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BigDanS
Senior MemberPosts: 6,992 Senior Member
45/70 and 30-30 loading advice requested - powders.

I am preparing to load for a 45/70 that I have yet to purchase... yes I go into the obsessive group...
I am confused about powders and what might be the best all around.
I have Trail Boss, X-Term, I4895, H4350, A1680, 231, Unique, Lil'Gun and Bullseye.
I know Trail Boss can handle the low end stuff.
I plan on loading for an 1895 marlin and I want to load the following:
300 gr Hornady SJFP
350 Gr Hornady SJFP or equivalent
405 gr Missouri Bullet Company
400 gr SJFP or equivalent - I have yet to find.
It appears from the reloading manuals that there are a variety of powders given the bullet weights that are optimal and I don't really want to add a bunch of new powder to my stash. I think I am about at the Fire Department notification level...
I or H 4198 look like a pretty good all around 45/70 powder but I am looking for your input. What is your Go To for all around loading?
In addition I am looking into 30 30 loads for my new to me 336... any similar powders?
Best,
D
I am confused about powders and what might be the best all around.
I have Trail Boss, X-Term, I4895, H4350, A1680, 231, Unique, Lil'Gun and Bullseye.
I know Trail Boss can handle the low end stuff.
I plan on loading for an 1895 marlin and I want to load the following:
300 gr Hornady SJFP
350 Gr Hornady SJFP or equivalent
405 gr Missouri Bullet Company
400 gr SJFP or equivalent - I have yet to find.
It appears from the reloading manuals that there are a variety of powders given the bullet weights that are optimal and I don't really want to add a bunch of new powder to my stash. I think I am about at the Fire Department notification level...
I or H 4198 look like a pretty good all around 45/70 powder but I am looking for your input. What is your Go To for all around loading?
In addition I am looking into 30 30 loads for my new to me 336... any similar powders?
Best,
D
"A patriot is mocked, scorned and hated; yet when his cause succeeds, all men will join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Replies
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
For the 300 grain .45-70 I'd go with H4198, and for the 350-400 grain, H4895, and of course, Trail Boss for all 4 of the bullet weights listed. Don't hotrod the cast lead ones unless they are really hard, or at least gas checked, unless removing leading in the barrel is not an issue. And the heavy bullets pushed fast will pound the crap out of your shoulder with the lever action. Velocity between 1200-1500 fps will kill anything that needs killing, and won't punish your shoulder nearly as much. Anyway, the .45-70 isn't a flat shooting rifle by any stretch, even at the Ruger #1 loading levels.
― Douglas Adams
I have I 4895, and I don't really want to buy H 4895 unless I really need it. The H4198 is looking good and I know where I can get about 3 lbs delivered for $35 a lb or so... Hazmat fees and shipping = negative air pressure...
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
RAMSHOT X-TERMINATOR Regular pressure
300 SIERRA HP FN 42.0 1,740 46.0 1,900 27,800 2.550
350 HDY RN 40.0 1,600 44.0 1,740 27,520 2.550
400 SPEER FPSP 39.0 1,585 43.0 1,695 28,200 2.550
500 HDY RN 30.0 1,150 35.0 1,320 27,500 2.550
RAMSHOT X-TERMINATOR high pressure
300 SIERRA HP/FN 56.0 2,100 62.0 2,250 38,550 2.550
350 HDY RN 49.0 1,750 54.0 1,900 39,100 2.550
400 SPEER FPSP 46.0 1,665 51.8 1,885 39,000 2.550
500 HDY RN 40.0 1,450 44.0 1,550 38,500 2.550
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=91
Note: I have done away with smokeless powder completely in the Sharps and am now running 2F GOEX and having great results with it...(a lot of fun as well)
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
I don't crimp the cartridges for my single shots with either smokeless or black. I'm using 68 grains of drop tubed 2F under a 535 grain Postell....that's about all I can get in the case. and am getting good accuracy. Still doing load development...experimenting with degrees of compression and the use of of fiber wads between the bullet and the charge to optimize accuracy....
In the end...you want to make sure there is no space between the bullet and the powder charge....Mike Venterinos "Shooting Buffalo Rifles of the Old West" is a great reference....
imr4895 IMR load data from the site 150gr
IMR 4895
start
2.550"
31.5
2,071
32,200 CUP
max
33.5
2,213
34,300 CUP
Bullet Weight170 GR. SIE FP
IMR
IMR 4895
.308"
2.550"
29.8
1,938
30,500 CUP
31.7
2,068
35,300 CUP
I picked up some FTX for the 32, if they fly well I am going to use imr 4895 and those in the 30-30 as well. I have been using imr 4895 and the 125gr Sierra prohunters as a reduced load for the daughter. She is going up to 150's this year.
I think I am attempting to over optimize, again. There are so many loads for the 45-70, I just need to go for one and stick with it. I don't need a load for Grizzly or Buffalo, but if I ever do, I'll load specifically for it. I think I have it covered with Xterm, I 4895, and Trail Boss. I might not achieve the hottest possible loading, but why do I need to? I really just want to be accurate.
Thanks again all.
D
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.... now who's bringing the hot wings? :jester:
Son that's somebody with nothing to do with his time but keep me in trouble with mom.
Of the powders you have on hand, 4895 will likely be the best bet in both cartridges. 3031 is another good choice for both.
Trailboss isn't good for much in the rifle cartridges, to much pressure drizzly slow velocity and accuracy not so much. It does work good for low velocity handgun rounds.
My favored powder in the 45-70 is 70 grs 2f black. 5744 is hard to beat in smokeless for cast bullets, and the already mention 3031 works well with both cast and jacketed.
30wcf, I prefer 748 and RL15. Here again 5744 is good for cast, and 7 grs of unique that you have on hand is another good cast bullet load.