45-70 powder recommendations

C

ckpj99

New member
I'm hoping some of you more experienced reloaders might be able to help me out. I've been working with 45-70 for more than a year now. I think I've narrowed down the variable enough to ask some pointed questions.

I'm reloading for a H&R Buffalo Classic. It's actually a great gun (as least my example is).

I've found that 500 grain bullets tend to shoot the most accurately. I haven't tried a huge variety of bullets because as you probably know, they aren't exactly cheap. I've tried a couple types of 405s, but nothing has matched the 510 gr Hunters brand.

I've tried IMR 3031 and Trail Boss, but I've found that IMR 4198 is more accurate than either of those powders.

I've done a lot of ladder testing, which has been tough given the huge range of loadings available. My tests have led me to load 32 grains of IMR 4198. Based on the reloading manuals I've seen this load should be going just north of 1300 fps. This is just over max pressure recommended for Trapdoors.

However, this charge of 4198 leaves quite a bit of empty space in the case. I don't think it's unsafe. I think the case is about 70% filled, maybe a bit less, but I'm wondering if a powder that fills the case more would help eliminate some flyers I'm experiencing.

I've also noticed that 4198 sort of falls in the middle of the range in terms of burn rates. Since I'm using a rifle with pretty long barrel (32 inches) I'm wondering if a slower burning rate would be a better fit for the Buffalo Classic.

Sorry for the long post. Basically, I'm just looking for powder recommendations that might help tighten up my groups and eliminate some issues with occasional flyers.
 
Can't really add much if anything. You say that you have used Trail Boss which is what I use, a max load, but with a 360 gr moly coated lead bullet that probably doesn't sound too exciting since it is a reduced load. But for the real thing I continue to use factory rounds and use the reduced loads for fun.
 
I have used Accurate Arms 5744 since it came out and have always liked it
in either the 45-60, 70, and 90 with lead bullets.

The current 5744 is not position sensitive and allows for a wide range of velocities.
Check out the Lyman loading book - 49th edition.

JT
 
+1 5744. I have found it works well. It is "dirty" and leaves a lot of unburned kernels in the barrel, but it doesn't seem to affect accuracy any I can tell.

Something else that you might try is black powder. Doesn't take a whole lot of money to get the tools or components you will need to try it out, and in my experience I reliably get really good performance from it in 45-70. 55 to 60 grains of 1.5F Old Eynsford, a wad punched out of a tablet backer, and compressed enough to seat a bullet, and you are off to the races. Best of all it cleans up easily.

That's one complaint I have of 5744, it seems to be a little more difficult to get the barrel clean after using it. Sometimes I resort to brushes and some of the harsher solvents to get the barrel clean.
 
I own several 45-70s and spend a lot of bench time with them simply because I like shooting them. I also keep a spread sheet on every load I've tried in those guns and some data jumps out when you look at it. Here's my best powders to date. Rel7, 5744, 4198, and 2400. All will shoot one ragged hole out of my High Wall using Remington 405g JSP and that's five shots at my private range which is a measured 114 yards (deck to backstop at my camp). None of my loads are over 1500fps and I have yet to recover even one bullet from any of the deer I've shot with these guns. I have found that heavier bullets shoot better on average and I've also found that the heavier they get the less fun they are to shoot. That's why I settled on the 405g bullets......great accuracy at reduced loads and I can actually spend some fun time at the bench shooting these guns.
 
The Sharps really likes 37gr of Varget over a 535gr Postell. Accurate and gentle on the shoulder. I've only been able to try this out to 200yds though. That's max at our local range.
 
4064 does not throw well in a Dillon, too hard to cut with the soft wide mouth of a .45-70. (Necked cartridges do not bell). 3031 is doing fine for me, as is Varget which is where I appear to be headed. Still looking for a pound of Trailboss.
 
too hard to cut with the soft wide mouth of a .45-70
Click to expand...

Not sure what this means? I'm not familiar with any powder dispenser that "cuts" powder on the case mouth. Any granules being cut are being cut by the measure itself, not the case. The case simply catches the powder and has nothing to do with cutting it.
 
With the force needed to cut the grains, the case gets over belled. Ymmv but it took awhile for me to stop blaming the brass.
 
Jeffm004:
If willing to pay hazmat fee and a somewhat higher price for Trail Boss, keep checking Reloaders Unlimited. Today they continue to show availability of five pound containers but recently they have also shown the nine ounce contaners (which is the normal one pound size for standard powders). This is a somewhat frustrating site to find what you are looking for. The five pound size is found on page 24. Five pounds TB is nine cans of the usual one pound cans.

Recently there have been some queries for HP-38 (w231); RU has it listed.
 
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45-70 Powder choice

Have you considered black powder? Clean up is not very difficult or time consuming, but reloading is somewhat time consuming. Should be able to get 10 shot groups in the range of 1.5 - 2.0 MOA after some experimenting.
 
IMR4198 is what I have settled on for my 45/70 take down rifle I built in 2001, when my son picked it up and looked at it he claimed it. Seems I can't get it back! William
 
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