45-70 load information

[Ed Gwyn]

I am looking for load information on a 45-70 405 grain cast bullet. This is for a 1895 marlin. I am looking for a load that is fun to shoot for me and the wife.

 

[bigedp51]

I am looking for load information on a 45-70 405 grain cast bullet. This is for a 1895 marlin. I am looking for a load that is fun to shoot for me and the wife.

1. Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook.
2. Thick soft slip on rubber recoil pad. (helps with "fun" part) :
3. Make sure thumb is well back from nose before pulling trigger or else fun ends.

Below, 500 grain "not fun" .458 bullet, can cause severe nose bleeds in 5 1/2 pound Ruger #3 carbine :'( (Newton's third law)

 

[hdxr750]

I like 13.0 to 14.0 gr. of Unique with a 350 or 405 gr. cast lead bullet.

 

[XTR]

I am looking for load information on a 45-70 405 grain cast bullet. This is for a 1895 marlin. I am looking for a load that is fun to shoot for me and the wife.

Look here

In general get your Lyman reloading manual out and look for anything that will get you a MV under 1250FPS. I've spent a whole lot of time trying to get cast to shoot in my 1885 Highwall and finally learned that it was just not what I wanted to do. I have a '74 Sharps that I shoot cast over black for that fix.

Shooting cast is more complicated that shooting jacketed if you are looking for accuracy. That said, if you keep the MV in the 1050 to 1150 range you'll be fine. Over 1200 with smokeless and you start to discover that it just won't get there. Take it out and try it. BTW, shooting 405s at 1100 FPS is pretty pleasant. Get a Lyman's reloading manual and stick to the loads that are Trapdoor Springfield safe and you'll have a lot of fun. When you drop it down to 900 or so, which is where the Remington 45-70 safe for Trapdoor Springfields ammo runs, it's a pop gun.


Oh, and my '74 sharps loads are a 535 grain cast bullet over 70gr of Swiss 1.5. It's not particularly painful until you shoot it a dozen times, then your a bit sore.

I did shoot my highwall with 350s jacketed bullets at about 2400FPS... I didn't shoot again for 2 weeks until the bruises healed... and mine has a recoil pad, not one of those curved shoulder separator butt plates.

 

[rich44]

The Lyman book has alot of good info I shoot cast bullets in my Marlin CB 45/70 also C sharps Hiwall and a Shilo 1874 405gr cast bullet with 26gr Accurate 5744 or 34gr IMR 3031 for around 1150 fps

 

[DHD]

I am looking for load information on a 45-70 405 grain cast bullet. This is for a 1895 marlin. I am looking for a load that is fun to shoot for me and the wife.

Look here

In general get your Lyman reloading manual out and look for anything that will get you a MV under 1250FPS. I've spent a whole lot of time trying to get cast to shoot in my 1885 Highwall and finally learned that it was just not what I wanted to do. I have a '74 Sharps that I shoot cast over black for that fix.

Shooting cast is more complicated that shooting jacketed if you are looking for accuracy. That said, if you keep the MV in the 1050 to 1150 range you'll be fine. Over 1200 with smokeless and you start to discover that it just won't get there. Take it out and try it. BTW, shooting 405s at 1100 FPS is pretty pleasant. Get a Lyman's reloading manual and stick to the loads that are Trapdoor Springfield safe and you'll have a lot of fun. When you drop it down to 900 or so, which is where the Remington 45-70 safe for Trapdoor Springfields ammo runs, it's a pop gun.


Oh, and my '74 sharps loads are a 535 grain cast bullet over 70gr of Swiss 1.5. It's not particularly painful until you shoot it a dozen times, then your a bit sore.

I only use 65 gr with my Paul Jones 540 gr Creedmoor bullets for 1170 fps. Might be a little more fun than I want with 70 gr of Swiss 1.5F. FWIW, I use a .030" fiber wad and Starline cases. I only use enough compression with Swiss 1.5F to seat the wad over the powder. My Highwall weighs 12 lbs all up, and there is still a bit of recoil after an afternoon of fun.

I did shoot my highwall with 350s jacketed bullets at about 2400FPS... I didn't shoot again for 2 weeks until the bruises healed... and mine has a recoil pad, not one of those curved shoulder separator butt plates.

 

[dan06]

My marlin 1895 had micro-groove rifling......The only way I could get it to not key hole at 100yds with a cast bullet was to use the bullets straight from the mould lubricate by hand. I recall they measured pretty close to .460.

After I figured this out I used a load that gave me about 1600fps with a 500gr cast BN hardness of 16 with IMR 3031 It shot honest 1.5 moa groups at 100yds.

 

[thefitter]

Unless you are already stocked with the cast bullets you might want to reconsider. IMO they make cleaning a PITA. I use the 300gr Hornady HP with 56.5gr of A2495 @ 2000+fps
and that kicks (shoves) enough for me. Those 500gr Hornady RN are for when the Grizzly is dripping drool on your face.

 

[Ed Gwyn]

Thanks to all. I have a Lyman Manuel on the way