45-70 Contender reload info

I can't advise you on a load for your Contender but I can tell you that I fired one in 45/70 with 300 gr factory loads and it was not my idea of fun. After 3 shots my wrist and elbow were screaming "I quit".

If you just want fun loads, Unique is popular for downloading for plinking or cowboy shooting.

I think with the Contender you are supposed to stick to original pressure limits as for a Remington Rolling Block.

If you're reloading the 45-70, the Lyman #49 is handy.
It gives loads from the original trapdoors on up through the Ruger #1 including a special section for T/C Contender and Encore.

Some? You need to know just how much "some" your Contender can handle.
With a 300grn jacked HP 36grns of 4198 is listed as max.

I load them with black powder under lead 235gr sized to .456.

You do NOT want to shoot some of my 300gr handloads through that thing.

This may help you, they are all cowboy action loads.
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

I also shoot the Tc Contenders, in about eleven different calibers.

With the 45-70 Unique works well for lite loads.
On the link some loads are under 10 gr. of Unique I personally have never loaded less than 11 gr. in the Contender.
My deer hunting loads are made using 2015 br or Varget and 400 gr. bullets moving at a bit over 1200 fps. out of a 15 inch barrel.
Hope this helps.

Unburnt powder like you are describing usually indicates pressures too low for the powder to burn completely.

Try using a heavier bullet (with an appropriate powder charge).
Or a faster burning powder to get more complete combustion.

In my world, if the accuracy and velocity are sufficient, who cares about a little unburnt powder?

Wear shooting gloves and elbow pads. Even when Mag-Na-Ported and with Pachmayr grips the .45-70 Contender or Encore is a beast.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

ZX10Aviator said:

Thanks. Mine shoots like a .44mag, I figured it would be worse.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh7a0LkVsB4&list=UULqx43LM26ksQ_THrEZ7AcQ&index=3

Click to expand...

That isn't saying much, even with reloads I find the .44 mag T/C unpleasant to shoot.

I have shot 300 grain lead bullets with loadings as low as 7 grains of Unique and as high as 12. None of that should be bad in a TC. (I used a rifle.)