[jsalcedo]

I have a box of 250 405 grain flat nose and was wondering what kind of loads I should look at.

I loaded 20 today with 50 grains of varget. It seemed to take up almost all
the case capacity but there is still room without compressing the load.

I'm shooting an H&R Handi Rifle BTW

I'm willing to try my hand at other bullet weights if there is a pet load someone is willing to share:D

[EchoSixMike]

For a good target load, try 40.0gns of IMR 3031 with that bullet. This load does 1500fps from the 26" barrel of my 1886 Winchester and shots into 2" groups with the rifle's buckhorn sights. S/F...Ken M

[Gewehr98]

Target? Razorbacks? Buffalo? How much recoil are you willing to endure?

You didn't say whether those 250 bullets you picked up are cast or jacketed.

I've had all sorts of trouble with IMR3031 and cast .458 bullets.

IMR 3031 with jacketed .458 bullets is a pleasant story, however.

Reloder 7 and cast bullets have done exceptionally well in my Ruger #1S.

Accurate XMP5744 does pretty well with cast bullets, too, low pressure, easy on the recoil. Closer to blackpowder loads.

And then, there's blackpowder loads, which can be a lot of fun with cast bullets and a over-powder wad.

I haven't seen much about the NEF/H&R Handi-Rifle in the load books, I'm assuming it's a Category II .45-70, no Buffalo Bore or Garrett Hammerhead loads?

[cdbeaver]

In my NEF .45-70 I've had good results with a mild load consisting of 38 grains of H4198 behind a Remington 300-grain RNHP. Have had consistent groups of 1.25-1.50 inches at about 125 yards. Recoil is not bad at all, even from the bench.

[jsalcedo]

Geweher98:

I plan on mostly target shooting, long range water bottles with dye and maybe use it as a small handy truck gun.

The 405's are cast.]


The NEF is built pretty strong but the 300 grain Winchester JHPs about rattled my teeth out and the 405grain cowboy action loads were snoozers.

I bought some handloads from a gunshow vendor that pounded my shoulder pretty hard but left about half the powder unburned in the barrel.
I had to blow into the open action to be able to chamber another round.
Accuracy was crap as well

Now I'm set to handload but would like to gain some insight before I waste a bunch of components.

[Gewehr98]

:(

Sounds exactly like my IMR3031/405gr cast bullet misadventure. Were I a bit more frugal in my handloading, I could've put a bedsheet out under the muzzle of my Ruger, and recouped some of the reloading investment in reclaimed, unburned IMR3031. ;)

IMR4198, Accurate XMP-5744, and Reloder 7 have done much better for my cast bullet 405gr handloads. You can assemble a nice, easy-shooting cast bullet load that won't beat the bejeezus out of your shoulder, and still group nicely. Something around 1500fps or slower.

[Jim Watson]

I use XMP-5744 for smokeless loads in my .38-55; it should do well in .45-70. I have loaded some with 2400 for the next time out. These are fast burning powders in rifles and you do have to be careful not to double charge.

I once had a Ruger No 1 .45-70. It shot well with 42 grains of IMR 4895 and a 405 gr JSP, Ken Waters' pet load for a factory duplicate, Trapdoor safe load around 1250 fps. It still kicked and was not nearly as accurate with cast bullets so I did not keep it.

Now I am into BPCR and am loading less nitro.

[Gewehr98]

My absolute favorite .45-70 target loads, and probably my most accurate, are some locally-made 450gr swaged lead bullets ahead of 5.0gr WST, 55.0gr FFg, and a WonderWad. :D

My #1S has a 1.5-4.5x scope, and on a good day with a slight crosswind, I can SEE the big old bullet arcing towards the paper.

[EchoSixMike]

40.0gns of IMR 3031 and a 405gn commercial cast bullet probably left some unburned powder in the barrel, but for 2" groups, I don't think I could care less.

I use 42.5gns of IMR 3031 with a 440gn 75% meplat ogival flatpoint gaschecked bullet cast from lyman #2 lubed with Alox that does 1700fps from my 26" barreled 1886. This also does 2" ish groups(5 shot groups) but it has a little bit of recoil, and it's not a commercailly available bullet. S/F...Ken M

[Pumpkinheaver]

My favorite powders in the 45-70 are in no particular order.

IMR-4198
IMR-3031
Reloader 7

My favorite jacketed bullet is the 350gr Hornady flat point. Favorite cast is my home cast 420gr rnfp.

[streakr]

I now use Accurate 5744 exclusively for the smokeless loads in 38-55 and 45-70. This powder (along with Reloader 7 and 4198) are NOT black powder replacements but DO duplicate the pressures of BP, especially in older, original large bores like the 45-70s. You must NOT fill the cases with these smokeless powders.

My 45-70s include an original 1888 Trapdoor, Pedersoli Rolling Block and a Marlin Cowboy.

Load: 27.0 grains of 5744 over a rifle primer (WW or Federal). I also include a 1"x1" x 1/8" dacron wad that I tamp over the powder after dispensing. Use the eraser end of a pencil. This gives me a consistent velocity and reduces (but not completely) unburnt powder. You can buy the dacron as pillow wadding at a fabric shop; it's VERY cheap and burns completely without leaving a residue.

I use Cowboy .458 405 gn hard cast lead (RNFP) with single moly groove by Valiant Bullets in Alabama. I don't know if they are still in business but I have about 1200 so I'm not worried about running out for awhile. You can find similar bullets locally, especially in shops that supply cowboy shooters.

I last chronographed these loads in 1999 and they worked out at 1400 +/- 25 f/s for the RB with a 32" barrel and 1280 +/- 25 for the 22" Trapdoor and 24" Marlin. These are good to 300 yds with the right sights. Our 22" Trapdoor (a cut-down rifle I found at a show for $200) does just fine with these loads and original Buffington sights. My 19 year old (who loves this gun) can put 5 shots into an 18" target at 200 yds in under 6 seconds.

Hope this helps, Streakr