anyone load leverevolutions?

A

axis223

New member
I looking to reload the 100 pieces of Hornady Leverevolution brass i have with the FTX bullets and wondering what your favorite load is? Hodgdons says don't use anything but H322 powder. Has anyone been able to get good accurate reloads from these?

I purchased Hornady custom dies with the FTX seat stem. any tips for these or loading leverevolutions is appreciated.
 
Isn't the main attraction to the Lever Revolution ammo in the bullet?
What is different about the used brass that would limit reloading to a special powder choice?
Or did Hornady intend that the recommended powder is to be used for reloading with the lever revolution bullet specifically?
With any other bullet style, would the powder limitation still apply?
 
Assuming we are talking about the 30-30 Winchester and the 160 FTX bullets:

Hodgdon's Reloading Data has many loads for this including the "LVR" which is their Lever Revolution powder that they make for Hornady. This powder is available for retail purchase.

There are a dozen different loads there.

Does that answer your question?
 
sorry guys its 45-70 govt. I have about 100 Hornady cases and that bullet shoots like a laser for me and hammers deer so figured try and reload them.
 
Go to that site I linked, select the 45-70 for "Trapdoor" and "Modern Rifles"

There are more powders listed.

What kind of rifle are you shooting these from?
 
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No experience in the 45-70, but I did attempt to mimic their factory ammo for my 35 Rem. I used their FTX bullets along with their LeverEvolution powder, and was able to replicate the loads to where they shot just as well as factory fodder. Hope this helps.
 
Some of the LeverEvolution brass is shorter than standard so as to allow for feeding in rifles with magazines that are a tad too long for the pointed bullet. .444 and .45/70 are both shorter than standard - don't know about the other calibers.
 
Some of the LeverEvolution brass is shorter than standard so as to allow for feeding in rifles with magazines that are a tad too long for the pointed bullet. .444 and .45/70 are both shorter than standard - don't know about the other calibers.
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Good point! I've not use the FTX in a rifle, but I have loaded it for my 45 Colt Pistol and my buddy got some and we loaded them up in 44 Magnum. In both cases the Hornady load manual states that the brass has to be cut down and will forever more only be usable for FTX bullets. I didn't want to do that so we just loaded them long.

But that is not gonna work so good in the rifle magazine perhaps.
 
disseminator

I'm using a single shot cva rifle. I called cva about a year ago and was told use trapdoor and lever gun data only. do not use modern rifle such as ruger #1 type data because its too high. I was shocked when i seen just h322 for a powder. I figured it would have at least a few more listed.
 
So I checked my Hornady Volume 10 manual and there are six different powders listed specifically for the 45-70 for lever action with the short cases that you have with the brass length of 2.040"

Powders include IMR4198, VV N120, H4198, Accurate 1680, Reloader 7, and Accurate 2230.

Funny, no H322 eh?

I would suggest getting the Hornady manual and paying special attention to the requirements for the FTX bullets.

It can be had on sale most of the time and is a good investment if you shoot Hornady bullets.
 
I would definitely not call them gimmicks. Trajectory in some of the calibers is significantly improved over standard round nose ammo.
 
I like them because they shoot like a match grade rifle round out of my cheap cva 45-70. :) I also shot a doe with them at about 70yards and ripped through a big thicket and through her shoulder and whole body and out the back leg. that's good enough for me.
 
The little bit of difference in accuracy will never be noticeable if used in the guns they were designed to "Cure". This was a big gun writer topic back when the 30-30 Savage 340 was around. They forgot to mention that the 340 was a bolt action. When Marlin came out with the 45-70 back in the early 70's I ran right down to the PX and ordered one. I could not believe how accurate it was with 405 gr Winchester ammo at 100 yards. I will never believe any of that sale hype. Trajectory can be improved in just about anything when you lighten it up.
 
I bought some, and returned when I read you had to trim brass shorter since the bullet is longer. Not that you just couldn't dedicate those to the rifle. Probably could still shoot in a handgun. But at the time I just didn't want to bother with it.

I would think this would limit powder, but I don't think I am running compressed loads, so probably doesn't matter.
 
I load the ftx 325 gr in my 45-70 guide gun. I have not seen anything about using h332. I use imr 4198 and get excellent accuracy (3 shots under 1" at 100 yards) with this load. I have tried a few other powders as well. RE7 H4198 and a few others. I may have even tried H332 as well. This bullet by far shoots the best in my rifle. I use the hornady brass as well.
 
I would definitely not call them gimmicks. Trajectory in some of the calibers is significantly improved over standard round nose ammo.
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Both the .444 Marlin and the .45-70 are considered short range rifles. If one wants a long range rifle, one would be better armed using a modern rifle like a 30-06. It seems illogical to try and stretch the abilities of large straight wall cartridges and still end up with less that what a standard 30-06 can do. In my association with the .444 Marlin and the 45-70, I used them for what they were...short range rifles using cast lead bullets...I did not try to guild the lily.
 
Some states, maybe Indiana, does not allow bottle neck rifles to be used.


Not to mention 400 grains vs 180, may appeal to some. The old debate of grain vs speed. Big hole, without expansion.
 
sorry guys its 45-70 govt. I have about 100 Hornady cases and that bullet shoots like a laser for me and hammers deer so figured try and reload them.
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Wanna know a secret? Any 300gr jacketed bullet over 2000 fps is going to do that and get similar ballistics in 45-70. The point is a gimmic!
 
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