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Posted: 11/28/2013 6:03:34 PM EDT
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Hello all. Recently picked up my first .45-70. What are your favorite all-around loads for shooting and maybe hunting?
I'm thinking of trying a 405+ gr. cast FP over a mild charge of medium-burning powder like 8208 XBR or Varget. Anything I should know before I start? I'll be shooting it out of this, H&R Buffalo Classic: 
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From the Hodgdon website: Trapdoor pressure equivalents:
405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon Varget .458" 2.540" 40.0 1392 15,600 CUP 50.0 1718 20,900 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 4064 .458" 2.540" 46.0 1534 17,900 CUP 49.5 1660 23,200 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR 4895 .458" 2.540" 45.6 1496 18,900 CUP 48.5 1598 23,000 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon H4895 .458" 2.540" 40.0 1424 14,900 CUP 48.0 1645 18,900 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 8208 XBR .458" 2.540" 47.9 1637 21,800 CUP 51.0 1727 23,600 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 3031 .458" 2.540" 45.5 1597 17,300 CUP 48.5 1706 21,100 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon Benchmark.458" 2.540" 47.0 1564 17,100 CUP 50.0 1695 22,600 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 4198 .458" 2.540" 30.0 1370 17,000 CUP 32.0 1462 19,000 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon H4198 .458" 2.540" 27.0 1251 14,200 CUP 31.0 1459 17,100 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR Trail Boss .458" 2.540" 12.0 971 24,500 CUP 13.0 1007 25,600 CUP |
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Quoted:
From the Hodgdon website: Trapdoor pressure equivalents: 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon Varget .458" 2.540" 40.0 1392 15,600 CUP 50.0 1718 20,900 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 4064 .458" 2.540" 46.0 1534 17,900 CUP 49.5 1660 23,200 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR 4895 .458" 2.540" 45.6 1496 18,900 CUP 48.5 1598 23,000 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon H4895 .458" 2.540" 40.0 1424 14,900 CUP 48.0 1645 18,900 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 8208 XBR .458" 2.540" 47.9 1637 21,800 CUP 51.0 1727 23,600 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 3031 .458" 2.540" 45.5 1597 17,300 CUP 48.5 1706 21,100 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon Benchmark.458" 2.540" 47.0 1564 17,100 CUP 50.0 1695 22,600 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 4198 .458" 2.540" 30.0 1370 17,000 CUP 32.0 1462 19,000 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon H4198 .458" 2.540" 27.0 1251 14,200 CUP 31.0 1459 17,100 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR Trail Boss .458" 2.540" 12.0 971 24,500 CUP 13.0 1007 25,600 CUP I was looking at this data. I wasn't sure if certain powders wouldn't play well with cast bullets--I am fairly inexperienced in sending lead at supersonic speeds, especially out of a rifle. |
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IMR 3031 and 4198 work well with Sierra 300 gr JHP and Hornady's 350 gr jacketed hunting bullet. Both of these are accurate bullets and can get a higher velocity for less recoil.
IMR 4759 works well with cast lead bullets such as the 405 gr or the old 500 gr RN Government bullet. Make sure you utilize loads designed for the break open action, which I think need to be lighter than for a falling block / Sharps action. Just wear a shooting / hunting vest with padding over some thick clothing. |
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Not difficult to find a powder that works in 45/70, but here is another vote for SR-4759. I like the way it can be used in reduced loads. I get great accuracy. My charge weights are in the 25 - 30 gr range, so it can be economical to use. Here is my hunting load using the Lyman 457122 bullet. Center of pic is one recovered from a buck.  I use 28 grains of SR-4759 with a tuft of dacron. Some guys will pooh-pooh the idea of using dacron, but it really helps get the standard deviations down and prevent vertical stringing. Used correctly, it is not dangerous, and using it correctly is not hard to do. I find myself using the RCBS 325-FN more as it drops effortlessly from the mold and has the same point of impact as the Lyman bullet. Not having to fiddle with the hollow point pin is a plus. I have a 405 gr mold, but don't use it often as the lighter bullets suit my purpose. For very light, easy to shoot loads, get some Unique powder. Right around 13 grs gives a light fun load that is accurate. My personal opinion is that jacketed bullets are a needless expense in this cartridge. The 45/70 is a low pressure round, and a properly sized to bore lead bullet will not lead the barrel, is cost effective to shoot, and perform well. My Marlin 1895 - has become by favorite deer hunting rifle.  |
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For my hunting rounds I run a 405gr cast FP dual alloy with a soft nose over 28gr of IMR 4198 and a .7gr tuft of dacron. This load runs very consistantly right at 1320 FPS.
30gr of 4198 with no dacron will give around the same velocity but as Vly said you'll get a bit more vertical stringing. Lately I've switched over to a duplex load of WC 867 with a 4198 kicker charge. It runs 1300 FPS shot after shot and is very accurate. |
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Quoted:
I was looking at this data. I wasn't sure if certain powders wouldn't play well with cast bullets--I am fairly inexperienced in sending lead at supersonic speeds, especially out of a rifle. Quoted:
Quoted:
From the Hodgdon website: Trapdoor pressure equivalents: 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon Varget .458" 2.540" 40.0 1392 15,600 CUP 50.0 1718 20,900 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 4064 .458" 2.540" 46.0 1534 17,900 CUP 49.5 1660 23,200 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR 4895 .458" 2.540" 45.6 1496 18,900 CUP 48.5 1598 23,000 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon H4895 .458" 2.540" 40.0 1424 14,900 CUP 48.0 1645 18,900 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 8208 XBR .458" 2.540" 47.9 1637 21,800 CUP 51.0 1727 23,600 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 3031 .458" 2.540" 45.5 1597 17,300 CUP 48.5 1706 21,100 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon Benchmark.458" 2.540" 47.0 1564 17,100 CUP 50.0 1695 22,600 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 4198 .458" 2.540" 30.0 1370 17,000 CUP 32.0 1462 19,000 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP Hodgdon H4198 .458" 2.540" 27.0 1251 14,200 CUP 31.0 1459 17,100 CUP 405 GR. CAST LFP IMR Trail Boss .458" 2.540" 12.0 971 24,500 CUP 13.0 1007 25,600 CUP I was looking at this data. I wasn't sure if certain powders wouldn't play well with cast bullets--I am fairly inexperienced in sending lead at supersonic speeds, especially out of a rifle. Can't help but notice that Trail Boss has the slowest velocity and the highest pressure...HMMMM! I'll stay with Accurate 5744 in my trapdoor. |
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Quoted:
A nice accurate plinking load is 405gr cast over 10.5gr of Unique. Almost zilch recoil in my Marlin 1895CB. I run a very similar load in my .450 Marlin. 12gr of either Unique or Trailboss. If using Unique, make sure you double or triple check powder levels visually. 20gr of Alliant 2400 is another soft shooting load. I normally use the 425grain Ranch Dog bullets when plinking. My hunting loads use either H4198 or H322 depending on how mad I am at my shoulder that particular day. 
The 4198's go around 1650 (recoil about the same as my 7mm Mag) and the H322's go close to 2000fps (dental appt time) with the 350gr Ranch Dog bullet. Have fun with your new rifle! 
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"I use 28 grains of SR-4759 with a tuft of dacron. Some guys will pooh-pooh the idea of using dacron, but it really helps get the standard deviations down and prevent vertical stringing. Used correctly, it is not dangerous, and using it correctly is not hard to do."
Ditto, I don't have .45-70 any more, but the dacron wad with SR-4759 did work for me too. Very nice rifle Vly, hope you didn't get tree sap on the stock.
Looks like some decent wood on that break action too. |
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Well, I tried a starting load of 41 grains of Varget under an Oregon Trail 405gr. FP.
Very mild recoil, accurate enough, and no leading! There was a decent amount of unburnt powder in the bore. I am assuming that this is because the load is of a lower pressure than Varget was designed for? I'm going to work up from 41 grains, and I'll test some hotter loads at the range tomorrow. These are fun to shoot! |
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Quoted:
Well, I tried a starting load of 41 grains of Varget under an Oregon Trail 405gr. FP. Very mild recoil, accurate enough, and no leading! There was a decent amount of unburnt powder in the bore. I am assuming that this is because the load is of a lower pressure than Varget was designed for? I'm going to work up from 41 grains, and I'll test some hotter loads at the range tomorrow. These are fun to shoot! That would be correct. |
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