45-70 Reloading

I use imr 3031 a lot good for light to why did I do that loads. Your shoulder will tell you when it's time to load lighter. Had good luck with trail boss with lead.

If recoil matters to you, I'd go with the lighter bullet. Medium burning powders like 3031, Reloader 7, and Varget tend to do well. A three hundred grain bullet at around 1400 feet per second will kill anything that goes bleat. Reloading data for the old trapdoor Springfield pressures do fine.

The old Lyman manuals list plenty of loads with fast burning powders that are very light.

But if you want something for dangerous game, you can find loads that will make your hair stand up on end.

I'm shooting a 405gr bullet from Missouri Bullets over AA5744 in both my Trapdoor and Marlin. I'm shooting the same load in both.

5744 and buffalo rifle is some of the best powders for cast bullets in the 45-70.

Trailboss and download 4895 for lighter loads. As mentioned 5744 is also very good. I have used 3031 for heavy loads but I prefer the other powders mentioned. One of the easiest and funniest rounds i load.

ArchAngelCD said:

I'm shooting a 405gr bullet from Missouri Bullets over AA5744 in both my Trapdoor and Marlin. I'm shooting the same load in both.

Click to expand...

I second what ArchAngel does. Right now I'm loading 405 grainers with AA5744 on my Sharps Rifle and am thinking of switching to black powder using 500 and 535 grain postell bullets. I just received an order from Buffalo Arms of the mentioned cartridges to see how I perform with these heavy weights and to see if I'm going to like before making the switch. If not I'll stick to smokeless using AA5744 great powder.

Just FYI... you have to decide what you want.

The 405grn bullet is fantastic, but if you insist on launching it at hunting velocities, you better be ready for some recoil. I loaded some 350 and 405grn cast bullets over starting charges of IMR's 3031, 4895, and 4064... I wound up pulling almost 100 cartridges, the recoil was so bad. One or two rounds was one thing, but after about 20 rounds I had to send a search party out to find my shoulder, this out of a 1895 LTD V... not a lightweight rifle.

If I was to develop a load for hunting, a 300grn cast or jacketed bullet over a moderate charge of IMR4198 or IMR3031 would be my choice.... as someone mentioned 300grns of bullet at 1400fps will drop pretty much anything.

I entertain myself these days with cast 385 and 405grn bullets over IMR4198, tooling along at a sedate 1200-1400fps... and my shoulder is finally speaking to me, again.

Be traditional. 70 grains of 2F and a 500 grain round nose bullet.

You can load a 405gr cast bullet anywhere from bunny fart to shoulder breaking levels. At 1200-1300 fps a 405gr bullet packs a punch with very manageable recoil.

4198 and 3031work for me, loading anything from 300 to 450 grains.

The best thing about the .45/70 is the fact it can be loaded from .45 Colt rifle velocities to loads near .458 Win.

Find a load combo that shoots best for you and your rifle and you’re golden for just about anything you’ll ever hunt.

Stay safe.

I've used the Missouri bullets 300 and 405 grainers with about 60 grains of 3F Goex. Got better, more consistent results with the 405 and it was a comfortable load. This was just for targets to 200 yards, not hunting.

Many years ago I made up some 45-70 gallery loads by pressing a .457 round ball into the case mouth over a small amount of Unique. Good for maybe 50 yards. It felt like a popgun in an old Navy Arms Rolling Block single shot. Don't recall the exact charge.

Jeff

No need to beat up the gun or the shooter. A 405gr cast bullet @ between 1200fps and 1300fps will take most, if not all game in North America. Those recommending higher velocities may not have used a 45-70 with that bullet to hunt before. The energy developed by that load is extensive and takes game cleanly.

peterk1234 said:

Very close to pulling the trigger on a Malrin 45-70GBL. Close enough where I am starting to look into reloading. What is a bullet powder combo you folks feel would work for a light and powerful load? Or am I asking too much and should I go with different bullet weights and types of powders?

I am a big fan of Missouri Bullet Company and they have a 300 and 405 grain bullet. I am eyeballing the 405 coated.


Thanks

Pete

Click to expand...

I have the 1895 Guide Gun, and love it with MBC 405 (Hi-Tek), as well as GT Bullets’ 425. I have six hundred loaded right now with Alliant 2400, and like the way it shoots.

I’ve also used Unique, with which it’s easy to hit a 4” steel plate at 100 yards (I’d happily use this on deer), with velocity between 1000 and 1100 FPS.

IMR 4198 and IMR 3031 are good, and give me reasonable accuracy over a fair range of charge weights, including the higher end, more punishing loads. I used these to drop a nice Christmas tree with 4 shots — too bad it was October ‍

I’ve only used the Holy Black in my 45-70s. Don’t seem right to use smokeless.

I also have a Guide Gun, mine is factory ported. I've shot just about every combination of stuff there is. I keep coming back to H-4895 with a Hornady 350 grain RN bullet for hunting and I cast my own 340 grain bullets for plinking. Trail Boss sounds interesting. I may have to try developing another load.

405 grain hardcast over a case full of trail boss . hits hard but won't hurt you. I like it.

Have any of you guys tried silly heavy gr bullets?

https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=319

These have made me take notice, for my henry 4570 single shot. I don't hunt, but do enjoy knocking steel plates pretty hard, and I'm ok with low velocities. I figured varget would be an ok match due to its low pressures.

I have some loads using Reloader #7 and 520 grain bullets. Not pleasant to shoot. Personally I would not try the 730 grain bullet.

flashhole said:

I have some loads using Reloader #7 and 520 grain bullets. Not pleasant to shoot. Personally I would not try the 730 grain bullet.

Click to expand...

That 520 grain feed through a lever action?

I also like the 405gr cast over IMR4198. 30grains gives me 1340fps out of my Marlin 1895GS. This is a nice plinking load that I can go out and shoot 100 rounds and have fun. I guess I could bump them up, but im not hunting with mine. Mine is a plinking range gun for now.