Load suggestions for 45-70 Ruger n. 1

[snowman357]

I unfortunately inherited my brothers Ruger n. 1 a few months ago, I was the first owner brother went bear hunting in Canada I traded something so he could have the 45-70. I loaded 405gr bullets and 300gr remigtons (i think)in the past. Looking to shoot this gun a lot and hunt with it in winter, brother was using 300gr remington factory ammo. I was looking at keeping bullet cost down by using 300 gr missouri or acme coated bullets, I want to use a powder that will come close to filling the case. should I be looking at a heavier bullets for better accuracy. I have lots of imr 3031 would like to use that none of my manuals show lead 300 gr loads only jacketed in 300 gr, any online loading sources for acme or missouri specific.

snowman357

 

[Mark_Mark]

I shoot a Ruger #1 45-70 Hard Cast 405 gn. I load a stout one and it hurts every time I pull the trigger! But Love the rifle more than most my collection

 

[Charlie98]

Unless you are shooting something big, the 300grn bullet will do fine. IMR3031 is a reasonable powder for that as well.

Although I was loading 350grn cast, this will give you an idea... out of my Marlin 1895 LTD V (26" barrel, I believe.)

350grn LaserCast FP, 45grn IMR3031, 1600fps
350grn LaserCast FP, 47grn IMR3031, 1675fps
350grn LaserCast FP, 49grn IMR3031, 1800fps.

Those were hunting loads, for sure. They definitely let you know something was going on, but nothing unbearable.

Now... 350grn LaserCast FP, 57grn IMR3031, @ 2000fps... that was quickly approaching unbearable, as was 58grn IMR4895, and 58grn IMR4064. I wound up pulling all of those.

 

[25-20 WCF]

The OP really hasn’t given us enough information about his needs - what will he be hunting, what ranges, his desired velocity etc. Lyman lists an IMR3031 load with their 292-grain cast bullet, a compressed 53.0 grain load giving 1706 fps at very low pressures. They don’t list that powder for heavier bullets as you can’t get enough into the case for decent velocities.

Accuracy is generally more dependent on the individual barrel that bullet weight at hunting ranges, but be aware that Ruger changed the throating on their No.1s in .45-70 somewhere around the 1990s. Older rifles had longer throats and allowed heavy bullets to be seated out, while newer rifles had a short throat. The latter would have a potential for better accuracy with light bullets or bullets seated to SAAMI lengths, as it puts the bullet closer to the rifling for less bullet jump.



.

 

[snowman357]

200 yards or less(mostly 100 or less) just deer maybe black bear, just looking for a cheap bullet that I can use for hunting also and a powder that will fill the case up around 80% or more.

Snowman357

 

[Mark_Mark]

200 yards or less(mostly 100 or less) just deer maybe black bear, just looking for a cheap bullet that I can use for hunting also and a powder that will fill the case up around 80% or more.

Snowman357

Deer with a 45-70? go with hard cast because that going to be one bloody mess with expanding bullets.

 

[savagelover]

I unfortunately inherited my brothers Ruger n. 1 a few months ago, I was the first owner brother went bear hunting in Canada I traded something so he could have the 45-70. I loaded 405gr bullets and 300gr remigtons (i think)in the past. Looking to shoot this gun a lot and hunt with it in winter, brother was using 300gr remington factory ammo. I was looking at keeping bullet cost down by using 300 gr missouri or acme coated bullets, I want to use a powder that will come close to filling the case. should I be looking at a heavier bullets for better accuracy. I have lots of imr 3031 would like to use that none of my manuals show lead 300 gr loads only jacketed in 300 gr, any online loading sources for acme or missouri specific.

snowman357

Reloader 7 is what I always used. And 416 gr cast bullets. 8 bear so far most from Maine. A few on pa. But that was on my younger days.Ruger #1
.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

The only thing I ever killed with my Ruger No.1 .45-70Gov't is my shoulder.
My Marlin 1895 .45-70 has taken a few pigs and a few deer but I got better - less painful - guns for them.
Nothing rocks your world like a 5lb .444Marlin loaded to the gills with a 300gr. Hornady and a full snout of IMR 4895. I had one of them, too, a Martini-Henry with a 20" barrel. It was cute, like a polar bear cub - on meth. It's not the "force" so much as how sharp that cartridge likes to bark. I got rid of that sucker and pity the fool that paid WAAAY too much for it. It's one of them, "Hold m'beer" guns.

 

[plumberroy]

My only 45-70 load is with Sierra 300 gr jacketed H.P. 55 grains of IMR 3031 out of a Handi-rifle I've taken deer out to 225 yards and never had to track