Need advice on H&R 45/70 loads.

[Fat NDN]

I tried to reload my H&R 45/70 22" barrel and it did not work out good at all. 6" groups @ 100yds.
Using H4198, I worked up to a Max load of 45gr. I think that it is too low. I need some ideas please.

[blackpowderbill]

I load a 500gr cast (WW) Lee, lubed with 66%lard/33%BeesWax over 13.2 grains of Unique. It cronos out of my Handi at 1030fps and groups inside of three inches at 100 yards.

[quickdtoo]

You didn't mention what bullet or weight you're using,  but 45gr of H4198 with a 300gr Sierra is Hodgdon's start load for their trapdoor data, the max load of H4198 for 1895 leverguns using the 300gr Sierra is 60gr, so you have a long ways to go before you get into some serious recoill which is usually the limiting factor for a Handi. I shoot the 300gr Nosler partition with a healthy dose of H4198, velocity is 2425fps and recoil is stout even with weight in the laminated Ultra stock and a Limbsaver recoil pad, but it groups under 1" at 100yds.

Hodgdon data works very well with several bullets, IMR4198 and the 350gr Hornady or the 350gr Speer and H322 both shoot 1" or under in my two Handis and the Buffalo Classic.

Tim

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

[Fat NDN]

You didn't mention what bullet or weight you're using,  but 45gr of H4198 with a 300gr Sierra is Hodgdon's start load for their trapdoor data, the max load of H4198 for 1895 leverguns using the 300gr Sierra is 60gr, so you have a long ways to go before you get into some serious recoill which is usually the limiting factor for a Handi. I shoot the 300gr Nosler partition with a healthy dose of H4198, velocity is 2425fps and recoil is stout even with weight in the laminated Ultra stock and a Limbsaver recoil pad, but it groups under 1" at 100yds.

Hodgdon data works very well with several bullets, IMR4198 and the 350gr Hornady or the 350gr Speer and H322 both shoot 1" or under in my two Handis and the Buffalo Classic.

Tim

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

Sorry about that I'm using Hornady 300 gr jacketed hollow points.

[quickdtoo]

The Hornady 6th shows the max load in levergun data as 51.2gr H4198 @2100fps , so you got a bit to go yet, they use a COL of 2.55", Win brass and Fed 210 primers. Keeping working up in ½gr increments and find the sweet spot. 

Tim

[burntmuch]

FWIW Im using 42 grains Reloader7. getting descent groups. 2 inch at 100yards. Im still playing with my forend

[Fat NDN]

Do you use the same loads for the H&R that you use for the lever gun?

[quickdtoo]

That's what H&R will tell you, but recoil may be more than what you'll want to deal with. The Handi is factory chambered in 500 S&W with a comparable case head size and has a higher SAAMI max average pressure than Ruger level 45-70 loads if that tells ya anything. But few shooters like the recoil associated with even mid level levergun loads, so most stay in the upper trapdoor or lower levergun loads. 

A nice Limbsaver pad will take a lot of the bite out of the stouter loads, Limbsaver makes a prefit pad specifically for the synthetic stock, #10018, and several of their prefits fit very close to perfect on the standard wood stock, there's a link in the NEF Centerfire FAQs and Help sticky for those part numbers with pics of them on rifles.

Tim

[warrior1]

my marlin loves a 300 gr jacketed bullet with 50 grs of reloader7 win. large rifle primer.
the buffalo hunter likes around 46 grs of 3031 with a lead 405 gr bullet winchester large rifle primer. i may try black powder loads in my rolling block.  dan