Reloading for 45/70 Handi Rifle

[WonderDavid!]

I just ordered my reloading equipment today and started looking for supplies for a 45/70 Handi rifle. I am thinking about 350 grain Oregon Trails Laser Cast bullets. These will be for plinking and deer hunting out to 150-200 yards. Does anyone have an opinion on the best load for this round/gun, specifically for killing deer.

Thanks.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Welcome to the forum...

First off there is no reason to buy such an expensive bullet especially for plinking. There are plenty of good bullets available and ones which aren't so hard too. Missouri Bullets has 300gr and 405gr Cast bullets that shoot very well in both my 45-70 rifles.

I think the best results are with slow pistol powders or fast rifle powders. My current favorite 45-70 powder is AA5744. 4198 is also a good choice as is 2400 and IMR4759. (there are others)

Good luck...

 

[Jlr2267]

I recommend Lyman's cast bullet handbook for a good selection of loads. Personally, I like Reloder 7 for serious loads, and Trailboss or Unique for plinkers.

 

[WonderDavid!]

Thanks. @ArchAngelCD: Are the Missouri Bullets hard enough to push at the same speed as the Laser Cast? Also, what is your opinion on their coated bullets which are no more expensive.

@Jlr2267: I ordered one with the rest of my reloading stuff. Thanks, R7 has great reviews.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Thanks. @ArchAngelCD: Are the Missouri Bullets hard enough to push at the same speed as the Laser Cast? Also, what is your opinion on their coated bullets which are no more expensive.

@Jlr2267: I ordered one with the rest of my reloading stuff. Thanks, R7 has great reviews.

Just a note, the velocity doesn't really matter, it's the pressure that counts. That said all we have to go by is some published load data does tell us pressure.

How fast do you want to drive the bullets? Laser Cast bullets are Very hard and if you don't develop enough pressure in the load you can cause leading. In addition, the most important factor is bullet/barrel fit.

 

[WonderDavid!]

I was out today and found Laser Cast bullets for the same price as the Missouri's so I got them. They are 300 grains and I was thinking about moving them about 1500-1600 fps. Do you know how that size bullet at that speed would work on deer?

 

[PapaG]

Get ready for some recoil. I had on of the H&R Buffalo hunters and with anything over Trapdoor loads it was a handful. My old Rolling Block with 1 1/8" Oct barrel was much nicer off the bench.
I guess I don't notice recoil as much while hunting but enjoyment while shooting is becoming more important as I work into my 8th decade and the arthritis and stuff becomes worse.

 

[highlander 5]

I use 5744 and 4227 with my cast bullets in my 45/70s. Both powders with 300-500 grain bullets can be loaded to very comfortable recoil levels.

 

[joem1945]

I use Trail Boss in my RB with a 405 gr cast lead from Mo bullet. The 500 gr are somewhat un comfortable to shoot.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was out today and found Laser Cast bullets for the same price as the Missouri's so I got them. They are 300 grains and I was thinking about moving them about 1500-1600 fps. Do you know how that size bullet at that speed would work on deer?

A .459" 300gr cast bullet @1400 fps will cleanly take anything in North America. BUT, with bullets that hard you might get some leading at only 1400 fps so your 1500-1600 fps projection might be better for those bullets. I like the softer bullets and slower velocities. (405gr cast bullet @1350 fps)

 

[WonderDavid!]

A .459" 300gr cast bullet @1400 fps will cleanly take anything in North America. BUT, with bullets that hard you might get some leading at only 1400 fps so your 1500-1600 fps projection might be better for those bullets. I like the softer bullets and slower velocities. (405gr cast bullet @1350 fps)

Thanks, I hope that the faster speed will give me a flatter trajectory.

 

[LeonCarr]

Use trapdoor loads in your Handi-Rifle. Your shoulder will love you for it.

As mentioned trapdoor level loads with hard cast bullets will take anything in North America. Most of the Bison shot during the 1870s-1880s were shot will the .45-70.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[WonderDavid!]

Use trapdoor loads in your Handi-Rifle. Your shoulder will love you for it.

As mentioned trapdoor level loads with hard cast bullets will take anything in North America. Most of the Bison shot during the 1870s-1880s were shot will the .45-70.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

I will start with Trapdoor and go up from there.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What is this obsession with bullet velocity, especially when it's not necessary? The 45-70 is not a long distance cartridge and the excessive velocity won't matter at the normal distances it's used at...

 

[Reinz]

I love Trail Boss as well for 45-70. It shoots much softer. More of a push vs. a kick.

Also for only 200 yds or less, I prefer a 300 gr. cast bullet. It's easy on you, you can shoot it all day long with good accuracy. That is, IF your rifle likes it. Meaning, will THAT particular bullet stabilize in THAT barrel.

 

[au_prospector]

My four cents

FWIW

I load 350 grain Berrys plated with 40 grains IMR 3031. This shoots cloverleafs at 50 yards with my H&R Replica 1873 Springfield trapdoor using the ladder peep sight. The brass is cold when extracted, however this load tires and hurts me at around the 20 shot mark. These shots are always about 5 inches left of POA. If I load them to 44 grains of 3031, then the shots will strike POA, but the group opens up about an inch and the shots feel a bit stronger. Lymans says these loads should be about 1325-1425 fps. I am certain I could strike any deer standing broadside to me in the kill zone out to 100 yards. I dont think any game alive in the lower 48 stands a chance against 350 grains of lead traveling 1300 fps. Given the ballistic drop of this round, hunting deer I think I would use a scope beyond 100 yards.

 

[au_prospector]

I Dont think this type of thinking will increase your range that much

Thanks, I hope that the faster speed will give me a flatter trajectory.

Large diameter bullet creates a bunch of drag, past about 150 yards any velocity will bleed off considerably. They drop like crazy! If you want a longer distance rifle which launches flatter trajectory at speed maybe you want a .30-06 because you can only ask so much from a .45-70 when it comes to trajectory.

 

[WonderDavid!]

Large diameter bullet creates a bunch of drag, past about 150 yards any velocity will bleed off considerably. They drop like crazy! If you want a longer distance rifle which launches flatter trajectory at speed maybe you want a .30-06 because you can only ask so much from a .45-70 when it comes to trajectory.

I'm in Ohio so 30-06 is out of the question for deer hunting. 200 yards is about the farthest shot you could ever take where I'm at and that is only in that fields. The 150-200 hundred is more for target shooting than hunting.

 

[cpt-t]

DAVID: I have been shooting and reloading for the 45-70, for a long time now. And my Son and I shoot our 45-70 rifles alot. Between the to two of us we have 7 rifles in that caliber. We have tried many different loads over the years, both hot and mild. And the load we use now 96 percent of the time is 35 grs of IMR3031 under a Hard Cast 405gr LRNFP bullet at some where between 1250 fps to 1350 fps,we don`t have a chrony.We have found this is very comfortable load to shoot at Cowboy Shoots, Plinking, Targets, or for the Deer or Hog Hunting we do. We always get full penatration Side to Side or End for End on any Deer or Hog we have ever shot with it. We have killed Hogs and Deer at 100 to 125 yds or better, but most of our shots are from 30 to 75 yds and if we do our part, most any thing we shoot is DRT or with in a few yards. Also this load works very well at knocking down the STEEL RAMS at 200 yds for us any way. You just might want to give this load a try.
ken

 

[WonderDavid!]

Thanks Ken, I'll try some 3031. I already got some 300 grain laser cast for a steal of a price but I will try the 3031 with them and get some 405 grains next. How much powder should I start with for a 300 grain bullet?

 

[cpt-t]

David: I was given some 300GR LRNFP hard cast bullets. And I used the same 35GRS of IMR3031 powder, and it shoots very well, even softer recoil. I have killed a couple of hogs with this load, and it put`s them down, DRT also. Probabley shoot a little flater and faster. But I have been useing the 405gr LRNFP bullets for so long that I still prefer them. It is hard for an old guy like me to change his habits.
ken

 

[WonderDavid!]

Thanks. I got a cheap Handi rifle to see if I would like the caliber. You have a lot of experience with this cal. so what gun do you like the best if I decide to upgrade?

 

[cpt-t]

David: Like I said between my Son and I we have 7 rifles in 45-70 calbier. 3 1895 Marlin`s, 2 Sharp`s, a Rolling Block, and a Bolt Gun. And we shoot them all quite a bit and I would be lost with out every one of them. We use them for different things Cow Boy Shoots, Plinking, Targets, and Hunting. But if I had to choose my favorite it would be hard, but I would have to go with my 1895 Marlin CW with the 26inch barrel. My Son says He feels the same way. From what I am getting from Your post`s You entend to Deer Hunt with Your rifle. So with that in mind, I think You would be hard pressed to choose a better rifle than a Marlin in 45-70. I prefer the longer barrel of the Marlin 1895 CB Model, they just fit me better. I have found over the years, that I seem to shoot a Marlin Lever Gun better because they seem to just point dead on when I bring them up to my shoulder. We don`t own a New Marlin all of our`s are the Old Model`s, so all I can really tell You about, and reconmend is the Old JM Model`s. Again IMHO, You don`t need those Shoulder Bruseing loads, or at least I have found over the years I don`t. If I could be of any more help to You, just ask.
ken

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I also have a Marlin Cowboy model in 45/70 and it is accurate and fun to shoot.
I also have a Uberti trapdoor carbine and a Pedersoli Sharps in 45/70 but I mostly load and shoot bp loads in them.
For overall fun and utility the Marlin gets 1st place but the other two are running a very close 2nd.
YMMV...

 

[WonderDavid!]

Thanks guys, when I upgrade I will go with a Marlin 1895.