45-70 Reloading

Ivan9686

May 15, 2013 15:58

I use a NEF handirifle for feral hogs in heavy brush. I have loaded 300 grain and 405 grain gas check hard cast bullets using both IMR 4198 and H 4198. I'm satisfied with the accuracy of the 300 grain bullets but the 405 leave a lot to be desired with these two powders. I load at levels intended for lever action rifles (Marlin 1895) as far as pressure and velocity go. Anyone have any suggestions for an accurate load for the 405 grain bullets using other powders? Thanks

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  Bert H.

  May 15, 2013 16:36

  Ivan,
  
  How much IMR 4198 are you using with the 405-grain bullet? My pet load is 34-grains.

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  tsr1965

  May 15, 2013 17:07

  As previously noted, those big hardcast bullets, do not need to be top end. They work just fine as the original design, around 1300-1400 FPS. My rifles like between 32-34 grains of IMR 4198. BTW...that was a suggested load by the previous poster, and he knows this stuff.
  
  As an aside, I am not sure what the twist rate in your barrel is, and that too, could have some trump cards.
  
  Best

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  bartman45

  May 16, 2013 03:58

  When I shot smokeless and bought 405gr bullets, I used Vqrget or H4895 and got great accuracy out of my two '74 Sharps. Cast a 500gr and use black powder presently.

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  Riomouse911

  May 16, 2013 07:12

  I prefer IMR 3031 With the 405 gr gas checked bullets. I started at 38.5gr, which is a mild load, and worked up. Some of my loads have gone up to the 49gr level in modern Marlin .45-70 rifles, and I've read of guys pushing the 52+ gr areas with jacketed bullets. (That's too high pressure-wise for me) Lotsa boom on both ends of a .45-70 when you get uyp in this range.

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  truthful

  May 16, 2013 14:30

  My Handirifle will not accurately shoot a 405 bullet that has a sharp shoulder, like a SWC pistol bullet, but it is a tack driver with a round nose bullet of the same weight. Varying the type of powder and powder weight makes little difference. I think the sharp shoulder gets deformed upon entering the forcing cone. You might try seating your 405s a little farther out so that the bullet is better centered in the bore prior to firing.

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  Ivan9686

  May 16, 2013 17:10

  Thanks for the responces. The loads I use are IMR 4198 45 grains and H4198 48 grains. I use Cast Performance bullets.

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  truthful

  May 16, 2013 18:55

  That seems like an awful lot of 4198 in either flavor. My old Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook lists 33 grains of IMR4198 behind a 405 grain bullet cast from #2 alloy.

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  Bert H.

  May 16, 2013 20:14

  I agree with truthful... you are using way too much 4198 powder. I highly suggest that you back it off at least 10-grains. There is no reasonable reason to "hot-rod" a 405-grain bullet in the 45-70 cartridge.

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  dfletcher

  May 17, 2013 09:28

  Other than a Marlin 1895 my 45/70s are of the "which level should I hit?" type - a Gibbs/Enfield bolt, T/C Encore and T/C Contender.
  
  I can't speak to the IMR level but regarding the H4198 I'd agree it's a bit stiff. I use 55.0 of it with a 300 grain JHP and it's pretty stiff - near No1 levels. Using 48.0 with a 405 seems a bit generous.

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