Stats Shooter
New member
I have stopped posting load info on here with common powders/cartridges because..... they're common. Like Varget in .223 or something.
However, there isn't all that much info using H335 in the old 45-70.
I have been working with starline brass, H335, Speer 400 Grain SP's and CCI-250 primers. One cool thing about this combo is that both Speer and Hodgdon agree on the minimum and maximum charge for a change, so the powder and bullet makers. Speer recommend the use of magnum primers with H335 for consistent ignition of the ball powder.
COAL was 2.550 which is right in the crimp groove. All loaded on a Dillon 550 with Lee factory crimp. Rifle is a Marlin 1895 GBL 18.5".
I tested from 54-58 gr. So from published min to published max. 2x4 shot groups in 1 gr increments up to 56 gr, then 1/2 gr increments.
Velocity avg at 54 grains was 1705 fps. Velocity average at 58 gr was 1875 fps.
I can say that about all the loads burned clean. Much cleaner than some factory Federal ammo I tried with a bunch of powder left in the barrel and soot.
The velocities were much more consistent at the upper end of the charge spectrum.
The best groups occurred at 57-58 gr. Extreme velocity spreads of only about 18fps..... which is significant because I loaded up 25 more @ 58 gr and shot them all across the chroney, so the average and extreme spread @ 58 gr is fairly reliable.
Also, @ 58 gr, I backed the target up to 100 yards. W/open sights I was getting an average group size of 2". I had a couple groups near MOA but most were around the 2-2.5" mark. I'm not sure I can shoot much better than that with this setup.
Also, at 58 gr the case is full (including the bullet). No power shaking around. I think this is actually a benefit w/h335.
Anyway, I think H335 appears to be a good powder giving solid velocity at lever gun pressures. However, I may need to ice my cheek and when I get feeling back in my fingers
I will try and finish testing the load out to 150 yards.
A few words of warning I have found though with this powder ...do not try and download it. If you want max perfomance, clean burning, and have a gun that can handle it, give it a try. But downloading this ball powder seems to be a no-no in the 45-70.
Again, though, this is not a trap-door load. So if you have a trap door rifle, I would choose a different powder actually.
However, there isn't all that much info using H335 in the old 45-70.
I have been working with starline brass, H335, Speer 400 Grain SP's and CCI-250 primers. One cool thing about this combo is that both Speer and Hodgdon agree on the minimum and maximum charge for a change, so the powder and bullet makers. Speer recommend the use of magnum primers with H335 for consistent ignition of the ball powder.
COAL was 2.550 which is right in the crimp groove. All loaded on a Dillon 550 with Lee factory crimp. Rifle is a Marlin 1895 GBL 18.5".
I tested from 54-58 gr. So from published min to published max. 2x4 shot groups in 1 gr increments up to 56 gr, then 1/2 gr increments.
Velocity avg at 54 grains was 1705 fps. Velocity average at 58 gr was 1875 fps.
I can say that about all the loads burned clean. Much cleaner than some factory Federal ammo I tried with a bunch of powder left in the barrel and soot.
The velocities were much more consistent at the upper end of the charge spectrum.
The best groups occurred at 57-58 gr. Extreme velocity spreads of only about 18fps..... which is significant because I loaded up 25 more @ 58 gr and shot them all across the chroney, so the average and extreme spread @ 58 gr is fairly reliable.
Also, @ 58 gr, I backed the target up to 100 yards. W/open sights I was getting an average group size of 2". I had a couple groups near MOA but most were around the 2-2.5" mark. I'm not sure I can shoot much better than that with this setup.
Also, at 58 gr the case is full (including the bullet). No power shaking around. I think this is actually a benefit w/h335.
Anyway, I think H335 appears to be a good powder giving solid velocity at lever gun pressures. However, I may need to ice my cheek and when I get feeling back in my fingers
I will try and finish testing the load out to 150 yards.A few words of warning I have found though with this powder ...do not try and download it. If you want max perfomance, clean burning, and have a gun that can handle it, give it a try. But downloading this ball powder seems to be a no-no in the 45-70.
Again, though, this is not a trap-door load. So if you have a trap door rifle, I would choose a different powder actually.