45-70 loads

[SweetWilliam]

I have a Henry 45-70 on the way & need some info.
I'm trying to find a load that pushes an Oregon Trail 350gr. cast bullet at 1600fps. Which is supposedly the max velocity for that style of bullet. I emailed Oregon Trail with no response back yet. The powders I have are H4198, IMR 3031, RL-7.

 

[Mus408]

I use their 405 gr. bullets and 40 gr. of IMR 3031 gives me 1450 or so out of my 1895 GS.
Shoots well and my shoulder don't hurt.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I have a couple for you from the Hodgdon Cowboy Action data pamphlet 5th edition. These don't use 350gr bullets but you might be able to interpolate.

Long Range Rifle 45-70 - 300gr cast - H4198 - Start 30.0gr - 1390fps - 14,400CUP ==== Max 35.5gr - 1641fps - 16,100CUP.
--------------------------- 385gr cast - H4198 - Start 28.0gr - 1302fps - 13,300CUP ==== Max 32.0gr - 1483fps - 14,700CUP.

I would try right between 32.0gr and 35.5gr for what you are looking for. Boom shok-a-laka.

 

[SweetWilliam]

Yea not a lot of data for a 350gr cast. But I see now that Oregon Trail has they'd own manual for sale. Maybe time for a new order to go out.

 

[SweetWilliam]

I've been searching my eyeballs out on the net & it seems that it doesn't matter if it's a 350gr. or a 405gr. cast 48grs. to 49grs. Of 3031 produces around 1600fps. In both weights out of a 18.5" bbl.

 

[COR]

Looked it up and my Elk load was 47 gr of 3031 which gives me 1637fps avg (over 50 rounds). The bullet was a Ranch Dog 350gr with GC, CCI LR primer. 18.5" Guide Gun.

 

[SweetWilliam]

Thank you for the info cor. Exactly what I was wanting.
Do you have any 405 cast info for 3031?

 

[Mus408]

Is this for hunting or target use?

 

[SweetWilliam]

Mostly just target shooting. I have some Hornady 350gr flat point I am going to use for hunting. I might load those up to around 1800fps & see I might load those up to 1800 ft./s how the shoot

 

[Mus408]

Just for grins pick up a box of the Hornady 325 gr. Leverevlution ammo...cheapest but powerfull ammo for .45-70. They give you a good kick and destroy most anything!
I like the 405 gr. at around 1400-1500 FPS for general use and not to bad on the shoulder.

Here I was taking my first shots with those Hornady Lever rounds going about 2000 FPS.
https://youtu.be/iVPHCYfJZVI

 

[SweetWilliam]

I went with 46.5grs of 3031 & Rl-7 for bot the 350's & 400gr bullets. That way I can get 150 loads out of a pound. Now I just need my rifle to test them out. It's on it's way.
50grs of H4198 with the Hornady 350gr fp