favorite powder for 45-70 modern loads?

Another powder that is currently available and gives excellent results is AA2015. 53-54 grs. behind a 400 gr. Speer, Remington(405) or Barnes will deliver 1800+fps and 1 1/2" 100 yd groups. Lots of recoil, but you'll never feel it when taking game.
I was at Sportsmans warehouse and they had AA2015 so picked up one pound to try in 45-70.
 
Hy all
Made testload 45/70. let's hope it works
Will post more when I have results !
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    217.7 KB · Views: 23
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    168.9 KB · Views: 31
The load is
44 grain vithavouri N120
RWS large rifle primer
300 gr Barnes tsx FN
COAL: 2.515"
Start load of Barnes load data
And it s near max of vithavouri load data
Quickload says case 99.7% full
My experience says full or compressed
Loads better use magnum
Primers but this is begin and so I use simply large rifle primers for test .
 
Last edited:
I've been using AA 2015BR since the mid eighties with 300gr Hornady bullet in my 1895.
I am just about out of powder and internet resources say the "new" 2015 is interchangeable.
 
The load is
44 grain vithavouri N120
RWS large rifle primer
300 gr Barnes tsx FN
COAL: 2.515"
Start load of Barnes load data
And it s near max of vithavouri load data
Quickload says case 99.7% full
My experience says full or compressed
Loads better use magnum
Primers but this is begin and so I use simply large rifle primers for test .
My go to powder for the 45-70 Marlin has been 49.0 grains of IMR 4198 and the Barnes 300 grain TSX FB (hollow point bullet) @ around 2200fps. I was using 49.5 grains, but... found it to be a bit more of a load than I cared to put through vintage 1895 Marlins. Besides "dead is dead", killing what I am hunting is my goal, destroying the weapon is not the plan. We have used this load/bullet combination for black bear hunting for many years, the performance has been devastating. The last photo is a broadside exit wound, 300gr Barnes TSX FB bullet, 225lb black bear @ 50 yards. I have a bunch of photos of other bear taken with this combination, again all the same performance. As for penetration, one year I spine shot a black bear (200lb +) from 50 yards. The bullet entered just behind the rear quarters (not a Texas heart shot), and the bullet came out the nose. I would not hesitate to go up against anything that walks this continent with this load/bullet combination, and do it with confidence.

This has been an interesting thread, thanks "buggz". From the research and the information provided it appears that N120 and N130 are really good powders for the 45-70 as well. I bought some N120 for a Raptor build and was not sure what I was going to do with this powder, I will be trying the N20 in the 45-70.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6784.jpg
    IMG_6784.jpg
    139.7 KB · Views: 30
  • IMG_6785.jpg
    IMG_6785.jpg
    319.3 KB · Views: 20
  • IMG_6786.jpg
    IMG_6786.jpg
    172 KB · Views: 19
  • IMG_6787.jpg
    IMG_6787.jpg
    226.3 KB · Views: 25
  • Dad's bear 45-70 2020 (2).jpg
    Dad's bear 45-70 2020 (2).jpg
    491.2 KB · Views: 33
I have several Pedersoli 45-70 rifles that take modern loads. One Sharps rifle and two Rolling Block rifles.
Varget, H4895, H4227, H4198 and 5744. I used 300, 480 and 535 lead bullets. Very few jacketed 405's.
All shoot well with the right formula for each bullet.
I shoot iron sights and we have fun with Potatoes out to 150 yds. 1"-2" groups @ 100 yds is easy enough. At 600 yds 6" to 15" groups is common depending on the day with a 5" being the best.
The reason for so many powders is! Use you you have.
Note: the Pedersoli rifles love 405 gr and up. 300 gr are for short range only.
 
I use RL-7 in my 45-70, .450 Marlin, and .444 Marlin. I like the Lehigh wide flat nose dangerous game bullets, as they work very well in all three guns. Very accurate loads and devastating on game.
I use 46.5 grains of RL-7 with the 380 grain Lehigh bullet in the 45-70 and .450 Marlin. Stout, but very accurate in my guns.
45-70 is a Browning 1885 HW with 28 inch barrel. .450 Marlin is a Browning BLR with 20 inch barrel. Both rifles are muzzle braked. It helps!
 
Hello,

Still trying to catch components as best as possible.

What is your favor powder for 45-70 modern loads?

Thanks.
Let me start off by saying sorry, if I upset anybody, but a 4570 has a rainbow arc of trajectory. If you want something flat get a 30-06. Don't get me wrong. I was a recoil junkie when I was much much younger these days. My shoulder doesn't like it. I have a Marlin 1895 and a Winchester 1886, the Winchester with the crescent butt plate, it'll handle anything I feed it. but the Crescent butt plate and my shoulder have serious disagreements with the heavier loads. Now what I've said that the load that I use these days is somewhere between 36 and 44 grains of either 4198 or 3031. This will get you somewhere between 1300 and 1450 fps on the upper end out of the Winchester being a 10 pound gun, the 1450 feet per second it's comfortable, they are accurate. There is a Vernier Tang site on the Winchester and I can shoot out to 500 yd. But reality check most deer hunting situations are under a 100 yd. But I've also taken deer out to 200 yds no problem, and it will knock a deer down with a softer alloy or jacketed hollow point. That's just my 2 cents worth. Hope it helps if you like the harder shooting ones fine. You want something softer and easier? Also fine, but just remember, the 4570 came out in the later part of the 1800s and it can take a buffalo. So I think the round is plenty stout enough. Again, just my 2 cents worth. Hope that helps.
 
Top