Update on my .45-70 reloading.

Well,since I recently purchased a Marlin 1895 Guide gun .45-70, I have stepped up my reloading for this caliber.
I did some testing with 405 gr. Laser Cast bullets with Unique and 13-14.5 gr. gives some easy shooting with the FPS I was looking for.
Also loading same bullets with IMR 3031 and for me 40 gr. looks like a sweet spot with 1460 FPS out the rifle and 1100 FPS out the BFR. Interesting that going from 38 gr. to 40 gr. didn't show any gain in FPS in the short barrel BFR but did in the 18 inch barreled Marlin.
Guess only so much will burn at a given time in the short barrel with rest going out the barrel!

I like 3031 in the 45-70. I load 36g with a 405 grain cast slug for use in my trapdoor.

Later,
Stephen

IMR 4198 for me.

SR-4759...until my supply is gone.

Then perhaps 5744... :?

I like 777 with the Laser Cast Bullets. Load the case so that you get 1/16" compression when bullet is seated. Have shot to 500 yards with a Marlin Guide Gun. Mine shoots within 8" if I do my part. Open sighted will ring steel at that distance on a still day. As easy to clean as smokeless and you only use water.

H4198

geo57 said:

IMR 4198 for me.

Click to expand...

Hi,

Ever have any problems with IMR 4198 not wanting to light off easily?

Yesterday at the range, my BIL was shooting his 1895 with 405 gr commercial cast bullets over 4198 (probably a starting load or close--he keeps things mild.) Dunno what primer other than standard large rifle. He ejected a case after hearing "click" when he pulled the trigger. It had a full charge of powder, kinda "melted" in; bullet was stuck in the barrel just a couple of inches into the rifling.

We're going with the "weak primer" theory for now, unless others have had similar problems with 4198.

Rick C

I've never had a problem with IMR4198 - though my lightest load is 34 grains of it behind the Remington 405gn jacketed bullet.
If you're using similar weight lead, you may want to be a grain or two higher to start with - it looks to have some pressure to work with and lead is easy to push

greenmtnguy said:

I've never had a problem with IMR4198 - though my lightest load is 34 grains of it behind the Remington 405gn jacketed bullet.
If you're using similar weight lead, you may want to be a grain or two higher to start with - it looks to have some pressure to work with and lead is easy to push

Click to expand...

Hi,

Thanks for that info--I'll pass it on to the BIL and see how it compares with what he's loading right now. He normally sticks with mild loads but may be too far into that side of the chart for this one.

Rick C

I normaly shoot 28.5 IMR-4198 with a 300 cast bullet. It's a light load in this case. What I do is raise the barrel before I shoot. It help to put the powder by the primer. Never had a problem once I started doing it this way.

When I lived in Alaska and carried my 1895 Marlin when walking the woods, I used a hard cast 405 grain bullet with a gas check and 53 Grains of 3031.

And, for the record, I've had exactly that same problem with H4198 once and ended up with the clumped powder and had to drive the bullet a few inches back down the barrel.

I've probably shot a couple hundred rounds out of my Henry using 300gr. Sierras & Hornady's with 55grs. of H4198 with no problems. Using WLR primers.

I load 48 grs. of 3031 with a 405 gr. jacketed or a hard cast bullet of the same weight in my 1895. Excellent accuracy. Elmer Keith used to recommend 53 grs. of 3031 with the same bullets!

53 grs. ?? That's going to hurt at both ends!

Since my last post I probably shot close to 250 rnds. of 45-70 using 6 different bullets and only H4198. I've basically settled on 2 loads for my Henry.
Barnes 300gr. TSX FN using 48grs. of H4198 WLR primer & Srarline brass.
Speer 400gr. SP 49grs. of H4198 WLR primer & Starline brass.
These 2 loads had the best accuracy. Both these loads are shooting about 2" high at 50yrds. (One hole groups) and at 150yrds about 1" 1 1/2" low.
With no adjustments between bullets.