I've read everything out there on TFL regarding loads for 45-70s, but still have a lot of questions, so I hope to shed some more light on the reloading the 45-70 Government cartridge.
I have a new Marlin 45-70 1895 SBL on the way to hunt hogs, sheep, deer and cattle. (Yes - in Hawai'i, that's all there). This is a 18.5" barrel, ballard rifling, 1:20 twist.
This comes with XS Ghost ring sights - that will be what I use, as not intending to take long shots (150 yd max?). See how well I can shoot this, and how nice of loads I can come up with.
I want to develop some hunting loads using cast boolits - I've got a bunch of Missouri Bullet Co. - 300 gn and 405 gn. RNFP BHN18 HI-Tek coated.
Seems like more data out there on plated than on cast. Also, Lyman's 49th ed. closest boolits are a 292 gn. #2 alloy (at BHN15 a little softer than mine), and a 405 gn. 20:1 alloy (at BHN 10 a lot softer than my 18). Lyman's also uses a 24" barrel, 1:18 twist.
I have possible five powders in my stash - IMR4198, IMR3031, H322, H4895 and some IMR4227.
Primers are CCI 200
It has been years since I shot a 45-70, but based on research and many opinions I planned to start with the IMR4198 and H322, try to get some good accurate shooting loads under 1600 fps for both boolits. I maybe reducing them well below this as I would like a manageable recoil. This is for fun after all.
Here's what I'm going to start with, unless someone has a better idea:
300gn Mo.Bullet RNFP, coated, 34.5 gn. IMR4198, or 55.0 gn. H322
Lyman's shows 1613 and 1775 fps on each - not my gun though. Don't really want 1775 fps, but that's their starting load. Can I safely drop this powder to a smaller charge?
for the 405 gn. Mo Bullet RNFP, coated, I'm thinking 35.5 gn. IMR4198, or 43.0 gn. H322. Lyman shows 1535 and 1462 fps for these. Can anyone explain why the higher starting charge for a larger (but softer) bullet?
I'm trying to put off buying QuickLoad, but seriously considering it to answer all my questions. I'd sure like to know what goes on when the firing pin hits the primer....all the way out until the boolit hits it's target... all very interesting stuff, and definitely there are factors we don't see that influence repeatably and accuracy. Although I'd like to get a way from this computer for a while and go shoot!
Any and all explanations are appreciated (ok, most all).
I have a new Marlin 45-70 1895 SBL on the way to hunt hogs, sheep, deer and cattle. (Yes - in Hawai'i, that's all there). This is a 18.5" barrel, ballard rifling, 1:20 twist.
This comes with XS Ghost ring sights - that will be what I use, as not intending to take long shots (150 yd max?). See how well I can shoot this, and how nice of loads I can come up with.
I want to develop some hunting loads using cast boolits - I've got a bunch of Missouri Bullet Co. - 300 gn and 405 gn. RNFP BHN18 HI-Tek coated.
Seems like more data out there on plated than on cast. Also, Lyman's 49th ed. closest boolits are a 292 gn. #2 alloy (at BHN15 a little softer than mine), and a 405 gn. 20:1 alloy (at BHN 10 a lot softer than my 18). Lyman's also uses a 24" barrel, 1:18 twist.
I have possible five powders in my stash - IMR4198, IMR3031, H322, H4895 and some IMR4227.
Primers are CCI 200
It has been years since I shot a 45-70, but based on research and many opinions I planned to start with the IMR4198 and H322, try to get some good accurate shooting loads under 1600 fps for both boolits. I maybe reducing them well below this as I would like a manageable recoil. This is for fun after all.
Here's what I'm going to start with, unless someone has a better idea:
300gn Mo.Bullet RNFP, coated, 34.5 gn. IMR4198, or 55.0 gn. H322
Lyman's shows 1613 and 1775 fps on each - not my gun though. Don't really want 1775 fps, but that's their starting load. Can I safely drop this powder to a smaller charge?
for the 405 gn. Mo Bullet RNFP, coated, I'm thinking 35.5 gn. IMR4198, or 43.0 gn. H322. Lyman shows 1535 and 1462 fps for these. Can anyone explain why the higher starting charge for a larger (but softer) bullet?
I'm trying to put off buying QuickLoad, but seriously considering it to answer all my questions. I'd sure like to know what goes on when the firing pin hits the primer....all the way out until the boolit hits it's target... all very interesting stuff, and definitely there are factors we don't see that influence repeatably and accuracy. Although I'd like to get a way from this computer for a while and go shoot!
Any and all explanations are appreciated (ok, most all).
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