Mid-Range load for 45-70 with 350 grain

[tacotime]

Love the factory Rem. 405 grain loads and almost hate the factory Win. 300 grain load.  I need a load just about in between these.  A little more punch than the 405 and a good deal less kick than the 300.  This is for a 22 inch Ruger single shot.  Wild pigs will be the toughest target tried.  Anyone have some good ones here?

Thanks!

[tacklebury]

I like 46.7 gr. Reloader7 with a Hornady Interlock on top.    I've gotten as small as .875" groups with iron sights at 100 yards and it knocked the snot out of the first deer I used it on.  I intend to get some of the flat point interlocks to try due to the large amount of tissue damage with the HP version interlocks on deer.  I think on hogs, I'd use the flat point.  I also loaded up a bunch of the FTX with this load and got basically zero POI shift and equally as accurate.  I don't know if the FTX would hold up on big hogs though.  I am considering trying some on deer later during this firearm season. 

[BBF]

Anytime you put 40+ gr of a useable powder behind a 350 gr bullet it will be more "telling" then the 300 gr. factory loads in a Handi.
I've been playing with cast as well as jacketed bullets from 340 gr up to 500 gr and can tell you I much prefer something less then 30 gr as a powder charge. So far 2400 seems to work out the best for me and it leaves a clean barrel.  One small step up would be IMR 4198. I dont' expect shot distances of much more then 50 yards.

[tacklebury]

If you have some, try the Reloader7.  With 46.7gr.  it's just a push, no real kick.  Even off a bench I've fired up to 100 and some rounds in an afternoon.  Clean-up has been bore mop and nada else.    I have downloaded to 34.3 gr. for my wife's loads and those are like a .22 mag. 

[shot1]

One thing to take note of with the Hornady bullets. The 300 gr HP has a thinner jacket and is not an interlock bullet. It is designed to be used on deer size game to give good expansion at lower velocities. Muzzle velocity range for best results is 1600 to 2100 fps Hornady states. The 350 RN and FP are interlock bullets with a tougher jacket and are designed to operate best between 1800 to 2900 fps Hornady states.

I am not sure of the velocity of the Rem 405 load or the 300 WW load. I would make a guess that the Rem 405 is not going over 1400 fps probably closer to 1300 fps because they are loaded pressure wise that they can be used in the old trapdoor springfield.

The 300 WW is probably under 1700 fps because that would put it over the top pressure wise for the trapdoor springfield and that is the specks that this ammo is load for pressure wise also.

It has been my finding with the 45-70 that IMR 4198 is really a good powder for about any jacketed bullet and can give you minimum to max loads.

I have a buddy that has done a lot of testing with a Marlin 1895. He shoots the Sierra 300 gr HP and has found great results by using the suggested accuracy loads given in the Sierra manual.
The lightest load that is in the trapdoor pressure range is this: RP case, REM 9 1/2 primer, IMR 4198 33.6 grs for 1550 fps. This will kill deer well out to 100 yards he says.

The next load is the suggested hunting load for the trapdoor pressure wise: RP case Rem 9 1/2 primer, IMR 4198 1650 fps. He says that he can't tell much difference in reaction on deer out to 100 yards but it does shoot about 1 inch flatter at 100 yards.

The above loads are probably what you are looking for.

By buddy has settled on this load: It is the suggested accuracy load for the Marlin 1895: 300 gr Sierra HP, IMR 4198  49.9 grs RP case Rem 91/2 primer. This is a pretty stiff load but it will knock a deer a flip he says.

All loads COAL are 2.525 .

I shoot a Sharps rifle and cast bullets mostly with black powder. One smokeless load that I have used that duplicates the velocity of black powder with a #457193 cast bullet that drops from wheel weights with a little tin added at 418 grs is 28 grs of Accurate XMP-5744 in a WW case and a Fed LR mag 215 primer. This runs right at 1400 fps. It is very mild and I have never recovered a bullet from any deer I have ever shot with it. And I have shot one in the chest and had it exit it's rear end from 111 yards.

One thing to keep in mind is with bullets 300 gr and heaver they don't have to be going much over 1200 fps to really be good killers. It is the weight and penetration and bone smashing ability of the heavy slug that kills. Place a 45 cal bullet in the vitals and I don't care what it is it will die.

[tacklebury]

Good info Shot1.  I was under the understanding that the HP was an interlock also, per Midway's description (see link):

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=699223

I just double checked with Hornady's site, however and I see you are correct.  That would explain the explosive performance I saw with my load.    I am definitely switching to the FP now.  Appreciate your inputs on them.    Guess I'll be double checking Midway's claims.  I did like the price on the HP's, but other than shooting ground hogs, those will probably be kept as spares.  lol 

[buckeye509]

That ought to be enough gun. 

[Bearcat 74]

I had great accuracy from my 1895G with 45grs RL7 + 350 Hornady and 48grs RL7 + 350 Hornady in my Encore.

[Squib]

starline cases, winchester large rifle primers:

I've been using 38-41 grains varget for the 500gr hornady interbond, shoots good and accurate at 30yds freehand, a bit high at 25yds and about dead on at 50.... don't know beyond that but at 30yds freehand I can smack bowling pins in the double stripes over and over again so that's minute of deer snout.  addendum- I have that loaded to a short overall length to function in my handi-rifle.  I have a somewhat shallow chamber and must keep my powder charge down because I seat the bullet deeper than usual.  Remember to knock your loads down from what the manuals say if you seat your heavy bullets deeper than they say.... the pressure spikes will be bad with heavy jacketed bullets and you better be careful.

59-61grs varget for the #3800 sierra 300gr hp... shoots about six high at 25yds and about that low at 100 (lots of drag on a fast moving fat hollowpoint, I don't know?).  anyways, I shot a deer with that opening day this year and of course the bullet put a good entry wound in but the damage wasn't phenomenal on the way through until hitting the ribs and shoulder blade on the off-side of the deer- it jellied the entire shoulder socket, shattered the blade, upper arm, socket, meat... I couldn't tell what was what after I cut the arm off and dissected it.  I really gave up on recovering the bullet because I didn't want to run the goop through a strainer.  I made a move to the hornady 350gr roundnose and HOPE that will have a bit more thump and less shockwave upon opening up.... don't know yet though.

[Dead doc]

both Hornady and Speer bullets in 350 work well in my handi     ( also my marlins and my sharps and my rugers )  I use 50 grains of 3031 with the jacketed bullets   Lately I went to the Ranch Dog Mold  ( 350 grain gas check )  54.5 grains of Varget is a tack driver and all the power I need  approx 1700 + FPS

[AtlLaw]

Good info here!     I'm gonna start working up a load using the 350 in my 45-120.  Figure 2500-2600 fps. ought to be enough if I get good accuracy...     I think Tyler showed us that the 405 gr. is just to explosive on deer at 2500 fps.   

[Squib]

hey can you bring us a photo of a deer you bust with it?!  I want to see what it's innards look like after you unzip it 

[AtlLaw]

hey can you bring us a photo of a deer you bust with it?!

You can count on it!  

I put MSP ret's load over my chrony a year or two ago.  It was some amount of 2400 behind the 350 gr. Hornady.  Right around 1500 + fps as I remember.  Good accuracy, light recoil.  It's his go to deer load in the 45-70 Handi.  I wish he'd chime in here for details.  

[Larry L]

If you have followed any of the Hodgdon Super Performance powders, they are much faster burning than most. The idea is to reduce the jetting action as the bullet leaves the barrel. They claim over 50% of the recoil occurs AFTER the bullet leaves the barrel due to the jetting action of the compressed charge leaving the barrel. So staying with this idea, I loaded 30.0 grs SR4759 under a 300 gr Remington HP. Speed is 1700'ps out of my 45-70. Pressure is low enough to shoot in any single shot or lever gun. Winchesters 300 gr ammo is loaded at 1800'ps so this is just below it in velocity but probably half the recoil. The recoil is really quite low considering. That load also shoots fabulous out of the handful of 45-70's I have. Might give it a try. And yeah, it's as strong as a Peterbilt on hogs. Have yet to have one take a step once the bullet got there.

[MSP Ret]

Hi guys, that wonderful, generous, intelligent, wise, giving, all around good guy AtlLaw said you were disussing mid range 45-70 loads and I wanted to stop by. My favorite mid range hunting load for the 45-70 that he so kindly chronographed for me is a Hornady 350 grain RNFP half jacket ahead of 28.0 grains of 2400. Sweet shooting with true 1" and sometimes ragged one hole groups at 100 yards (as long as I do me part). I shoot this mostly out of a 22" barreled H&R Handi rifle with a scope. Minimal recoil for what it is with great terminal effects. This has been my favorite 45-70 load for several years now and I highly recommend it. Try it, I think you will be impressed with it and like it....Merry CHRISTmas to all....<><....     

[drdougrx]

Hi....I'm using 350gr speer sp and 46gr of IMR4895 at a velocity of 1700fps in my #1.

[BBF]

350 gr Hdy Half-Jacket bullet ??   What stock Number ?