45-70 Load Help Needed.....

[Shaggy357]

I picked up an H&R Buffalo Classic in 45-70 several years ago but have never loaded ammo for it. I have plenty of components and am ready to go....but have some concerns over my data and research for loads. Crescent butt plate and hot loads are not fun, so I have been looking for some mild loads to use deer hunting from a ground blind. Shots would be 100 yards or less, however I am not far from some long range (out to 1000 yards) shooting area so could do a lot of playing in an afternoon so trying to keep the load with 300 gr bullets about 1500fps...just fer fun. I would think I could hit my silhouette ram at 500 no problem when I nail down the right sight setting....

Here is data in my Lyman manual. Re7 33.0 1408.....Re7 38.0 1639 this is in Springfield with 32 1/2" barrel. Next page over. Re7 38.0 1428.....Re7 45.0 1811 this is in Winchester with 26" barrel. My gut is telling me that 6" difference in barrels will not equate to 211fps difference....am I incorrect?

Is anyone using Re7, IMR 3031, IMR4895, or Trailboss in moderate loads to 1500-1750fps? I have bullets 300, 350, and 405 already. Action is easily strong enough to handle anything I will load. My main concern is difference in data from the different manuals....I have looked in no less than 10 to get my range....but without a chrono, and books differing on velocity, I am riding the fence on starting loads......

Any info from experienced 45-70 shooters would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[JamesnTN]

I use VV N133 in my Ruger #1

 

[jfseaman]

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle Has all sorts of loads from mild (Trapdoor), medium (Lever Action) to wild (Modern Rifles).

I've converted my Trapdoor to 257 Roberts Black Powder Only.
My Winchester Model 1886 made in 1888 can take full power Lever Action loads.
My Winchester Model 1885 High Wall Falling Block made in 1913 is probably somewhere in between.

That is all preface for my comment:
For hunting use a hollow point, expanding or fragmenting. As fast as you want to go. For my lever gun hunting, I have a sub-sonic load 300 Barnes. Black tail deer inside 50 yards. Woods stalking. Have not succeeded yet. Haha.
For long range, use a 400 grain or bigger lead cast. I've only got to 600 yards so far with the Falling block. My bullet is a modified Lee 500 grain mold with the base cut down. Produces 400grain bullets with pointy noses.

 

[XTR]

I have two, one Highwall that I load with smokeless, and one C. Sharps '74 Sharps that gets only holy black and cast bullets.

In my Highwall my hunting load is ~ 50 grains of 3031 behind a 405 Rem bullet at ~1800 FPS. It is not a mild load but it will make dead [insert game animal here] out to 200 yards. (my highwall has a shotgun butt with a recoil pad)

Don't worry too much about what the book is saying. (and 6" might be 200 FPS)

These things fall like a rock, even at 1800 FPS my 405s fall 2 mils (read over a foot) from 100 to 200 yards. The load is tailored to my Swarovski BRX retical.



You will need to take it out and get drops

 

[NA Woody]

I have the same rifle and like it a lot!
I have used mostly H4198. Starting at 30 grains with a 405 cast lead bullet. Shoots fine for me at 30 grains though this load could go much higher.
You should try loading black powder in it. The simplest load ever. Just figure out how much black powder needed to fill the case up to the bottom of the seated bullet and go with that. No airspace below the bullet. Very much low tech but fun to shoot.

 

[joshb]

I have a Winchester 1886 made by Miroku. It's the modern version. I shot the mild loads for a while then pushed it up to the Hornady book's Marlin loads. The steel butt plate made my shoulder black and blue so I got a pad. The gun has a peep site and with my eyes, hitting the target was"good". I really just wanted an 1886 lever in 45/70. Recently, I picked up a nice Ruger #1 in 45/70 with scope, so I'll be right there with you. In a few days I'll be home and can look for my loads for the Winchester. Josh

 

[snert]

Trapdoor guy here. I use IMR 4227 and a 300 grain Sierra HP

I also use BP and cast bullets. I like the 300 (even though it may wear the old barrel) for light recoil. The cast bullets are heavy and they recoil, but put the spank on targets, gongs and meat.

 

[ireload2]

Moderate loads in a .45-70 are really 1300-1400FPS especially with the heavier bullets.
Most of my shooting is done around 1050 to `1300 FPS.
The best powders run from 5744, SR4759, 4227 and 4198. All are extruded powders. SR4759 has been discontinued so if you find any buy it before it is gone forever. SR4759 is very coarse and takes up a lot of room in the case. Some of the other powders you mention are good for jacketed bullets but will leave a lot of unburned grains or powder in your bore.
I would recommend that you use the data for cast bullets in the Lyman Cast bullet handbook and forget about velocity.
Most of the shooting done with a 45-70 just needs the bullet to fly all the way to the target with no particular velocity.
Your loads should be tuned for accuracy and tolerable recoil. I have a Buffalo Classic and a number of other heavier and lighter 45-70s.
You will find the 500 grain bullets much more accurate at long range but they develop a lot of recoil.
You will not like a 500 grain bullet at 1300 FPS in the BC. A 12 lb rifle is much better for long range accuracy.