45/70 reloading

robert9807

I am wanting to get into reloading for 45/70 does anybody have any info on this ie.. best powder, best primers etc... thanks in advance for any info you may have... also am thinking of using 405 grain bullets thanks for any info on that too thanks Robert

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion."
---Norman Schwartzkopf

Pearyw

I generally load this bullet with IMR3031 powder and a large rifle primer. You need to get a good loading manual such as the Lyman to determine what to load. It depends on what kind of rifle you are loading for. The power levels vary a great deal depending on the rifle's strength..

Bert H.

Hello Robert...

Blackpowder or smokeless[?] As the other fellow mentioned, it also makes a big difference which specific gun you intend to shoot your reloads in. With an action like a Winchester Model 1885 high-wall, it is next to impossible to overload a 45-70 unless you use the completely wrong type of powder (I personally know someone who did just that though... he reloaded some 32-40 cartridges with 26 grains of Unique, and it was NOT pretty[B)][B)][B)]).

Bert H.

Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!

robert9807

thanks for your replys guys I am looking at getting the marlin limited 1/2 octagon and 1/2 round 26 in barrel would I have a problem with over loading this.... I would love to buy the winchester but don't have the extra cash right now thanks for any more info.

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion."
---Norman Schwartzkopf

Throckmorton

Unless yo're trying to stop a speeding locomotive,the 350 grainers are fun to shoot too...and a tad easier on the shouolder.I'll second the vote on 3031 powder.
I think if you stay away from "ruger only" loadings you'll be fine with the Marlin.
What is your intended purpose and ranges?steel rams,rocks and dirt clods,four legged critters? Inquiring(read nosey) minds want to know.[8D]

Throckmortons' the alias,cas is the game.

vepr762

I have a Marlin 1895 Cowboy. I used the 45/70 load data in the Hornady book, designed for that rifle, and the 3031 loads with either a 300 or 350 gr bullet WERE accurate. 4198 works well, but the groups are much tighter with 3031. Hornady suggests Federal primers. I can feel the difference in recoil with the lighter bullets too.

Have fun!

1KYDSTR

I have a Marlin 1895G with "18 ported barrel. Being something of a masochist I enjoy using Bonus Bullet gas checked 455 grain leads over 36 to 39 grains (depending on your level of masochism) of IMR 4198 and a magnum primer to lite the medium size charge. I get (with the 36 gr. load)under an inch at 50 yds. rested. If you are recoil sensitive don't bother with this load...it'll really thump you a good one! The up side of this is you will make a real mess out of anything you hit with it...dirt clods, tree's, deer, bear and "1/4 steel plates will howl out a surrender and curl up like a potato chip! I have tried the entire range of IMR powders and while 3031 was a good one I could not do any better than 4198! Have fun!

"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)

robert9807

thanks so much guys for the info. I have always wanted a 45/70 for all of the above reasons I want to be able to take down anything in north america thanks for all of the input keep it coming.... thanks again Robert

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion."
---Norman Schwartzkopf

juju

I wont go into my individual load data but I do use Reloader 7 powder.

Have gotten excellant results using this.

JuJu(who does love a 45/70)

1KYDSTR

A qiuck addition here to what I mentioned before. As the Marlin is tube fed, you cannot use round nosed bullets for fear of lighting them off under recoil in the tube...a decidedly bad thing to have happen. One of my favorite things to do however is to drop down 2 grains on charge and use Hornadys' 500 grain jacketed soft point seated to 2.57 as the first round. This bullet has a thick jacket as it was intended for the 458 Win mag class of rifle that moves at a better clip than even the most optimistic 45-70 loading. This works something like a monolith solid in the 45-70 with not a whole lot of deformation but not only does it retain 100% of its' prefire weight but will crush bone like it was made from plaster of paris! REALLY fun to shoot plates with...as long as it is scrap plate and not somebody's ram silouettes!

"When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
"Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
"History is written by winners"(Patton)
"You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
"There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)

stalion10

try this place loadyourown.com, has loads of info on all cal.

it's not the type of gun you have in the heat of a battle that counts, only if you have enough ammo for it, lets face it, a gun without ammo is only as good as a base ball bat!!