45-70 pet loads

W

webberwood

New member
I recently picked up a Marlin 1895cb with an 18.5” octagon barrel. I have some cast 300 grain and some 400 as well on hand. Looking for guidance on powder selection as this is my first 45-70. H4198 looked to be a pretty good powder to cover all the bullet weights.
 
For fun 100yd plinking loads my CB likes 10.5gr Unique behind a 405gr boolit. Had great results with IMR4198 and 3031 for accurate hunting loads.
 
I use imr 4198 and 2400 for lighter loads.

I shoot 3 cast loads 250 grain hp. 405 grain flat point and a 525 grain flat point.

I also load a lot of hornady leverrevilution bullets and some 550 grain woodleagh bullets for jacketed
 
I had one of the first run 1886 Browning/Mirokus well over 20 years ago. It was a full rifle with a 26" barrel (and no tang safety!). I had a good elk load for that rifle (killed two elk with it) and it consisted of a Hornady 350 grn. jacketed round nose bullet, and 57 grains of IMR 3031 propellant. The bullet had a heavy crimp on the cannelure/crimp groove. It was an excellent hunting round, and quite accurate.
 
In my Marlin CB I like the original blackpowder govt load. Smokes, smells and has a light kick. The way it was meant to be.. OK, I admit it, I'm a dinosaur LOL
 
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

I have a sweet mild load for my 1884 TD and it's 28 gr of 4198 with a cast 405 gr RNFP at 1240 fps. This trajectory seems to work will with my TD's fixed vernier sights shooting at 200 meters.
 
2 words of advice. . . .

Use light bullets like the Hornady 300 gr JHP for hunting and avoid the full power loads! The 45-70 can take elephants at full load!
 
405 grain cast lead HBFP with Trail Boss. I have a cut down case I use for a scoop I am not sure of the weight. It is about an 80% case fill to the base of the bullet. It is not a hunting load, and is sub sonic. At my home range I am not allowed to shoot the steels with it. It hit them too hard. My .44 Mag full house loads did not hit that hard. The thing is, recoil is very mild with them. I would not hesitate to use one on a hog if I had the rifle in my hand when I saw one.
 
Actually, I'm doing the very same thing... working up loads for a 1895 LTD V. My first loads, with IMR3031 and IMR4064 under a 350grn cast bullet, were wayyy too much. I've since dropped my charge weights down, and changed my powder selection... I've traded IMR4064 for IMR4198 and reduced my charge weights.

I had one of the first run 1886 Browning/Mirokus well over 20 years ago. It was a full rifle with a 26" barrel (and no tang safety!).
Click to expand...

I had one of the original Browning SRC's, too. It's the One Rifle I regret selling. I still have my Browning 71, but the prices for the old style Browning 1886's is crazy, so I fetched a Marlin instead.
 
I have only one 45/70 load. It consists of a Speer 400 grain jsp and enough 3031 to reach 1800 fps. This load is accurate and has taken many deer for me. If I want to shoot light loads, I go to my .45 Colt Win 94 Trapper and 250 grain cast bullets.
 
I have 2 loads for my 45-70. Both use a 405 gr. lead boolit. 13.5 gr. of Unique and 36 gr. of IMR 4198. I may reduce the IMR load to 32 gr.
 
I have been loading.some for a buddy. 405 grain #1 buffalo coated from Missouri Bullet Co, ahead of 40 grains of IMR 3031. It's about an 80% load seems like, enough thump to enjoy but not enough to rattle you. And it grouped quite well too.
 
For cast bullets and the 45/70 I don't know why anyone messes around with any other powder than AA5744. According to Accurate Arms this powder was "designed" around the big 45-120 case. I don't know that, but have read that, but I can say, the extreme velocity spreads of this powder in the 45/70 case are small. This powder is the best cast bullet powder I have found, and it works well with cast bullets in 30-06, 303 Brit, 30-30 Winchester.

Code: 
45/70 Martini Henry 26" Shilen Barrel		
						
405 LRN 26.5gr AA5744 R-P cases WLR				
29-Apr-04	T = 80 °F		
		
Ave Vel =	1294	 					
Std Dev =	14						
ES =	40	 					
Low =	1274						 
High =	1314						
N =	15						
Group Size Very . good
							
405 LRN 27.0gr AA5744 R-P cases WLR				
24-Mar-04  T = 70 °F	
						
Ave Vel =	1284	 				 	
Std Dev =	23					 	
ES =	80	 				 	 
Low =	1263					 	 
High =	1343					 	
N =	12						
							
405 LRN 27.5gr AA5744 R-P cases WLR				
15-Apr-05    T = 75 °F
			
Ave Vel =	1363	 					
Std Dev =	25						
ES =	97	 					
Low =	1298						
High =	1395						
N =	20						
						
Group Size good offhand at 100 yards							
							
						
							
Winchester BPCR M1885 30" Badger  barrel
							
Ladder Sights:  5 graduations per 1/4 inch major.  				
1/4 inch major is 25 MOA, 1 grad is 5 MOA, 1 Veriner is 1 MOA		
							
405 LRN 27.5gr AA5744 R-P cases WLR trimmed 2.085"		
							
29 May 2010 T =  89 °F					
							
Ave Vel =	1324				 		
Std Dev =	9				 		
ES =	26				 		
High =	1338				 		
Low =	1312				 		
N =	6

[img]https://i.imgur.com/VMOfh3B.jpg[/img]					

M1873 Springfield Trapdoor 1884 rebuild 
							
27" sight radius 						
							
405 LRN 27.5gr AA5744 R-P cases WLR trimmed 2.085"		
							
14 Aug  2014 T =  78 °F					
							
Ave Vel =	1302			 	 		
Std Dev =	11			 	 		
ES =	26			 	 		
High =	1315			 	 		
Low =	1289			 	 		
N =	5						
							
First round 15.5" high, rest, 19.5 to 23" high at 100 yards		
							
Ballistic calculator: 100 yd zero, 25" drop at 200 yds, 82" drop at 300 yds	
							
							
405 LRN 27.5gr AA5744 R-P cases WLR trimmed 2.085"		
							
Heavily greased with Lubriplate 130A 				
							
14 Aug  2014 T =  78 °F					
							
Ave Vel =	1346			 	 		
Std Dev =	15			 	 		
ES =	38			 	 		
High =	1371			 	 		
Low =	1333			 	 		
N =	5						
							
At lowest rear sight setting, two bullets 22", one @ 24", one @ 26.5", one @ 30.15" 
at 100 yards
 
+2 on the 10.5gr unquie and a 405gr lead bullet. Mine chronos at 1050 fps from my guide gun. Low noise, Low recoil, and decent accuracy. And actually hits pretty hard. Its fun to try to hit longer range targets with them. Got to aim high.
 
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