Simple question... Your favorite .45-70 reload.

[ApacheCoTodd]

Dedicating a rock-crusher to a couple of hunting guns and figured I'd do .45-70 for the first time.

Looking at mule-deer and elk and I hunt mid to low ranges.

I see Hornady sells their 325 gr. FTX. Should I care? I like the concept but have no experience with their terminal performance.

They will only be shot from my 1895 Marlin.


Todd.

 

[Alaska]

Reloader 7 @ 51.8
350 Speer FN
WW case
Fed 210M

 

[Charlie98]

Nothing wrong with a 350grn FP cast bullet pushed along by a charge of IMR3031...

 

[JeffG]

I've had a few 45/70's. H&R Shikari, T/C pistol, Marlin Guide Gun. My Lyman Ideal Sharps is my favorite shooter. Accurate, soft shooter and easy to look at. 405 hard cast lead with 36 grs of Reloder7.

 

[brewer12345]

What kind of distances will your shots be? I think you only care about the FTX bullets if you are trying to maximize range.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

What kind of distances will your shots be? I think you only care about the FTX bullets if you are trying to maximize range.

150 yards and under. Certainly, potentially some brush but not like East-Coast shooting.

Todd.

 

[glockgod]

300 grain hollow point
Starline brass
45 grains IMR4198
Use a firm roll crimp and hang on! 1950 fps from a 22 inch barrel. A 405 cast with 32 grains of IMR4198 is a little more civilized. Use these loads in modern rifles

 

[Lafitte]

I like shooting 405gr lead bullets loaded to Trapdoor velocities. I shoot tem in a Marlin 1895, 22inch bbl. If I were going muley and elk hunting with it, I would look at jacketed bullets at higher velocities.
Lafitte

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Using a 405gr cast bullet and a CCI 200 LRP on these loads.

29.0gr AA5744 for my Trapdoor and either 32.0gr or 34gr AA5744 for my levergun.

 

[Riomouse911]

If I’m looking at an elk load for +\- 150 yd shooting in my Marlins:

Rem 405 gr JFP
IMR 4198 45.0 gr
W-W brass
CCI 200 primers
2.540 OAL

It is accurate and gets up to roughly 1850 fps in my1895 guide gun, 2000 in my 1895 CB. This’ll have plenty of steam for an elk at 150.

Stay safe.

 

[Charlie98]

Using a 405gr cast bullet and a CCI 200 LRP on these loads.

29.0gr AA5744 for my Trapdoor and either 32.0gr or 34gr AA5744 for my levergun.

I guess my answer above didn't actually answer the OP's generic question... what is MY favorite .45-70 load...

Mine is very similar... a cast 405grn RN bullet over 32grn IMR4198, or 27grn AA5744, for basically the same velocity... 1400fps, out of my 32" Pedersoli 1885.

 

[dh1633pm]

One the lighter side, 300 grain RNFP, behind 30 grains of AA5744. Nice practice round.

 

[Rebel Dave]

300 grn HP over 46.2 grns IMR 4198, is our hunting load, shoots better than I can hold it. My son uses it also. This year was his 3rd buck in 3 yrs.
Dave

 

[Lennyjoe]

One the lighter side, 300 grain RNFP, behind 30 grains of AA5744. Nice practice round.

I picked up a box of 500 yesterday for just that reason.

 

[Charlie98]

I picked up a box of 500 yesterday for just that reason.

I never had luck with the lighter bullets, for some reason. Even the 350's aren't the rifle's favorite.

 

[Steve51]

I have 3 favorites:
405 gr coated cast bullet (MBC 18BHN) over 30.0 gr. of H4198 (Trapdoor Load)
Hornady 350 gr Jacketed FP over 44.0 gr. of H4198
Hornady 300 gr. JHP over 45.0 gr. H4198

 

[dh1633pm]

I got 1K of them when my brother bought the wrong size for .45 Colt.

 

[JT-AR-MG42]

The Lyman Gould solid, a .459 diameter 350 grain with a 30/1 mix, with 27 grains of 5744 for marlin 95 fun shooting.
The Lee 340 gr. is a handy back up (double cavity) to the Gould, but is not quite as accurate for me.

JT

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I got 1K of them when my brother bought the wrong size for .45 Colt.

I dig it.

I got a 413 Max Wedge the same way.

Brother bought the *wrong* 413.

Todd.

 

[Soonerpesek]

405 gr. SNS RNFP coated
30 gr. AA5744.....nice mild load
35 gr. AA5744.....warmish load
54 gr H335..........will take care of the TRex creatures
I do believe the FTX bullets require shorter cases (-.040") , and Redding makes a specialized profile crimp die for that shorter case.
So a little extra time and expense to load them, for what its worth....

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

I do believe the FTX bullets require shorter cases (-.040") , and Redding makes a specialized profile crimp die for that shorter case.
So a little extra time and expense to load them, for what its worth....

Thanks for the length tip.

Caused me to pull out my ammo and compare; Hornady FTX, Federal, Remington and Miwall and the Hornady cases are in fact a touch shorter.

Todd.

 

[SureLok]

Does anyone here have a Knight KP 1 rifle in 45-70? I was wondering if anyone that owned one might have a favorite load.

 

[ApacheCoTodd]

Does anyone here have a Knight KP 1 rifle in 45-70? I was wondering if anyone that owned one might have a favorite load.

That'd be interesting to know.

Having zero feed or magazine issues like the simplicity of the *Trap Door* but modern metallurgy and barrels.

I wonder how hot fellas load those for and can a guy fully capitalize on a more modern projectile?

Todd.

 

[Obturation]

I like 38 grains imr4198 under a 405 grain rnfp bullet - been using MBC coated lately.

For lighter game the 51 grains of imr4198 under a 250 grain barnes tsx hollow point copper bullet is well over 2000 fps and hits hard.

I also use 12.5 grains of trailboss under the same 405 cast bullet for plinking and short range use, even below 1000 fps it will pass through anything soft without a problem, but it has a steep trajectory .

 

[SureLok]

I like 38 grains imr4198 under a 405 grain rnfp bullet - been using MBC coated lately.

For lighter game the 51 grains of imr4198 under a 250 grain barnes tsx hollow point copper bullet is well over 2000 fps and hits hard.

I also use 12.5 grains of trailboss under the same 405 cast bullet for plinking and short range use, even below 1000 fps it will pass through anything soft without a problem, but it has a steep trajectory .

Thank You