Author Topic: What's your best 45-70 accuracy load with 350gr between 1400 and 1700fps? (Read 6336 times)

tacotime · « **on:** January 24, 2011, 04:48:01 AM »

Just askin'. Jacketed or cast. What group size are you talking? Love to know about some cloverleafs at 100yards!

drdougrx · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2011, 05:06:32 AM »

Easy! 46gr IMR4895 and 350gr speer sp. Chrono'd velocity in my #1 1690fps = 3 hogs >300lbs, 1 hog >200lbs and 1 mature red stag.

mattbowen · « **Reply #2 on:** January 27, 2011, 04:35:38 AM »

Dr.;

Is that load for a Ruger or trapdoor?

tacotime · « **Reply #3 on:** January 27, 2011, 07:46:50 AM »

A Ruger...

efremtags · « **Reply #4 on:** January 27, 2011, 01:11:25 PM »

Starline Brass
Winchseter LR primers
Rem 405gr SP
H322 50.5GR
lee crimp Sub 1" @ 100 yds

Same as above except
Beartooth WFN 425GR
H322 52.5GR
lee crimp sub 1" @ 100yds, shoots 2IN higher than REM load

drdougrx · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2011, 03:55:21 PM »

Yep....a #1.

tacotime · « **Reply #6 on:** January 28, 2011, 11:12:00 AM »

The Sub-1 in sounds good. Never tried any H322 yet. That will be next! Thanks!

Do you prefer the 405 or 350 for hogs?

Good photos, thanks!

shot1 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2011, 01:24:33 PM »

This smokeless power thing is just a passing fad. Trickle through a 24" drop tube all the FFG black powder you can get into a case with a 30 thousands thick Walters fiber wad seated on it and still seat your SOFT CAST LEAD bullet compressing the powder about 1/10 inch into the case. Lube the bullet with a mix of 50% bees wax 40% Olive oil and 10% STP oil treatment by volume melted in a double boiler. If your rifle likes the bullet it will shoot better than most people can at distances waaaaaaaay out there.

My Sharps 45-70 will put 10 shots under 2" at 200 yards on a regular basis if I do my part. The load works out like this. 500 gr RCBSBP bullet cast 30 to 1 with the above lube. 63 grs Goex FFG, 30 thousands Walters wad in a WW case fired by a Federal 215 primer.

I did try a smokeless load once. 28 grs Accurate 5744, Lyman #457193 bullet cast out of wheel weights came out weighing 418 grs, lubed with the above lube, WW case, Fed. 215 primer. I did win $100 from a smart mouth fellow at the range one day that butted in on a conversation between me and another fellow and called my hand when I said that I was shooting three shot groups that would go under 3/4" on a consistent basis off the bench at 100 yards. He was shooting a Browning BLR in 308 with a scope. I told him I would shoot 3 shots and he could shoot 3 shots and the man with the worst group would pay the other $100. His rifle did shoot pretty good for a BLR but I put two through the same hole and the third shot made that hole half again as large. Just one oblong hole. I think that fellow had to go change his draws after that little lesson.

drdougrx · « **Reply #8 on:** January 28, 2011, 02:20:07 PM »

I like 350gr speers...in the #1 the hornady get pushed back into the case.

efremtags · « **Reply #9 on:** January 29, 2011, 02:10:28 AM »

The REM405 is the best deal out there for the 45-70. There strong enough to handle +p 45-70 velocity, and cheap enough to actually load and shoot.

I shot a bear 2 years ago, broke both shoulders and exited. I imagine on 200lb sized hogs performance would be equal.
H322 is very temperature stable. I developed my loads around Christmas several years ago (temps in the 20s) and shot the same loads in July (temps in the 90s) and they shoot to the same point. You do have to let the gun rest a bit between shots if testing for accuracy though in the summer. H322 won't get the highest velocities, but it is very consistent.

tacotime · « **Reply #10 on:** January 31, 2011, 05:03:29 AM »

I think I like the consistency more than the velocity. I like the Rem 405 and the Hornady 350. Lately I loaded some Rem 300's and they shot very well. So far, the common 4064 and 3031 have been the best. Trying H322 next. After getting the chrono, the 350 now looks to be best at about 1625fps. Still testing. No critters shot yet...

JesterGrin · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2011, 07:13:37 AM »

I have a Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 and with the Hornady 350Gr RN with 53.0Gr of H-322 in a Rem Case and a Fed 210 primer it shoots so so groups of 3/4 in or less at 100 yards. But I think they are moving a bit faster than you asked for.

I really like H-322 in my 45-70's.

JesterGrin · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2011, 07:16:22 AM »

I also like my Home Made Cast bullets of which are the Ranch Dog 350Gr RNFP/GC with 52.0Gr of H-322 in a Rem Case with the Fed 210 primer same rifle. The bottom shots are sighting in the scope and top three for group at 100 yards.

tacotime · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2011, 08:45:27 AM »

What speed do you figure on those?

JesterGrin · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2011, 12:46:53 PM »

Around 1900 FPS. They would go through both shoulders of a 300 pound Hog at 125 yards. And they do not move lol.

tacotime · « **Reply #15 on:** February 03, 2011, 05:24:26 AM »

Sounds like plenty.

With the Hornady manual showing 52.9 at 1700 with a jacketed 350, does that mix but using cast account for as much as another 200fps? Just curious. Trying to get a handle on how much switching to cast increases velocity with the same charge and bullet weight as jacketed.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #16 on:** April 05, 2011, 01:06:58 PM »

tacotime,

Lots of good info on the Marlin Owners forum and the Cast Boolit forum on cast boolit shoot'in.

Took my first cast boolit critter this past Fall, with a 355gr LBT/WFN starting out at 2290fps.

I am still looking for better groups, and may need to slack off a bit on velocity.

Will try H322 this Spring and hope I can get the groups I desire with a velocity of 2000fps or over.

The powder used this past Fall was RL #7, with which I did see velocity of a bit over 2500fps with the 355gr boolit.

Oh ya, shoot'in a RUGER #1

Keep em coming!

CDOC

tacklebury · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2011, 04:02:55 PM »

Quote from: tacotime on January 24, 2011, 04:48:01 AM

Just askin'. Jacketed or cast. What group size are you talking? Love to know about some cloverleafs at 100yards!

My personal best load is using the Hornady 300 gr. Hollow point with 50gr. Reloader7 and had .87" group size with all overlapping. With the 350gr Fp I get similar accuracy with 47gr RL7. With 325gr. FTX I get slightly better trajectory and similar accuracy with 46gr RL7.

Shot at 100 yards w/ std. iron sight on my H&R Buffalo Classic and had one called flier and wind was about 30mph angling across my right shoulder to left side which is why all my groups that day were a bit left of center:

manatee1947 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 04, 2011, 08:16:01 AM »

47 gr of RL 7 (my "747 load" easy to remember) is my favorite jacketed load also, and I use 34 gr of 4198 and a Lyman 457122 HP cast 330 gr, that gets about 1525 fps . Killed many deer.

painted horse · « **Reply #19 on:** June 05, 2011, 05:04:56 PM »

okay, enough is enough. Since when is a 3/4in group at a hundred from a Marlin GG in 45-70, shooting fairly hot 350grainers just so-so??? ...thats excellent shooting. It wasn't that many years ago that if you found a rifle that would shoot 1in groups at a hundred you counted yourself a lucky man indeed. Aaaannnd, they weren't lever guns. So com'on, cut the rest of us some slack and at least call that group "pretty good."

GeorgiaDave · « **Reply #20 on:** October 11, 2011, 12:05:39 PM »

Hello from Georgia,

I have a NEF 45/70 Handi rifle that is box stock with a good scope that absolutely LOVES Rem. 350 gr jacketed soft points over a healthy dose of Varget powder. While my recipe is leaving a bit above the 1700 fps you mention, the accuracy of this load is truly amazing. I have posted these pics before but they are exactly what you asked for. I have duplicated this type of group before in the presence of two different witnesses at two different times so we know that this is not some fake or fluke group. I have several extremely accurate rifles, and this is among the most accurate and fun of all firearms I have ever fired. For a $200 machine to provide 1/2" groups from a .458", 350 gr. projectile, this is about all a gun nut can ask for.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #21 on:** October 11, 2011, 12:30:01 PM »

IMPRESSIVE DAVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am not likely to see that kind of group, but then have bought the 45/70 to be a cast boolit rifle with the goal to use my own cast boolit for hunting.

I could probably get a bit better groups if I were will to give "J" boolits a go, but don't plan to go there with my RUGER #1s - 45/70.

Anyway, Great group!

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

BBF · « **Reply #22 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:43:01 AM »

Dave
What 350 gr Rem? As far as I know unless this is new loading, Rems come in 300 or 405 gr loads.

BBF · « **Reply #23 on:** October 12, 2011, 09:46:47 AM »

I've decide to use the 350 gr SpeerFN pushed by 45 gr of RL-7 for my big game hunt this winter.
If I can keep shots within a 4" bull at 100 yards with a 3x fixed scope I'm good to go.

JeffG · « **Reply #24 on:** October 12, 2011, 04:45:51 PM »

I can't stress this enough, longer heavier bullets do better in 45/70. 460 gas cheeck at 1650fps with H380 or H 322 will cloverleaf. Game is DRT. IMHO

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #25 on:** October 12, 2011, 06:41:10 PM »

JeffG,

Last year I was working with a 355gr LBT/WFN boolit, and for what ever reason did not get the groups I desired.

Doing some reading, asking and talking, I found that some folk in the "KNOW" such as greatly experienced shooters, and the mold maker I was working with said that boolits of over 400gr do tend to do better in the 45/70 then the lighter ones.

So, that tend to go right along with your comments.

Guess we can't say it is a hard fast rule, but when asking what was likely to give me the best cast boolit groups from the 45/70, the answer quickly came back to a couple of over 400 grain slugs, one at 420gr and the other at 465 with the larger having a bit of an edge.

I'm not seeing one hole groups, and may never, but the 465gr slug is out shooting the 355grainer.

The powder, also recommended by the mold maker is H335.

I started this cast boolit critter hunting waaaaaay to late in life to ever gain great amounts of experience.

However, the two I have taken seem to really prove the thoughts about a wide meplat.

My current 465gr cast with it's big wide meplat really did a number on a huge an barren cow elk I took this past Aug. 1st.

Velocity between 1600 - 1700fps, and it really put that critter down in a hurry.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

oldarkie · « **Reply #26 on:** December 21, 2011, 05:31:22 PM »

i myself shoot a 45/70 handi rifle. i use a horndy 325 ftx bullet. imr 4198 w/ 50 gr fed gm210 m primer. I floated the forearm up to forearm screw and put a rubber o ring under forearm screw. I put a piece of 1 inch cold role steel in butt and sealed it. i use a hunter base, its thicker and has more eye relief adjustments slots weaver 1" high steel quad mnts. Useing a leupold 6x power scope. At a 100 yds 3" high put 3 rds under a 50 cent piece. But she has a pretty good bark n bite

MSP Ret · « **Reply #27 on:** January 19, 2012, 11:53:15 AM »

To this point my favorite 45-70 load that fullfills your stated criteria is 28.0 grains of 2400 behind a 350 grain Hornady jacketed RNFP. It shoots enough cloverleafs and sub 1" groups out of my 22" barreled H&R at 100 yards to satisfy me and my needs. Try it, you will like it....<><....

AtlLaw · « **Reply #28 on:** January 19, 2012, 02:01:59 PM »

Quote from: MSP Ret on January 19, 2012, 11:53:15 AM

Try it, you will like it....<><....

I'll second that!

I tried some of Andy's load some time back and was suitably impressed. It is my "one step up" load from my 45 Colt BCC for my 45/70 BCC!