STUPIC MISTAKE, now I need advice!

NorthernCX

NorthernCX

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
30   0   0
Location
In My House
OK, right off the hop I'll state that it was a stupid mistake, completely my fault, born of being 'in a rush'. Was loading some ammo for the new Marlin .45-70 this morning as I was going to the range for some final sight-in with that and my '06 and the wife's 7mm-08.

When looking up what charge I had used for the bullets I was using, I saw the chrony speeds, 54 grains of H4350 and WLRM primers... even checked it 3 times between double-checking what the powder measure was throwing! Went to the range, had some fun shooting, everything is ready to go! Only odd thing I noticed was a few rounds from the Marlin were dropping 'baked' unburned powder kernels... I'd seen this with some factory ammo, and some of my reloads, thought nothing of it.

Fast forward to this evening when I'm cleaning, getting them ready to go and decide to load a few for the '06 since I'd shot more than I intended at the range. Odd thing, the charge for the 190 gr. Hornadys was the same as I had used for the Marlin.... wait a minute! Grab my notes again, and sure enough, I'd used the '06 powder and charge in the Marlin. After the prerequisite panic attack, I checked the gun over, no problems. Checked the brass against factory, little to no difference- maybe the primers were very slightly 'flatter' than the factory rounds. Checked my manuals, and could not find any load data for the .45-70 with that powder, period.

Has anyone used a load like this, or this powder in that caliber; other than the obvious fact that I didn't blow my face off, is it safe to use the other 10 rounds I have left, or should I take them apart?

54 grains of H4350.... anyone?

And once again, stupid, very lucky!! Better to learn this way than the other, I suppose...
 
I very much doubt you could put enough H4350 in that 45-70 case to do any harm to anything. It would build very low pressures, since the 4350's are way too slow for the 45-70 with any bullet. Eagleye.
 
Eagleye said:
I very much doubt you could put enough H4350 in that 45-70 case to do any harm to anything. It would build very low pressures, since the 4350's are way too slow for the 45-70 with any bullet. Eagleye.
Click to expand...

I put 53 grains of 3031 behind a 500 grain cast gas check bullet in a mauser bolt action 45/70, and 3031 is much faster than 4350. Take them apart or shoot them if you want. That is my 2 cents worth.
 
Sorry I forgot that. The bullets are 325 grain Hornady FTX. Too slow a powder explains the unburned kernels. Guess I'll go pull a few bullets and put the right powder/charge in, which was something like 47 grains of H4198 (A guess since I'm not in the reloading room; I'll be sure to triple-check myself!).
 
NorthernCX said:
Sorry I forgot that. The bullets are 325 grain Hornady FTX. Too slow a powder explains the unburned kernels. Guess I'll go pull a few bullets and put the right powder/charge in, which was something like 47 grains of H4198 (A guess since I'm not in the reloading room; I'll be sure to triple-check myself!).
Click to expand...


The SAAMI max pressure is 28,000 psi

With Hornady FTX 325gn bullets and 54gns of H4350 you will get 108% case fill (compressed load), 25,000 psi and 1600 fps.

I would just pull them and use the powder in a more appropriate case, and shoot the bullets in a proper load
 
NorthernCX said:
Sorry I forgot that. The bullets are 325 grain Hornady FTX. Too slow a powder explains the unburned kernels. Guess I'll go pull a few bullets and put the right powder/charge in, which was something like 47 grains of H4198 (A guess since I'm not in the reloading room; I'll be sure to triple-check myself!).
Click to expand...

A NEW 1895 (produced since 2000 when Marlin retooled) can handle up to 37500 psi without any difficulty. I have run mine up past 45ksi. Accuracy drops off sharply around 40ksi. Hornady's loads are safe in older 1895s where accuracy sucked past 30 ksi. You can safely go over hornady's max in a newer 1895 and beat factory leverevolution ammo by about 200 fps. After all, it's only a 325 grain bullet. You can get a 350 up to 2150fps.

47.9 under an FTX is hornady's MAX load for a 2.040" trim length in winchester brass. Federal and remington brass have a lower case capacity. Hornady brass has a larger case capacity. It is factory trimmed to 2.040".

I have run up to 51gr H4198 in WW brass trimmed to 2.100" length.

IMR4198 gives better velocities at the cost of more temperature sensitivity.

R7 ran out of steam. I was getting lever pop-open below hornady's max loads.

I'd like to try N120 as I've heard good things. Don't have any on hand.
 
I've already pulled the bullets and used the powder where I should have- in my '06. Thanks for the info; my initial reaction was a bit panicky after realizing what I'd done. And good to know what kind of pressure I can run up to. BTW, Remington Express 300-gr hollowpoints spit out unburnt kernels too...

Also nice to know I can beat Leverevolution ammo, since I can't find any anywhere.
 
Eagleye said:
I very much doubt you could put enough H4350 in that 45-70 case to do any harm to anything. It would build very low pressures, since the 4350's are way too slow for the 45-70 with any bullet. Eagleye.
Click to expand...

Agreed---
With that light, 325 grain bullet, that was/is a very light load in the 45-70.
Actually, 54 grains of H4350 with a 190 grain bullet is also a light load in the 30-06.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom