45-70 loads

I like 52.5 imr 3031 from my 45/70 with a 300 or 350. Easy to load I just use the Lee dipper and can make good loads fast. I believe it's the 4.0cc dipper but double check. I am getting about 1800 fps with good accuracy and low recoil compared to my class 4 loads.

Your bullet is already expanded. Put it in the right place and take the meat home.
Kevin

RL 7 to the bottom of where the bullet seats has produced pretty good accuracy and barely tolerable recoil for me.

ohihunter2014 said:

Is it possible there is another powder that will get me 1900fps with less recoil?

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Same bullet/Same velocity ~~~~~ for all practical purposes same recoil regardless of smokeless powder type.

I used to use 4198 almost exclusively and I agree 3031 and RL-7 are good powders in the 45-70 and a handful more including Unique, 2400 and SR4759.

All that said, a few years ago I switched to AA5744 as my primary 45-70 powder. It produces clean accurate ammo that doesn't produce heavy recoil and it fills the case well to. I load mostly Cast bullets but AA5744 works just as well with jacketed bullets too.

Ol’ Mr. Newton is your enemy here, a 300 grainer being tossed at 1900 FPS from a lever gun is gonna bite a bit no matter what powder type or charge is used.

Since it’s your hunting load try starting somewhere around 48.5 gr. 3130 and the 300 gr bullet, once you reach your recoil threshold stop. Accuracy for hunting will most likely be there and stay good for you as you go up.

3130 is my go-to for most of my .45/70, .35 Rem and .30-30 loads.

Stay safe.

http://www.gtbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=61

These expand well at lower velocities. They sell a 385gr version too. I load them over Hodgdon Universal at around 1200 fps. They are plenty accurate for 100 yards and they don't beat you up at this power level. I've loaded the 385 grain as low as 900 fps and it expanded to almost an inch in water.

My recent experiments with the .45-70... I bought a Marlin 1895 to load for as well. 350grn cast bullets with low doses of IMR's 3031, 4895, and 4064 all produced velocities in the neighborhood of 1800-1900fps... and recoil that was pretty severe, so much so that I actually pulled about 125 of those cartridges rather than just toughing it out and shooting them. Granted, they were for target shooting, not hunting. These days I shoot much lighter loads of IMR4198/AA5744 and even some IMR3031... but only to 1400fps or less. As Riomouse suggests, any powder pushing a 300grn bullet to 1900fps is going to recoil...

Why do you feel the need for 1900 FPS for deer with a .45 cal bullet??????

1300 FPS will kill 'em just as dead.

MEHavey said:

Same bullet/Same velocity ~~~~~ for all practical purposes same recoil regardless of smokeless powder type.

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Nobody would be able to tell the difference in a blind taste test.

Forget about velocity, it's a 45-70 not a bottle neck varmint vaporizer. Find an accurate load that is comfortable, shoot it a bunch and enjoy your rifle. The 45-70 fires a big bullet at low velocity, some bullets just aren't as heavy and as slow as others. I shoot cast 405 grain bullets at 1600fps and would probably be wise to back the load down some.

I mainly use H-322 for my 45-70s.

ohihunter2014 said:

get me 1900fps with less recoil?

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That load is going to kick. That load would kick in my .458 Winchester Mag. I would suggest H322 and 1500-1600 feet per second.

I started with Reloader 7 and 350 gr Hornady Interlock bullets and pretty much stopped there. I worked up from 40 grains and stopped at 48 when the best accuracy was achieved.

The Marlin 1895 with a 22” barrel, 48 gr of powder shoots clean, accurate and has some recoil but not enough to scare me away from pulling the trigger. The Complete Reloading Manual for the 45-70 manuals shows 49.5 as max while Lyman’s 49th shows 48 grains over by 1.5 gr (lists 46.5 as max). The first manual shows just over 1800 FPS while Lyman shows the 46.5 gr max load at 1908 FPS. My chronograph took a turn for the worse so until I replace it I’m not sure what FPS it’s moving at.

I don’t have any pressure signs or any locking issues with the rifle so I’m sticking with the load based on its excellent accuracy. Is it faster than I need, probably it the accuracy is what I’m looking for. Will try and put down a hog or two with it in a couple of weeks down in Georgia so we’ll see how the Interlock bullets perform at that speed.

I like IMR4895 in 45-70. Fills the case. I'm not sure how it compares to other powders, except for H4895. A comparable load with H4895 wasn't quite the same, recoil seemed slightly 'sharp' to me, compared to IMR4895.

405 LFN over 36.5 grains of IMR 3031; about 1,225 fps. The round goes thru large deer like they are not even there. These large slugs carry the horsepower in the mass, not the velocity - the velocity will improve trajectory but is very unnecessary for killing hoofed game.

Steve S. said:

405 LFN over 36.5 grains of IMR 3031; about 1,225 fps. The round goes thru large deer like they are not even there. These large slugs carry the horsepower in the mass, not the velocity - the velocity will improve trajectory but is very unnecessary for killing hoofed game.

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Yes sir, but and slow has been taking all kinds of game since flintlocks were the newest assault weapons!

ohihunter2014 said:

I decided to stick with my IMR 4198 combo. Powder around me is getting more expensive and harder to find and with deer gun season starting Monday after thanksgiving I don’t need to be testing this late in the game. Grabbed a pound and a box of 300gr HP tonight at $53.

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There is nothing wrong with 4198, it will be fine.

My better 45_70 loads with the 300 gn xtp or Remington HP bullets use H-322. I have loaded it from 1800 fps to 2075 fps and they are all pretty consistent in my 22" Marlin 1895.

Yes, I use these for whitetail deer. Not because I think they are armor plated but simply for more range with less drop..easier to deal with than the rainbow arcs of trajectory approaching 200 yards starting at 1300fps.

I do have 1300fps loads, and even subsonic ones, but have standardized my load so I can more easily hunt fields and woods with the same load with minimal hold over

The rifle can handle it, my shoulder with just a shirt is bruised pretty good after 3 shots. Kicks harder than my 50 BMG.

That said, when I am killing stuff with it, it’s a one and done proposition. If you don’t like the recoil, slow it down, pad the rifle/shoulder or add weight to the rifle, no free lunch. You could add a brake I suppose but I don’t care much for them on a hunting rifle.

ohihunter2014 said:

How is h322 with that bullet? I have 1/2lbs left of it for 223rem.

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H322 has a similar burn rate as IMR3031, it would be another reasonable choice. If memory serves, I used H322 back in the Old Days when I was first loading for .45-70, and probably with 300grn JHP's.