favorite powder for 45-70 modern loads?

[Randy Tidwell]

I made the mistake of loading some 405 Hornadys for my Ruger No.1 45-70, OMG!

I Don't know if it was the powder or the pill, my shoulder still hurts from 20 years ago.

Loaded that bullet with another powder and it wasn't that bad.

Short answer, don't use 3031 with heavy bullets, lol

 

[Jack300WSM]

Marlin 1895 loaded with 300g Barnes or Speer I've had great accuracy with N120 (1st) and not far behind H4198

 

[Keith M Sheehan]

I really wanted to try RL7 but prices on Alliant powders are completely jacked. 5 lbs of RL7 for same price as 8 lbs of N130? Easy decision.

With the powders available right now, my recommendation is N133. I have 7 .45-70's and have hunted with them all over the world with great success. I strictly use 400-405 grain bullets and my all around favorite is the Speer. The load I've settled on is 53.0 grains of N133. This will generate around 1850 fps, depending on barrel length and will put 3 shots into an inch at 100 yds. This load generates close to 38,000 psi, so DON"T use it in anything weaker than a modern M95 Marlin.

 

[eastbank]

a healty load of H-4198(not max) with hornady 300 gr bullets shoot like this in my ruger #3 and #1 at 100 yards from a bench. the #3 is a kicker, while the #1 is easier to handle with my loads. sure killers on medium-large game.

 

[Old Rooster]

I loaded 22 rounds yesterday 45-70 and this thread popped up today.48.0 gr Re 7 and 300 gr Hornady hollow point.
It's a stout load and there have been softer shooting powders but the Re7 is very accurate

 

[xsn10s]

It's been nearly 26 years but my Marlin 1895 liked IMR 3031 and Hornady 350 gr boowits.

 

[Keith M Sheehan]

While living off grid in the Talkeetna Mts in Alaska in 1972, I bought the very first M95 Marlin in the state. There was no data for modern loads, so I started with the max load in the old Lyman reloading book and worked up in 1 grain increments using IMR 3031. 52.0, 53.0, 54.0, 55.0, and finally 56.0 grains. All fired cases (Winchester) fell out of the gun when ejected with no resistance and no pressure signs in the primers whatsoever. HOWEVER, the recoil with the crescent butt plate was more than I could stand! I then searched for the most accurate load, which was 54.0 grains and shot that load, exclusively, with the 405 Remington bullet and Fed 210's, from the winter of 1972 till I left Alaska in 1979. It killed moose, caribou, bears, and any other miscellaneous critter that came into my crosshairs as if hit by double-forked lightning. None of the bullets "dropped them" (except head shots, of course) but they never staggered more than 15 or 20 yards. There are more efficient powders out there nowadays, but 3031 is still available. VV133 is it's equal in accuracy and velocity, too.

 

[Crockett12]

I don't have the experience of some before me but I got my first 45-70 in a Marlin 1895 back in the very early 80's and I used H-322 with excellent accuracy and velocity with around 1850 fps and a 350 gr Hornady RN bullet.

 

[Varmint Hunter]

If you'd like to flatten the curve, try the 250 Hornady MonoFlex bullet and AA1680. I get 2,330fps (in a shortened case) from my 1895SBL. Accuracy is very good out to 250-300yds. It is NOTICEABLY flatter at 200yds than my usual 400gr load at 1,700fps.

It flattens whitetails within reasonable range.

 

[txtrout]

When you say "Modern", do you mean Marlin or Ruger Level loads?

Varget is usable with both of those levels. It to, is a very versatile powder. I'm able to use it from 223 to 45-70. May not be the best be for all loads but it works and I have that, and not 4198.

 

[memtb]

I like RL 7…..works great in my 45-70 Guide Gun, using my 430 grain cast bullets!

This was my fist group fired from the rifle, extrapolating data I collected from the internet. I actually loaded 10 rounds, the first five shot at 50 yards to get "on paper", and observe feeding and look for pressure signs. I was satisfied with this, and did no further load development as I figured this would work good on anything that I'm subject to use it on! memtb

 

[Critter Picker]

I had great results with H322. Both with a 405 GC cast and a 350 GC cast. Shot under an inch at 100 yards from my 1885 Browning high wall.

 

[arch408]

I've been using Shooters World Buffalo Rifle powder. I use cast bullets exclusively. I use 27 grains behind a 535 grain bullet and 31 grains behind a 385 grain bullet. I use the 535 grain bullet most. I shoot long range silhouette out to 880 yards with Sharps, Win 1885s and rolling block rifles.

 

[BrBa.]

With the powders available right now, my recommendation is N133. I have 7 .45-70's and have hunted with them all over the world with great success. I strictly use 400-405 grain bullets and my all around favorite is the Speer. The load I've settled on is 53.0 grains of N133. This will generate around 1850 fps, depending on barrel length and will put 3 shots into an inch at 100 yds. This load generates close to 38,000 psi, so DON"T use it in anything weaker than a modern M95 Marlin.

I bet 1850 fps with 405 gr pills will clear out your sinuses!

I went back and forth on 130 vs. 133 as they were the same price. Checked as much published load data as I could find, and played around with different bullet weights in Quickload and P-Max ballistics. In the end it came down to my barrel length (19"). The 130 seems to burn just a bit faster, and still provides excellent case fill for the loads I want to shoot.