45-70 Loads

[Mitch Rapp]

Looking for some general info on what you guys use in your 45-70's. I have a load to get me started with, using 300 grain Hornady HP's. I figure that will get me by this deer season but want to go to a heavier bullet, maybe cast lead. I am loading for a Marlin Guide Gun.

 

[Pulp]

While I use black exclusively now in my H&R, I had good results with Accurate 5744. I had a five shot group with all holes touching at 25 yards. Five shots with Varget looked worse than buckshot patterns.

 

[Okie4570]

Ken Waters Pet Loads is a great book if you can find one, with lots of cast 4570 loads. Welcome to use mine if you need it. 36gr. of imr3031 with 405gr cast is a trapdoor safe load, and shoots great out of my 1874 and side by side 4570's. Deer are soft, doesn't take a buffalo load to bring one down

 

[Blitzfike]

I don't shoot a large number of heavy cast bullets in my 95 marlin, but here is one I use 405 grain lead flat point, 48.0 gr of H4895 CCI 200 primer bullet seated to overalll length 2.540" clocks about 1,645 fps. I find the 350 grain cat to be adequate for most anything short of Alaska. That is where the 405 grain bullets shine. On one of my Alaska trips I visited a gun show in Anchorage and asked several of the local hunters what they recommended in 45-70 loads. I had the pre conceived notion that a big jacketed soft point bullet would be best but they universally said they had better results on big game (Moose and Bear) with the 405 grain cast with a very hard alloy. They got much better penetration with the heavy cast than they did jsp style bullets. The white tail experiences massive shock with a good hard cast bullet. They don't often get lost after being shot with one. Be forwarned that the 95 marlin kicks like a mule with a 405 grain bullet. I built a 458 win mag on a Savage 111 action and the kick from the 95 marlin with heavy loads feels like shooting the 458. Good luck with your project.

 

[Pulp]

TrailBoss makes for a very nice light recoil plinking load. It's the only other smokeless I've shot in mine.

 

[Coded-Dude]

Ken Waters Pet Loads is a great book if you can find one, with lots of cast 4570 loads. Welcome to use mine if you need it. 36gr. of imr3031 with 405gr cast is a trapdoor safe load, and shoots great out of my 1874 and side by side 4570's. Deer are soft, doesn't take a buffalo load to bring one down

You can get it in paperback at amazon for $43(prime shipping).

http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Loads-Complete-Volume-Waters/dp/1879356643

 

[Okie4570]

You can get it in paperback at amazon for $43(prime shipping).

http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Loads-Complete-Volume-Waters/dp/1879356643

It's a good one..........has a great section on "reloading the old ones", and a lot of other obscure older cartridges.

 

[RustyW]

I have a Ruger #1 that I've loaded several different loads for. I've found the best accuracy for me is a cast bullet from a RCBS 45-325-fngc design. I use around 49gr of IMR 3031 for a mid load in it. Same bullet w/Trailboss is a hoot, around 15gr or so. I've tried the Lyman 330hp Gould bullet but the hollow point was a pain to cast so I stuck w/the RCBS. The Hornady 300gr JHP shot good also as did the Remington 405gr JSP. It's been a couple years since I've shot jacketed bullets & don't remember what combination I used w/them. The 45/70 & cast just go good together. IMR 4759 is also good but it's being fazed out...get it if you can find it, meters like gravel but works in a lot of different cast/reduced loads.

 

[Mitch Rapp]

Thanks for all the tips, I like to get one "do everything" load so if I get a chance to go after elk, bear or anything else I just roll with what I already have. Looks like the 350s give enough of everything to fill that role short of going after Grizzly. Trying to find cast bullets is smaller lots is proving a challenge though. Jerry's is supposed to be getting some in soon.

 

[Okie4570]

Nice RustyW, thanks for sharing! Do you know the velocities of any of those loads?