45-70 Favorites?

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FHBrumb

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I'm going to load up a few in the not too distant future. I'd like something in the 300ish grain bullet weight that's a moderate load and also something in the 400 or 500 grain bullet weight range that could drop a T-Rex.

Anyone got me a starting point?

I am good with the basics of reloading, but have never worked a 45-70 load.
 
You don't say what your shooting, which is an extremely important detail. Doubly so with the .45-70. Assuming it's a newer lever rifle made with modern steel and methods.......

I would focus on loads that use powders in the speed range between RL-7 and H4227 on the fast side and H335, N135, & 748 on the slow side. Those powders, and anything in between, would give good results. The "sweet spot", IMO, would be H322 & N530 for the lighter bullets and 10x & A2015 for the heavier.
 
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300 grain JHP and a good dose of IMR 3031 works like a charm on deer. I have a Browning B-78 that will print a three shot group with all three holes touching at 100 yards. I use 61 grains of IMR 3031, any more powder and the projectile can't be seated. I would NEVER use this load in anything other than a B-78 or No. 1 Ruger.

J.B.
 
I use imr-3031 in my buffalo classic. Thats with a 405gr hollow base boolit. But I am happy 46grs of powder. And I prefer a good crimp with it. Just my 2 cents.
 
The Hodgdon Load Data Site has 3 separate listings for the 45-70 Govt. They list loads for the Trapdoor, Leverguns and Modern Rifles. You will get all the data you need on that site. I prefer to load a hard cast 405gr WNFP bullet with IMR3031. If that powder isn't available try to find some IMR4198.
 
My Buffalo Classic loves Varget and IMR 3031. Load a 300 gr Barnes TSX on top of that and you have some serious medicine!
 
fireman 9731,
Varget works well in the 45-70? That's good to know. Good velocity? How's the accuracy? (compared to 3031) It looks like Varget is fast becoming the "Unique" of rifle powders...
 
welcome to the club. the 45-70 is a lot of fun to shoot, and that marlin will take way more than you will want it to dish out! pick a powder, and pick a load on the hodgedon website using the starting loads (in the lever action section). the upper end of the load data can get pretty stout. if the starting loads in the lever action section is still more than you want, you can always load the trapdoor section. nothing wrong with loading light. just DO NOT load to the modern rifle section loads. they are more pressure than the action of your marlin can reliably hold. most of us have no desire to have a grenade go off 2 " from out face! besides, those loads aproach 458 magnum levels!
 
Varget works well in the 45-70? That's good to know. Good velocity? How's the accuracy?
Click to expand...

Its the same or better, I haven't done enough target shooting with it to be able to tell much difference but I haven't found much load data for Varget and heavier bullets, most data tops out with a 300 grain slug. Out of my 32 inch barreled Buffalo Classic, with about 63 grains of Varget, I get right around 2,000 FPS. With 59 grains of IMR 3031, I get about 1,900 FPS. Both are starting loads for strong actions though. They are both fairly bulky and meter about the same. Varget seems to burn a little cleaner and they both need a decent crimp to perform well, IMO.

Speer lists A 57 gr start charge and 61 gr max charge with Varget for lever actions with a 300 gr bullet. Listed velocities are 1790-1967 FPS.
 
don't know what you're shooting, but i've long enjoyed elmer keith's suggested load of
a 400gr buller over 53.0 grains of 3031 in a strong action (60.0 grains 3031 in a ruger).
 
I load a Lee 405gr. handcast over 14.5gr. Unique. It's a killer! Shot out of a Handi.
 
Try the Accurate Arms powder manual. I use their 2015BenchRest ( 49grs) under a 400gr Hornady bullet and get about 1800 fps in my new mfg 1895 Marlin. Have dropped everything from Fla mini deer to Moose, Elk, bears with 1 shot each. They go down like hit with an M-79.
 
Full power loads

I had a Ruger #3 that I used with 56 gr of 3031 and a Barnes 400 gr spitzer. A real killer on elk in the black timber from any reasonable angle (behind the rib cage to exit at the opposite shoulder in one extreme case; breaks both shoulders on broadside shots). This one gave me .001 in expansion over SAAMI specs, which is the limit I set for this straight case. I'd reduce it to 50-51 grains with a Speer 400 gr. flat point to start with for a Marlin modern 1895 action, which won't take the potential pressures of the Ruger single shots, and then work up CAREFULLY to a similar case head expansion level (maybe use Buffalo Bore or similar to get a power load handle for your gun). My load grouped into >2 inches at 100 yards with the iron sights from the bench. It also groups ~1.5 inches from my current Siamese Mauser (24 in. barrel, 4x Burris scope).

Caveat: This load is a real stomper, especially from the bench; I can remember all of the teeth on the right side of my jaw aching after 8-10 rounds of this in my 6 lb. 6 oz. Ruger with it's curved steel buttplate.

Enjoy!
 
I load H4198 and Trail Boss in .45-70. The 4198 gives a lot more velocity, along with a lot more blast and recoil. The Trail Boss is downright pleasant to shoot, but with a 405 grain lead RNFP I'm topping out at about 1100fps. The 4198 is good for a lot more than that. For a fun plinking load its hard to beat the Trail Boss.
 
My favorite powder for 45-70 cast bullets is SR 4759. Economical - more velocity/grain, cleaner burning (especially at lower pressures) and great accuracy in my 1895's. It won't get you the maximum velocity but it really isn't needed for hunting as I doubt there is anything in North America that will stop a 400+ grain projectile at levergun velocity (shot North - South through an Idaho Black Bear with a sub-1450 fps load and an Elk with a black powder load jogging along at <1250 fps).

For jacketed projectiles I like IMR 4198 for many of the same reasons.

50yard1895gs405gtarget.jpg

405 grain cast bullet over SR4759 - 50 yards, iron sights out of 1895GS
 
Good info from all thanks for the favorites. For "just shooting", I'd just buy a box of the Hornady LeverEvolution rounds and go. I can get them fairly consistently (locally) for just under $30 per 20, and be at the range in 10 minutes.

For handloads, I'd like to work up a real eye opener. My dies are on the way, so now I just need to pick a bullet and a starting a load.

I'd like to shoot heavy and hard lead, quite simply a home brew of a Garrett load or Buffalo Bore load. I'm having a hard time finding a place for the 500+ grain lead bullets. I want a wide meplat, if I can get it.

Since I intend to be in the upper power levels, I'll likely skip the jacketed bullets. But, I did see some Barnes solids at 500 grains. That mught be fun though. Would I load solid copper like a jacketed bullet, or do they have their own standards?
 
No we're talking big honkin' bullets!!! Exactly what I was looking for.

When loading lead, I've seen some that are 458 and some are 459. That bullet can be ordered either way. Will 1/1000 matter either way? It's a gascheck, so I'm thinking 458???

Now, I'm off to find a recipe.

Thanks for the link!
 
FHBrumb said:

Good info from all thanks for the favorites. For "just shooting", I'd just buy a box of the Hornady LeverEvolution rounds and go. I can get them fairly consistently (locally) for just under $30 per 20, and be at the range in 10 minutes.
Click to expand...

Is there some reason I am missing for not handloading for "just shooting"? Most of what I do is "just shooting" with my .45-70, and I sure as heck shoot handloads. Not counting the cost of brass, which gets reused quite a bit in my "just shooting" handloads, I'm paying about $0.35 per round, which is a lot better than $1.50 per round, and its ammo that is taylored to my specific gun. And, of course, I enjoy the process of loading my own ammunition as much as I do shooting it.
 
I'm usually tight on time, so I could spend my hobby time reloading or shooting...

If I wanna go shoot, I'll grab a box of shells, and go. If I wanna reload, I'll hit the basement and give it a go. But my particular situation usually ties my hands on free time.
 
I would get the .459"

In my Marlin 1895's the .459" shot better than .458". .457" would actually Keyhole at 50 yards.

Landric: I agree, handloading is the way to go with 45-70. It is an easy cartridge to load and probably has the most "bang for the buck" (pun intended) of the cartridges I reload for. To save even more I started casting too. Even paying for lead I the 425 grain bullet costs less than $0.03 (plus my time...), the gas check is another $0.03, Primer $0.03 and using an economical (and excellent) cast bullet propellant powder like SR 4759 < $0.10 per charge makes for some inexpensive ammo that is superior to *most* factory offerings. Using a fast powder like Red Dot I can take another nickle off that price though the velocity drops below factory offerings but is still accurate and certainly capable of harvesting game.
 
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