Amazing my mouth dropped. I love shooting my 45-70 today I made up some mild imr4198 loads with the 405 hardcast to plink. Loaded one grain under the Lyman starting load. Now my moose loads were giving me two inch groups at 100 and were stiff but the plinking load cut the center out of the bullseye. I figure its still near 1500 fps. Can’t believe the difference. You guys are so right, have to rethink everything with a 45/70
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One grain under the starting load
- Thread starter Dano4734
- Start date
Every rifle and load combination can be different.
One time, with one of my .45-70s, I (mistakenly) loaded a batch of 400gr two grains under the listed "factory duplication load".
Three shots, one overlapping hole for two and the third 1" away (which was probably me). Sight was 2.5x Post scope.
That rifle liked that load! And the slight loss of velocity was irrelevant.
it's a long established fact that most of the time, the hottest loads don't shoot the smallest groups. The reverse isn't always true, either, but sometimes, the stars line up, and a lighter than usual load can group really well.
Sometimes. Every gun and load combination is an individual, and what works great for you could be crap for me, with my gun, and vice versa.
One time, with one of my .45-70s, I (mistakenly) loaded a batch of 400gr two grains under the listed "factory duplication load".
Three shots, one overlapping hole for two and the third 1" away (which was probably me). Sight was 2.5x Post scope.
That rifle liked that load! And the slight loss of velocity was irrelevant.
it's a long established fact that most of the time, the hottest loads don't shoot the smallest groups. The reverse isn't always true, either, but sometimes, the stars line up, and a lighter than usual load can group really well.
Sometimes. Every gun and load combination is an individual, and what works great for you could be crap for me, with my gun, and vice versa.
I only have one rifle/load combo that prints best with near max loads...
That is a Marlin 1894S in .44 Mag using 265gr Hornady bullets over near max of H110...
Clover-leafs at 50 yards...
I have a Marlin 1893 with a 26" half octagon barrel in .30-30 that prints best at 50 yards with .310" round balls and really low doses of Red Dot...
It's part of the adventure trying to find what each gun wants/needs to be the most accurate...
That is a Marlin 1894S in .44 Mag using 265gr Hornady bullets over near max of H110...
Clover-leafs at 50 yards...
I have a Marlin 1893 with a 26" half octagon barrel in .30-30 that prints best at 50 yards with .310" round balls and really low doses of Red Dot...
It's part of the adventure trying to find what each gun wants/needs to be the most accurate...
m&p45acp10+1
New member
My go to load for my Guide Gun uses Trail Boss. Though I keep it to 25 to 50 yards most of the time. I am sure it will group fine at 100 I just keep it closer for fun shooting. It hits the steel swing plates hard at 50 yards.
This is so true. Regardless of which rifle I load for whether it is bolt, semi, or my sharps my best groups are obtained with loads in the midrange to low.Every rifle and load combination can be different.
One time, with one of my .45-70s, I (mistakenly) loaded a batch of 400gr two grains under the listed "factory duplication load".
Three shots, one overlapping hole for two and the third 1" away (which was probably me). Sight was 2.5x Post scope.
That rifle liked that load! And the slight loss of velocity was irrelevant.
it's a long established fact that most of the time, the hottest loads don't shoot the smallest groups. The reverse isn't always true, either, but sometimes, the stars line up, and a lighter than usual load can group really well.
Sometimes. Every gun and load combination is an individual, and what works great for you could be crap for me, with my gun, and vice versa.
If you do a ladder test on any rifle, that is load 5 cases of each charge, .3g up on each 5, start below book minimum and go up to book max, you will find two velocity “nodes” of accuracy. That is the rifle will like one load that is on the lower end and one load on the higher end. No telling which charge it will be prior to shooting, every rifle is different. You my friend found the lower node for your rifle, or very close to it. Well done.
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joeanybody
New member
My most accurate 45-70 load is a black powder duplication load. I dont own a chronograph but quickload placed it at 1450 if my memory serves. Its 12gr unique under a 330gr cast hp. 1/2 inch group at 100 yd. Im not competition accurate with rifle so for me thats darn good.
.45-70 reloading is dependant on the rifle used. According to Hodgdon, a near 1500 fps load of IMR4198 and a cast 400(close enough. 5 grains won't matter.) is way below minimum for a Lever or "Modern rifle". Slightly above Max for a TrapDoor. Lyman's book isn't going to be that far away from Hodgdon. So I'm thinking your velocity guess is off somewhat. However, as mentioned, every rifle shoots every load differently. S'why you have to work up the load for your rifle.
"...A 405 gr bullet at 1500 fps?..." 405 grains will drop anything if placed correctly.
"...A 405 gr bullet at 1500 fps?..." 405 grains will drop anything if placed correctly.
The .45-70 is a pretty versatile round... heavy, light, fast, slow... it covers it all. I think you are on the right path with the 405grn cast and IMR4198 at 1500fps, though. Now that I have all my he-man beat out of me with my IMR4064 loads, I'm returning to the faster powders and 350 and 405grn cast bullets in the .45-70... right at 1500fps or so.