45/70

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pyscodog

Active member
I have a Uberti Highwall and just looking for some suggestions for some mild loads for punching paper at the club. Right now I load 45 grains of H4198 and a 300 Hornady HP. Its the only load I've tried so far. I've only had it to the range once so its the only load so far. Don't want to shoot cast and BP. Its just to much trouble right now, maybe later down the road.. Just want something mild that won't kill on both ends.
 
You could try 15 grains of Trail Boss with that 300 grain bullet. Should give you around 1200 FPS. That be light and fun.
 
Edit: I should have read more closely. I recommended cast and I see you don't want to try that. However, just FYI, you don't have to shoot black powder with cast bullets. A proper cast bullet will work fine with modern powders. Loading manuals are full of loads for the .45-70. It's an easy cartridge to load for.
 
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I tried to get a 45/70 specific manual yesterday at the reloading shop but they were out of stock. I do have one coming though, should be here if a few days. A handful of use old farts are getting together to shoot these now and then. Doubt it will ever see the woods but never say never. LOL

As for cast bullets, I don't really have room or the equipment to make my own cast bullets so I would have to buy them pre-cast. But again, who knows, I may give them a try. This 45/70 is all new to me.
 
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I’ve had good success with IMR4198 and Hornady 250 grain ballistic tip in my Marlin 1895. You have to trim the cases back shorter than normal though, at least for the lever guns.
 
I use varget and 350 gr flat points in a Marlin 1885 SBL.
Not terrible recoil but it's a pretty light gun. Lower charges were great but I loaded a little hotter for hunting loads.
Bobby
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI tried to get a 45/70 specific manual yesterday at the reloading shop but they were out of stock. I do have one coming though, should be here if a few days. A handful of use old farts are getting together to shoot these now and then. Doubt it will ever see the woods but never say never. LOL

As for cast bullets, I don't really have room or the equipment to make my own cast bullets so I would have to buy them pre-cast. But again, who knows, I may give them a try. This 45/70 is all new to me.

I used to cast my own but for years now I've bought cast from several different quality commercial companies. Handgun or rifle. Casting is a fun hobby, but it takes time that I would rather spend shooting than casting. Brother I'll tell you, that .45-70 smacks deer and other game with "authority." I've shot deer with the factory loaded 405 gr. soft point at 1330 fps, 300 gr. hollow points at 1880 fps and hand loads with 350 and 405 gr. bullets at 1850 fps. They're all good!
 
Not sure I trust a fellow Okie with a name "Bruised".
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Might be pulling my leg a little. I got a friend that always tells me "Ah it don't kick"! LOL
 
One of the guys we shoot with killed a doe at around 125 yards with his last year. He shoots the 300 grain Hornady HP's. Said she never took a step and had an exit wound about the size of his fist.
 
LOL. The Bruised nickname came from my days of shooting BPCR silhouette with a 45-110 Shiloh Sharps. That load was a 525 grain cast bullet and 107 grains of Fg Goex. After a 40 round match plus sighters I was definitely Bruised.
The Varget load actually is nice to shoot.
Bobby
 
Shot with the guys this morning. Using H4198 I had sever hang fires and even a miss fire. Primer went off but didn't ignite the powder. I had to tap the bullet out of the barrel.....not good! Two of the guys I was shooting with said they have had the same problem with H4198. I think I'll switch powders. They switched to IMR4895 and said they weren't having any more issues.
 
Accurate 5744 is a good powder for those big cases, I've used it for many cowboy action loads in both my Shilo 45/70 and Marlin cowboy 45/70 both with my own and store bought cast bullets and no leading to speak of.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodog Primer went off but didn't ignite the powder. I had to tap the bullet out
That's some scary spit there!!!
 
I wouldn't try it unless you can find a published load on it. Maybe powder position is causing the misfires? You could try a filler maybe....
 
I don't know why I was getting the problems I was getting but others said they also had the same issues. I'm switching to IMR4895 and see how that works out.
 
The first time I loaded with H4198 I had zero issues. The next time is when I had problems. Same powder, same load (45grains), same bullet and primer. Several rounds seemed to be slow in going off. A click boom for a poor way to describe, then the one that didn't go off and pushed the bullet into the barrel. My primers were CCI large rifle. Could that be the problem?
 
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