Pet cast bullet .45-70 loads?

[Tallinar]

Anyone care to share their pet "full power" (levergun/H&R single shot level; non-Ruger only) cast bullet .45-70 loads?

Historically I've used only 4198 and Trail Boss for .45-70, but I'm looking to branch out to some other smokeless powder options.

I plan to stay in the 400gr to 500gr bullet realm.

 

[RevGeo]

For the fun of it I loaded a bunch of 405gr home-cast bullets with 70gr of FF black powder. I was surprised with the accuracy.
I have a very old Ideal cast bullet hand book. Some of their loads:

300 gr (#456191) - 26gr of 4759 - 1375fps.
340gr (#456121) - 20gr of 2400 - 1300fps.
405 gr (#457124) - 20gr 4759 - 867fps (plinking load)
420gr (#457193) - 13gr Unique - 1150fps
25gr 2400 - 1450fps
25gr IMR 4227 - 1400fps
45gr IMR 3031 - 1580fps

Of course you should start about 5% lower and work up, but these loads were worked up for a Marlin 1895. Probably too hot for a trap-door.

George

 

[BruceB]

If you have ANY question about ANY cast-bullet subject, it's worth a visit to

www.castboolits.gunloads.com

Do a search there for ".45-70" (without the quotation marks) and you will have weeks of reading on every conceivable combination involving the cartridge.

There are now over twenty thousand members, and it is THE place on the Internet for cast-bullet info.

You'll be very welcome!

 

[GooseGestapo]

After loosening my fillings with 400gr+ bullets and compressed loads of mid-range burning powders (Varget, IMR4064). I bought an RCBS 300gr FNGC.
This is my "pet load" bullet for the .45/70 now. I size it to .459" and lube with SPG. Alloy is w/w with a tad of 95/5 solder added. They weight in at just under 320gr lubed and gaschecked with a Hornady GC. (Shoot them through a Marlin M1895 GuideGun -no ports). With a Williams reciver sight, sighted 2" high at 50yds, I'm on top of front sight at 100, under the bead at ~150, and on bottom of bead at ~200yds.

I can run it over 48.0gr of H4198 for teeth jarring loads at over 2,000fps.

At ~1,800fps 43.0 does just as well.
But, mostly I shoot 30.0gr of #2400. No filler required, no aspirin when I get through shooting either. Very accurate at 1,650fps.

26.8gr of BlueDot works about as well. Either of these will penetrate a whitetail deer as far as you can reliably see to hit one (about 200yds for me, where I hunt with the '45/70). Got other guns for the long range areas...

 

[bangaway]

I use marlin 22'' bbl.
38.0 gr. 2400 powder for 2250 fps, 3373 ft. pds. Hold on it kicks. 300 gr. hornady HP.

Then 525 gr. lyman 457125 lots H-335. powder. 1850 fps and 4000 ft pds. See hodgdon manual. Seated out to 2.71 " and loaded single shot into marlin. Not for recoil shy.

Fun load: Lee Ruger old army handgun Mould 220 gr. 10 gr. unique + 1 grain polyester pillow stuffing material 1100fps.

PLEASE USE SAFE RELOADING PRACTICES AND START 15% LOWER AS THESE LOADS SHOOT WELL IN MY GUN.

 

[bangaway]

BruceB

Thanks for the link to cast boolits and the how to. I will use it soon and read for weeks. .45-70 is one of my favorites. Have fun and bangaway.