Reduced 45.70 loads for Contender

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TooTall350

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I am planning a public land hog hunt to Alabama this spring. My wife and I plan to hike the trails & if we find sign leave the trails and hunt. I plan to carry my 45.70 Contender I haven't shot in over 20 yrs. I am getting ready to do my first reloads for it and am having trouble finding reduced loads for pistols. I plan to use Hornady 300gr hp bullets and 3031 powder. I am thinking in the 1200 to 1400 fps range. I would appreciate any help. Thank you.
 
My suggestion would be to the data meant for Trapdoor rifles on the Hodgdon load data site. The data will produce ammo with lower pressures and probably give you what you're looking for.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

If that data isn't light enough you could always switch to a cast bullet and use Trapdoor rifle data. The data for cast bullets is quite a bit lighter than for jacketed bullets. That would be and is my choice.
 
Thanks that is a very good chart. For trapdoor they start at + 1800 fps they do have a pistol section with loads starting at 1200 fps. But they don't have 3031 listed. Yes I can get other powder. I use 3031 in my 30.06 & have quite a bit, also thought it would be good to use same powder in other cartridge if possible.
 
Under the Trapdoor data they do list a 300gr Cast bullet and a 300gr Sierra HP bullet using 3031. I'm looking at it right now. Use the pull down boxes and choose a 300gr bullet and 3031 and you will see two recipes.

As for the data showing 1800 fps, that was from a 24" barrel plus you never achieve the listed velocity in real life. In the much shorter Contender barrel the velocity will be considerably less. I'm guessing you will be right around the velocity you are looking for.

The Hornady manual under Trapdoor loads lists a 300gr HP bullet with 3031 with velocities all the way down to 1300 fps in a 29.5" barrel. I would not use that low charge in a Contender barrel, the bullet might not exit.
 
Use the trapdoor data, the velocity difference between that and the pistol data is the difference in barrel length.
You may want to try some 4198, it will give you a more efficient burn in the shorter barrel than the 3031.
 
OK I see that now! I'm not very computer literate thanks very much for your help. I think I have a good starting point now. Where I reload I can step out back and try them out so I can try a couple at a time to see how they work.
 
chas442 said:
Go to the Hodgdon site and look under pistol loads. The have a section on 45-70 handgun loads.
Click to expand...
If you check the charges you will see the data us the same as for rifles. Only the reported velocities are different since the barrel is only 15". They don't list 3031 either.
 
I want to thank everyone for the help. On the Hodgdon site under education they have a couple of ways to make reduced loads. I have found reduced loads in 3031 for a starting point. I don't plan to use this method but good to know. IMG_8427.JPG IMG_8426.JPG
 
If you can find /borrow a copy of the latest Lyman reloading manual it has a very good section on Contender pistols with a section on 45/70.
 
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