Benchmark loads for 45-70

[t3shooter]

Hi,
   Well, I've joined the Buffalo Classic club now (really nice looking/feeling rifle) and have finally gotten all of the reloading dies for the 45-70, leaving just 2 things for me to do:  load the cartridges and finally shoot the rifle.
   I'm planning on using Benchmark (all I have readily available right now) under some 405 grain hard-casts.  What would be a good starting load level (13-1500fps)?  I was thinking about 40 grains of the powder, but it's guaranteed that one of you guys has a lot more experience than me for both the load and powder, so I'm going to tap into it for a more educated suggestion.  Thanks in advance for any help.  I'll put up a range report on rifle and loads when I get the chance to go and shoot.

[quickdtoo]

Congrats on the BC!! The Hodgdon annual shows a starting load of 47grs of Benchmark at 1564fps to 50grs max at 1695fps for the 405gr cast trapdoor loads with a 24" barrel.

If you are set on getting less velocity and recoil, you should consider some other common powders such as IMR4198, IMR3031 or Varget, their starting loads are all in the 1200-1300fps range with max at 1400-1500fps for the trapdoor loads, and you can move up into the lever gun loads with them, also. The load data is available in the Lyman 48th handbook.

Tim