Anyone load 45-70 for a 16” Contender?

[jmorris]

I came across a barrel for one of my contender carbines and was going to try and play with it this weekend. I have thousands of the 405 remington JFP’s so figured I’d use them but I also have lighter JHP’s, FTX and such.

I don’t think my reloads for my Marlin are where I’d like to start though. I have 2400, lilgun, H110/296, 1680, H322, 3031, H355, 2230, TAC, 4895, 4064, Varget, 748, CFE 223 and H380 as a range of powders that might work in the fast to slow for 45-70 range.

I was thinking of starting in the 46 grain range with 4895 using the remington bullet and going from there but I figured someone here might have already been there and done that with one.

 

[AJC1]

Of what you listed I would load the 2400. Unique and 4227 would also be good choices

 

[joneb]

I would keep a eye out for some Accurate 5744.

 

[GarrettJ]

Tag for info.

I’ve got a 14” Contender barrel, and I’ve loaded a little for it. I would stay on the very low end of things. I have heard of people stretching their Contender frames with overly warm .45-70 loads.

I’ve only shot mine on a G2 pistol frame, but I have an earlier frame that I SBRd several years ago, so I should really try shooting the big thumper as a short rifle.

I’ve decided the .45-70 isn’t a very good choice as a Contender pistol. It’s fairy punishing to shoot. I can load it down to where it’s comfortable, but then the ballistics are about what I could do with a similar length .45 Colt barrel. And the shorter cartridge does it more efficiently and with less recoil.

To date I’ve tried loading 300 gr. JHPs with H4196, H322, and Trailboss with velocities from 1100 (not bad) to a little over 1500 fps (not so fun).