Mitch Rapp, sent you a PM
I may have to start working with my lever action 45-70 again. I am not impressed with Leverevolution. I may have to carry it during rifle season.
Check your case lengths on the Leverevolution brass, I was told that it is shortened to compensate for the bullets used. I know I bought some of the leverevolution bullets surplus, loaded them
in some of my starline brass and had to trim the ballistic tip to get them to go through the marlin. Real pain in the butt using them in the lever rifle.
I haven't measured, but factory loaded ammo (leverevolution) won't cycle without trouble, if you are unloading unfired rounds because of OAL is a touch long.
I've never run them across a chrono but according to the books the Trailboss load is about 1200fps and the 4759 load is about 1600fps. I've went up to about 2200fps w/the 300gr jhp & in the #1 it's not very comfortable. 1800fps was my limit in the 405jhp. I can shoot a few no problem but no way am I going to burn up 50rds at a setting. I started reloading the 45/70 about 8-10 years ago in the H&R Handi rifle. Wasn't long & I had reached it's limit, the action would pop open if I got up to Ruger #1 loads. I sold it and bought the #1, so far I've yelled uncle before it has.
Rusty, my Handi rifle in 45-70 got fitted with a really nice 223 barrel from gunbroker a few years back. It is now comfortable to shoot. My oldest brother in law has taken several deer with it. I still have the 45-70 barrel in the safe just to remind me of why I prefer the '95 Marlin and the Encore with the heavier barrel. I also shoot 375H&H mag as well as a 458 win mag I built about 4 months ago on a Savage 111 action. The 458 will soon have a brake on it. The 375 was brutal without a brake.
Be careful w/those Savages. They tend to multiply. I started swapping bbls on a .308 I had. Changed it to a 22-250, next thing I know there's .243, 7-08, a couple 221 fireballs a 20 practical & a couple 223 Stevens 200. Looked in the gun closet one day and thought "how'd that happen".
I missed out on a Ruger #1 in 458mag a few years ago. It was at a gunshop in Webbers Falls...$500.00 and had been shot very little.
Thanks for all the feedback guys, may have to get into casting bullets on my own, this 45-70 is going to be a great gun to own, may have to make a more powerful hunting load and a light plinking load just for the fun of it.
Even if you're not interested in black powder, you should load a few with it and shoot them right before dark. Impressive.
I've got 340gr, 400gr, & 500gr Lee GC molds and they all shoot nice in my Handis. My favorite is the 340gr for obvious reasons. I've got a couple loads that produce 1350-1400 fps that perform real well at the ranges I shoot. Go over to Greybeards forum and look at the H&R rifle forum. I've seen tons of info there.
