Favorite Recipes For .45-70, .300WM, & .223/5.56

[Maverick223]

I have finally acquired all of my components, but am not adverse to switching any or all of the 3-Ps (Primer, Powder, & Projectile)...though I won't consider switching cartridges.

The .300 Win Mag will be loaded for accuracy, not that cost is not a factor, but accuracy at distance (high BC is a prerequisite) is paramount. The rifle is a DTA-SRS with 26" bbl. My current loading is a 208gr. A-Max, IMR-4831 (still toying with the volume), and Federal Gold Medal Match Magnum Primer. Current cases are Rem., Fed., and Win.; but Lapua is likely in the future.

The .45-70 will be loaded stout and cheap. The action is a Browning 1885 High Wall, which should handle just about any load available for .45-70. I would like to have a few loads available using 300, 400/405, well constructed 405-450 solids, and perhaps even a few 500gr bullets. My primary goad is to create a nice plinking and deer load with light bullets. My second goal is to get as heavy of a solid flying as close to 2250-2300fps as possible for dangerous game. Current load is a 300gr HP, behind Rx-7 (over 50gr.) and a Rem. large (non magnum) primer.

The final load is for .223 and the primary goal is for it to be as cheap as is feasible. Any respectable loading should be more than adequate for plinking out of my M17. Current load is a 55gr FMJ, pushed by 25-27gr of Varget and a CCI Sm. Rifle Primer.

Thank you in advance for all of the assistance with my preliminary load development.

 

[Maverick223]

BUMP...anyone want to share something?

 

[ohioshooter]

For .223 I use Benchmark with 23 grains with a 55 grain soft point. got great accuracy results

 

[Maverick223]

Thanks for the recipe OS, I will give that a shot.

 

[LeonCarr]

.223 - 55 grain Hornady SP (usually with cannelure if bought in bulk), near max load of IMR 4895, LC brass and winchester primers. Will typically shoot MOA or better in AR-15 type rifles and 1/2-5/8 MOA in bolt rifles. Been shooting that load for years.

.45-70 - For big time stopping power on deer and hogs I like the 300 Sierra JHP with your RE7 behind it. I won't mention any powder charges, but my load chronos around 2000 FPS from a Marlin 1895 lever action. For everything else short of the African Big Five, I like a hard cast 405 grain flat point with RE7. The 300 JHP would also work great for home defense/self defense.

.300 Winnie - 180 Nosler Partition with RE22. Velocities around 3200 fps and excellent accuracy from several different rifles. I have a buddy who has a Remington 700 Sendero in .300 Winchester Magnum and he shoots the 180 Partiton at EVERYTHING, including coyotes and jackrabbits . Good for anything short of the big bears.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[Jim Watson]

3031 is way too fast burning for a .300 magnum.

I only load .45-70 et al with black.

For blasting .223, I would use H335 or some surplus Ball process powder for easy metering.

 

[Maverick223]

Thank you for the replies LC and Jim...a few mistakes and revisions...the .300WM will be solely used for target (and perhaps groundhogs given the opportunity) so expanding hunting bullets are not required, I would however like to use the rifle up to and beyond 1000yds (as my skill develops) so a favorable BC is required. The twist rate on the 26in. bbl is 1 in 11in. so per my calculations a 210gr. bullet length is about the maximum that can guarantee stabilization (please correct me if I am wrong). I was wrong about the powder that I am using with the winnie, it is a slower IMR 4831 not 3031 as I had believed (going off of memory).

The amount of powder that I plan to (or in some cases have already loaded) are:
->.45-70: 46-51gr. of RX-7 for 300gr. Remington bullets
->.300WM: 63.5-70.5gr. of IMR 4831 pushing 208gr. A-Max spitzers
->5.56: 25-27.8gr. of Varget with a 55gr. Hornady FMJBT

Thank you all for the kind advice...but I would like to know powder capacity (especially for the .45-70). Fear not, I fully intend to work up to the stout loads, and the action is as strong (50,000CUP+) as the Ruger No. 1. It has a 28" bbl if memory serves me correctly, so velocity should be favorable.

 

[Maverick223]

I only load .45-70 et al with black.

Teach me master...I may try out some BP loads just for nostalgia and smoke signals. Very interested in where to start, should I decide to do so.

For blasting .223, I would use H335 or some surplus Ball process powder for easy metering.

I will strongly consider that, as I have found Varget does not meter very well.

 

[KenWP]

I load my 45-70 useing Hornaday 350 grain round nose bullets. They are made for light 458 loads. Powder is 3031 and it really is acurate. I use a Ruger #3 so it takes a pretty stout load but the recoil is bad with out a rubber butt pad.

 

[Maverick223]

Thanks Ken, I plan to do quite a bit of experimenting with the old .45-70, and will have to give your load a shot. The other rifles will likely be fed a strict diet of the cheapest or most reliable (for the .300WM) after I determine what that is.

 

[fireman 9731]

Its hard to beat a 45-70 with a case load of Varget, IMR 3031, or IMR 4198 and a Barnes TSX on top when it comes to dangerous game. Your shoulder will feel it though.

When it comes to plinking though, I love about 13gr of Trail Boss under a 350gr cast bullet... its a hoot to shoot and very easy on the shoulder.

 

[Jim Watson]

Internet information on BP loading at:
http://www.ssbpcrc.co.uk/Resources/Introduction to BPCR Loading.pdf

Friend of mine used to load .45-70 up to Elmer Keith's recommendations which was way too much fun for me. I mostly shoot .40-65 at that. Not much dangerous game around here anyhow.

 

[Maverick223]

Again thank you all for the great information...I appreciate the knowledge that you have shared. Keep em' coming.

 

[Maverick223]

Made a run of .45-70 using 51-58gr of RX-7 to work up to today...I will update with results this afternoon.

 

[Maverick223]

58gr. of RX-7 did fine behind a 300gr HP Jacketed bullet...I am considering working up to 60gr. a 0.5 grain at a time...any advice or additional loads anyone would like to share?

 

[Afy]

45-70 load up with BP and seat and shoot.

 

[Maverick223]

Afy, I may give that a shot, but I want to get some loads for nitro first.

 

[jeepmor]

my best accuracy for my 223 ruger hb 26" bbl rifle came from Varget. Meters poorly, but provided good accuracy. Can also use it in my 300WSM, 270 and so forth. I like the versatility of Varget even though metering is an issue.

With poor metering powders, I undercharge by 0.5 grains or so and trickle the rest into spec. I've produced some very accurate rounds this way.

 

[Maverick223]

Thanks for the advice, Jeep; that is what I am currently loading with, has been good (but difficult to meter) so far.

 

[lgbloader]

Maverick,

What kind of powder measure are you using? I currently assemble 223 REM with Varget on a 550B and the Dillon PM is dead on. I have the same luck with my RCBS Uniflow's too.

H335 might be a better route.

LGB

 

[Maverick223]

I am using the RCBS UniFlow (without the Mic Kit). It floats a few tenths (about 0.5gr. on average) every time...not bad, but I like it to be as exact as possible.

 

[Rugg_Ed]

Maverick223
The 45-70 is my fun gun, I hunt a lot with it. It gets to go hunting a lot just because its fun. Works vary well on Mule deer and Elk and the results got some attention. Using the Ruger #3 and I agree with KenWP it does have recoil, but gives results. I use a 328 grn cast gas checked bullet sized/lubed to .459 and about 98% lead, over IMR 3031 or IMR 4198 with velocities just over 2200 fps. Start Data from RCBS cast bullet loading manual. Hard cast bullets drops them but the softer lead ones picks em up shakes the bugs and dirt off then slams them to the ground. Plinking I use a 200 grn SWC for the 45 ACP and paper patch it with a Zig-Zag (roll your own) cut in half and a lite charge of fast shot gun powder, WST, WSL, Red Dot what ever you have kicking around. I have fun just playing around with it.

 

[lgbloader]

It floats a few tenths (about 0.5gr. on average) every time...not bad

That is massive floating!!!! 5 tenths of a grain??? Holy Cow...

I have 3 uniflows and each has their favorite uses but none of mine float that much!!!

So much for my input. Sorry I could'nt help.

LGB

 

[Maverick223]

Thank you for the additional replies. The UniFlow doesn't float that much except with Varget powder...and perhaps I didn't explain it very well...it floats up and down about 0.2-3gr. for a total range of about 0.5gr. It measures the 4831 pretty well, and the RL-7 very well (floating less than 0.1gr.). I still measure every load for my .45-70 and the .300WM, but would rather not have to measure for the .223 due to volume of loading for that cartridge.

In other news...I worked up to 60.0gr of RL-7 pushing a 300gr HP in my Browning 1885 High Wall. Using ballistic concrete (discarded slab that was removed and "recycled") as a test media I was able to blow a large holes and chunks off of the approx. 6" thick crete (other loads didn't do quite as well and only made a large crater in the surface). It might even have enough penetration to kill a yote...or even a deer. Keep in mind that I was a safe distance back shooting at a downward sloping surface (to direct fragments and shrapnel downward), with a berm placed beside and behind the target, and I have no close neighbors. That said, I still can't recommend doing it...or my load in anyone elses firearm!

 

[moooose102]

do you have a copy of "Handloader Magazine"'s article on the 45-70? i tried to attach it to this, but it will not go. probably because i am not so good on this thing. anyway, LOTS of good reading, and loads from low and slow plinkers, up to MAX PRESSURE loads, powerful enough to shoot and kill cpae buffalo in africa. anyway, if you want a copy, p.m. me with your regular e-mail address, and i will send it to you. as for the 300 win mag, i shoot 70.0 grains of IMR4831 behind winchester silvertip (not balistic s.t.'s) 180g bullets. which works very well for me and my rifle. it may not be right at the absoloute max, but i get 1.5" groups (and that is ME shooting) from it. i am sure with a better shooter, it would do much better. i have had several bullets go through the same hole at that distance, but not in any consecutive order.