directed.

 

[yodave]

The .45-70 does not require high impact speed to be extremely effective... shoot 300 TSX or 500 Hard Cast, either result in a dead animal. I tend to stick to the middle of the road, to equal effect. To my thinking, choosing the .45-70 and then hot rodding it does not make a great deal of sense... if that is the case, choose one of the bottle neck .40+ cal cartridges and shoot to Max pressure.

semi-hard cast 525 grain bullets penetrate 18 inch fir trees at 300 yards when leaving the muzzle at 1050 FPS, trap door loading levels, that load and velocity almost wiped out the entire buffalo heard, why fix what ain't broke???

 

[hoytcanon]

semi-hard cast 525 grain bullets penetrate 18 inch fir trees at 300 yards when leaving the muzzle at 1050 FPS, trap door loading levels, that load and velocity almost wiped out the entire buffalo heard, why fix what ain't broke???

Yup, my point. I would not optimize a .45-70 loading for use beyond 200 yards, unless for some reason it was my only rifle... rarely the case.

 

[DGY]

Just like hot rodding a 9.3x62, 286gn at 2300-2400fps is all it needs!!

 

[4fifty8]

Results: bore de-copper'd

• checked accuracy 500gr RN & 300gr JHP - much improved
• QD capability: 3-9x / 300gr & 2.5x / 500gr
• TSX significant copper fouling
• increased Re7 charge Sierra 300gr JHP still slower than 300gr TSX
• copper fouling minimal compared to TSX

 

[lpel]

Great post 458. Thx
Putting in lots of trigger time! I like that.