Finally joined the 45-70 group, now to start reloading

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Lennyjoe

Lennyjoe

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Guys, gals, I've finally entered the 45-70 group with the recent purchase of a Marlin 1895 with 22" barrel. Found it used, in great shape with scope mounted and sling for $475 OTD. Its an MR coded rifle so that being said, I'm gonna gear up and start tinkering with some loads. I've been working up loads with my .50 Beowulf for deer hunting here in Ohio (the whole straight wall case dealeo) and have a nice 350gr XTP load with LilGun but always wanted to add the lever action 45-70 so here I am.

I've been reloading for years now and have quite a few powders that may work so I thought I'd tap into your past experiences and see if anyone had success with more than just Reloader 7 and H4198 out of the 22" rifle with 350gr Hornady bullets. The powders I have sitting in the safe are 8208 XBR, 4064 and H-335. Have some others but they don't show up in any manual's that I've been reading up on this weekend.

Thoughts on what to use, where to start? Thanks in advance.
 
45-70 is a fun cartridge to shoot and reload. So many options of bullets and powders. I have not loaded a lot of 350 grain bullets but I do have a few lead gas checks loaded with 47 grains of IMR 3031.
Most of my loads have been with 405grain cast and a few 300 grain jacketed.
Here is some 350 grain data (if the attachment works).
 

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Of those, H4198 will probably be your best bet unless you just need all that velocity... then 4064 will be your friend (not so much your friend on the recoil end, mind you.) Those deer in OH won't know the difference between the two, so I'd probably start with H4198. Fine Figure is right as well... IMR3031 for a hunting load in the .45-70 is probably hard to beat, if that's an option; a little more velocity without the beating of 4064.

I loaded some generic charges of both IMR4895 and IMR4064 with the 350grn and 405grn cast bullets... I had to pull them all... about 100 cartridges... because the recoil was too stout for what I was looking for (shooting off sticks at steel.) I now use IMR4198 or a light charge of IMR3031, and am experimenting with AA5744.
 
Will have to shop around for some H4198 as I don't have any in the current inventory. I'll probably start messing with lead later on but for now I'm focused on jacketed for hunting.
 
You will find load data for all 3 of those you have on the hodgdon website under 45-70 lever action loads. 335 would be the one I would start with. 4198 and RL7 are also longtime straightwall cartridge favorites.

When hunting season is over try a 350 grain plain cast bullet over 18 grains of trailboss. Fun for the whole family. Puts a wide smile on everyone who shoots mine, even the kids. 1” accurate at 50 yards.
 
With 405 grain cast bullets (coated) I have settled on 4064 for heavy loads, for milder loads (+/-1300 fps) IMR4198 and for fun target shooting 12 to 14 grains of Unique.
I'm interested in hearing what works well for your 350's.
If your rifle doesn't have a limbsaver recoil pad get one. My guide gun was down right abusive with the factory pad.
The ergonomics of lever guns are not bench rest friendly. I have found that a standing rest or blocking up my bench so I sit more upright helps considerably with controlling recoil. While a good butt pad makes it easy on the shoulder you still have to keep the scope out of your eye.
 
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Depends on whether you want a real .45-70, or you're trying to develop a lever action ,.458 WinMAG.

A 400 grain cast, gas check bullet, or a 400 grain jacked Speer or Remington over enough 4895, 4064 or 3031 to give you 1350-1400 FPS is an ideal .45-70 load. Recoil is manageable, and it will still kill anything in North America.
 
Lennyjoe said:
Will have to shop around for some H4198 as I don't have any in the current inventory. I'll probably start messing with lead later on but for now I'm focused on jacketed for hunting.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I misread your OP... I thought you already had H4198. H335 is in the right burn range, I just don't think it would be the best choice for the .45-70.

If you are going to source a new powder, I'd just grab a can of IMR3031 and wouldn't look back. I'm an IMR powder guy, but the H's are just as good, too.

Lead bullets aren't a mystery (at least to me, any longer.) They are just as capable as jacketed bullets when operated within their appropriate velocity ranges. I'm a big gas check guy, I like to run my cast a little faster than most and figure it's cheap insurance.
 
I've used the IMR4064 in a Marlin 1895 classic with good results. Never felt the need to go past the "trapdoor" level loads listed on the Hodgdon load data site.

Using MBC's #1 Buffalo 405 grain plain lead and they shoot pretty good up to 100 yards. Never tried it any farther because I just have irons.
 
Fine Figure of a Man said:
With 405 grain cast bullets (coated) I have settled on 4064 for heavy loads, for milder loads (+/-1300 fps) IMR4198 and for fun target shooting 12 to 14 grains of Unique.
I'm interested in hearing what works well for your 350's.
If your rifle doesn't have a limbsaver recoil pad get one. My guide gun was down right abusive with the factory pad.
The ergonomics of lever guns are not bench rest friendly. I have found that a standing rest or blocking up my bench so I sit more upright helps considerably with controlling recoil. While a good butt pad makes it easy on the shoulder you still have to keep the scope out of your eye.
Click to expand...
I have a Past recoil pad that I use when shooting the .50 Beowulf so I’m good on recoil protection...lol
 
All I can add to this is that I have a friend that is really into 45/70, he shoots at some of the vintage gun matches that go out to 300 yards. He pet load is Varget (not sure the amount) and he is casting his own 530gn monster bullets. The competition does not allow plated or jacketed bullets. On a bright sunny day, through the spotting scope, I can see the bullet arcing towards the target.
 
Toprudder said:
All I can add to this is that I have a friend that is really into 45/70, he shoots at some of the vintage gun matches that go out to 300 yards. He pet load is Varget (not sure the amount) and he is casting his own 530gn monster bullets. The competition does not allow plated or jacketed bullets. On a bright sunny day, through the spotting scope, I can see the bullet arcing towards the target.
Click to expand...

That's sort of what I do... shooting hanging steel pipe at distance. Looking through the spotting scope you can see the bullets path... it's pretty neat! Some of the guys are shooting the 400+ weight bullets at only 1200-1300fps, and still reaching out to 1244yds (our longest target.) I have to pump up the velocity a little to get my .348 200grn bullets out there, the heavier bullets simply carry the distance better.

I know there might be some debate on this, but pushing even a 350grn bullet into the high teens... is going to wear out your shoulder unless you are King Kong or something. Granted, this is me shooting 100rds in a session, not 1 or 2 rounds at a deer.
 
Charlie98 said:
That's sort of what I do... shooting hanging steel pipe at distance. Looking through the spotting scope you can see the bullets path... it's pretty neat! Some of the guys are shooting the 400+ weight bullets at only 1200-1300fps, and still reaching out to 1244yds (our longest target.) I have to pump up the velocity a little to get my .348 200grn bullets out there, the heavier bullets simply carry the distance better.

I know there might be some debate on this, but pushing even a 350grn bullet into the high teens... is going to wear out your shoulder unless you are King Kong or something. Granted, this is me shooting 100rds in a session, not 1 or 2 rounds at a deer.
Click to expand...
Yeah, his shoulder is pretty worn after shooting a few dozen of these bullets. I know he was getting ~1300+ fps with some of his loads, but I think those were lighter bullets than the 530gn he is shooting now. He is launching these from a Pedersoli replica of a Sharps rifle (aka "Quigley" gun).
 
I have a 20" Rossi in 44mag that kicks about as hard as anything I have, since it only weighs 5lbs. Using the free-recoil formula, it has about 50% more kick than my M1 Garand.
 
Dropped into Cabela’s today and picked up a pound of Reloader 7 and 3031. Think I’ll start with then for a mid 1500 ish 350 gr load.
 
Fine Figure of a Man said:
45-70 is a fun cartridge to shoot and reload. So many options of bullets and powders. I have not loaded a lot of 350 grain bullets but I do have a few lead gas checks loaded with 47 grains of IMR 3031.
Most of my loads have been with 405grain cast and a few 300 grain jacketed.
Here is some 350 grain data (if the attachment works).
Click to expand...
Your 405’s, are they Missouri cast bullets by chance?
 
I've ben using Imr 4064/ Beanchmark /AA 2460 , 400 gr. fn.Speer bullet .
 

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