Smokeless Powder for 45-70

K

Kryforge

New member
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Saskatchewan
I've got a Marlin 1895 Guide rifle on order and am hoping to use it for hunting with smokeless powder. My bullet of choice at this time is the Sierra 300 grn HP. I'm hoping some of the experts on this list can suggest what might be the best powder to use. "New here and feel like I've finally found a home"
 
the 4198's work well, reloader 7 is good too.. also.. for fun buy unique or trail boss. 10-16gr of either will put out bullets in the 900-1400 range with minimal recoil.. But do more research on charge than listening to me, it's late.

It's my absolute favorite gun to reload for. My newest favorite is 3 ~145gr alox'ed round balls at ~1100 :)
 
I just loaded up some hornady 350 grain flat nose and round nose over H4198. My first time reloading for this caliber, so we'll see what happens.
 
This is like asking: "Any loads for the 30/06?". There are a bazillion loads out there, and what is best for that bullet in one gun, might not be best in your gun. There will be disagreements over which powder is best from the Reloder, Hodgdon, IMR and other camps as a result.

Check out a few reloading manuals, choose a powder you might have, or have easy access to, and try out some loads.
 
Seeing as everybody else is jumping in, so will I. If u have AA5744 avbl in your area it too is a fine choice for the 45/70. I have used it in everything from a 340g JHP in the BFR up to 535g LRN thru the Sharps. A bit of unburned powder but that is a characteristic of this stuff...
dB
 
I use Reloder 7 almost exclusively for no other reason than I got a smoking deal on a 5 pound keg. I find it works well for both cast a jacketed bullets.
 
If looking for top end or at least "heavy" loads, my favs. in order are: AA2015, Reloder 7, for light bullets and H-335 for heavier bullets, there are alot of new powders that I will try though, VV133, Benchmark,etc.
 
Whoever said it is "like asking best load for a 30-06 there are bizillions of choices" was right. What he was wrong about is, that doesn't mean there aren't powder and bullet combinations that consistently work better. 4064 and a 155 grain Sierra, for service rifle competition in 308 in a known winner. If your 308 won't shoot this combo, get a new barrel. Benchmark for 223 target rounds, same deal. I have 6 different 22 Hornets that all shoot 12.6 grains of Lil"gun and a 40 grain BlitzKing bullet well under an inch. Best one 1/2" at 200 yards, worst one .65 at 100. No other powder will do that in a Hornet.

I have shot thousands of 45-70 rounds. Have tried every powder suitable to the round. For full bore hunting loads in the 300-400 grain weight, 3031 has worked great in many different guns. Second most favourite, and best one for the 300 grain bullets is 4198. You will pick up 200 FPS over 3031 in the 300 grain bullet and they are pretty much equal in the 350 and 400 grain bullets. My go to powder when working up loads for the 45-70, which is not at all picky to load for, is 3031. If it won't group under 1.5" at 100 yards with somewhere around 58 grains of 3031 and a 350 grain Hornady RN, get the gun fixed. Most of the guns I have used it in (make sure they are modern levers or single shots, not old trapdoors) will group between 1/2 and 3/4 of an inch with 350 grain Hornady round nose bullets.

Let us know how you make out.
 
JohnC said:
have 8# of IMR 4064. anyone have any 45-70 loads for a 420 grain hard cast with gas check? ( to be used in a marlin 1895 and H&R buffalo special
Click to expand...

So there's another Buffalo Classic in the Valley - excellent. I have two, one in 45-70 and one in 45-90.

With IMR 4064 in either of those guns, you could use up to a full case with that bullet, but probably won't like the recoil. I'd start at 50.0 grs and work up.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom