What are your favorite powder puff or obnoxious loads for the 45-70

saskgunowner101

saskgunowner101

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Hey guys, just bought one of those little H&R handi-rifles in 45-70 (as new, $220 and came with 2 boxes of Lever Evolution ammo) and wondering what powder and bullets/boolits you use for plinking loads all the way up to obnoxious loads.:D I've read that the H&R have short throats....does this really limit my boolit options? Any powders that really shine in the 45-70?? Any thoughts appreciated.
 
saskgunowner101 said:
Hey guys, just bought one of those little H&R handi-rifles in 45-70 (as new, $220 and came with 2 boxes of Lever Evolution ammo) and wondering what powder and bullets/boolits you use for plinking loads all the way up to obnoxious loads.:D I've read that the H&R have short throats....does this really limit my boolit options? Any powders that really shine in the 45-70?? Any thoughts appreciated.
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Lots of powders sine in the .45-70. I've used IMR-3031, Reloder7, SR-4759, H-4198, Trail Boss, and Goex in various forms.

For heavy loads in my Ruger #1 with jacketed bullets I prefer anything from Hodgdons book with H-4198.

When I shoot smokeless I usually shoot moderate loads with cast bullets. A 405gr bullet over 25gr SR-4759, or 40gr IMR-3031 is quite nice. (double check with your loading manuals :).

For a really soft load, try any of the Trail Boss loads. You can find them on the Hodgdon's site.

Chris.
 
For light loads I like Trail Boss and for heavy loads AA2015, H-335, and the most flexible RL-7....this is for my Marlin 45/70. I still prefer Black Powder for this cal., in my Highwall I use a full case of Swiss 1 1/2Fg.
 
I will let you in on a little secret, if you promise not to tell anyone.
It's how I used modern technology and science to arrive at a plinking load for my 45-70 Marlin. I had a good low power scope on the rifle.
Here is the scientific way I did it.
I have the Lee box of powder scoops. I looked at one that appeared about right size. It happened to be the 1.6 cc scoop.
I dipped it in a dish of Unique to level and put it in a case, then seated a 420 grain cast bullet.
I did this five times. I then weighed a scoop of Unique and it weighed 14.4 grains.
At the 100 metre range I would fire one, then listen for the bullet to hit.
I did this five times.
The five bullet holes measured 1.4'', but four of the five went under 1 inch.
Back at the house and continuing in my scientific way, I poured some 4227 powder in a dish.
I used the same 1.6cc scoop, but the 4227 powder weighed 22.5 grains.
Loaded up five of these. At the 100 metre range they went into a 1.5" group.
The rest I had at that time was not rock solid by any means, so I likely didn't reach the potential accuracy of the modern technology loading technique.
 
I have a Marlin Guide Gun and a NEF (H&R) in 45-70. Don't go too wild with your loads in the H&R, but they will still give you a good 'smack' if you want it to. In my NEF, a 405gr cast OMA bullet in front of 46.0gr of IMR3031 is about maximum (for me)... and it is quite accurate.

That's the fun thing about the 45-70, you can go from mild to wild.



James
 
My "smackem" load for the 45-70 is 50.0 grains of IMR 3031 under a 405 grain jacketed SP. This might be a problem in a very light rifle, however. The recoil is substantial. Eagleye.
 
The H&R will handle Ruger 1 loads. It is more of a question of what you can handle. I got one a couple of years ago and have a blast with it. Trail Boss and 405gr cast bullets for fun and 350gr Hornady RN loaded with IMR 4198 for hunting. Makes me grin every time I drop the hammer.
 
I appreciate the input....I think this will be a fun caliber/rifle combo.:)

H4831: I forgot to ask you if you used any dacron filler with the Unique, or just let er go?? I was going to try some 13-14 grains Unique behind a 350 grain but not sure if I need a filler?
 
saskgunowner101 said:
I appreciate the input....I think this will be a fun caliber/rifle combo.:)

H4831: I forgot to ask you if you used any dacron filler with the Unique, or just let er go?? I was going to try some 13-14 grains Unique behind a 350 grain but not sure if I need a filler?
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I have done it both ways, with all of my light loads.
At first I was all in favour of backing, but later did better without anything.
Between Johnn and I we have an excellent backing for light loads in the 45-70.
Probably it is better with the the backing, day in and day out.
Dave, did you chronograph the 50 grains of 3031?
Try 43 grains of 4198. It is also a good smacker.
Bruce
 
H4831 said:
I have done it both ways, with all of my light loads.
At first I was all in favour of backing, but later did better without anything.
Between Johnn and I we have an excellent backing for light loads in the 45-70.
Probably it is better with the the backing, day in and day out.
Dave, did you chronograph the 50 grains of 3031?
Try 43 grains of 4198. It is also a good smacker.
Bruce
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I've pretty well set my Marlin 1895GS aside, just for use of hotter jacketed bullet loads:D. This is mainly using the 405gr Remington and 400gr Speer bullets and with charges of IMR 3031 and IMR 4198 as listed in the Speer manual. My reason, for a wide variety of cast loads I have the loan of, for an unlimited time span, a Pedersoli Sharps.

Pedersoli1874Sharps45-70.jpg


That loan is only until I can;) 'persuade' my buddy to sell it to me and if he spends as much at the Kamloops show as I'm hoping he does, that day may come sooner than later:p.

At the urging of hs 4570, when he was still with us, I picked up four pounds + of Trail Boss. I had hopes that it would be the 'be all to end all' for light loads and save some of the time consuming 'fiddling' with filler or backing. While it has worked well for light load applications in cartridges like the 44-40 & 45 LC, in the 45-70 I seem to get slightly better accuracy results using our light loads of 2400, IMR 4227 and Unique with our special filler.

Good luck at the show today:).
 
I bought some IMR 4475 years ago at Higg's, it was sold as being the same as 3031. I have a siamese mauser with a 20 inch barrel, and I cast Lee 500 grain RN gas check bullets for it. with 53 grains it is a compressed load and I get about 1900 fps. This rifle has a receiver sight, i would be a bit reluctant to fire it with my eye behind a scope, as it is best described as "stout".
 
Handi Rifle in 4570

I own one of these economical wonders!, i love it, i load for it, i load a hefty 500 grn hard cast load for it, i use IMR 4198 in the load, it means business
100yrd accuracy out of my rifle is about 2.5", its a bit to hang on to, but it shoots fine

my other cast load i use is a 425 grn soft cast bullet, i believe its a lyman style, andi use 39gr of IMR 3031 and about 5 grns of cornmeal filler over it, seat bullet until it lightly presses against the filler, shoots well
cronographs at about 1300fps, lice deer and range load, also take a moose no worries
the 500 grainer leaves at around 1550 fps, it hits hard

i also load a 350 grn hornady round nose load, with 3031 and 4198
both accurate and drop whatever it hits
 
My fun shoot is 12 grains of IMR 700X under a 500 grain lead bullet.
The punisher was 50 grains of IMR 4064 under a 500 grain FMJ-RN bullet, I can still feel it. Only shot one and pulled the rest. Detached retina anyone?
All shot out of a H&R Buffalo classic.
 
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