Author Topic: What is your hottest load in a h&r .45/70? (Read 1336 times)

.Dirty-.30 · « **on:** November 21, 2012, 03:56:08 PM »

What has been your heaviest safe to shoot load in a H&R .45/70. Please specify bullet weight and fps.

revbc · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2012, 04:09:11 PM »

Not the heaviest, but sure my fav-o-rite! What I'm taking in the am.

.Dirty-.30 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2012, 04:29:28 PM »

I have shot 350gr plated bullets with H4198 up to 50gr of powder from my BC. I can only guess I was around 2100fps, I don't have a chrono. Rev did you find any other H4198 loads that shot well for you higher than your load on your target?

revbc · « **Reply #3 on:** November 22, 2012, 06:47:35 AM »

Here's about the hottest I can stand!

No chrony on this one, but it's movin pretty good.

tacklebury · « **Reply #4 on:** November 22, 2012, 06:49:46 AM »

I've done 52 gr. Reloader7 and a 350 gr. FP Hornady bullet. It'll almost take me off my feet, hehe. I stick to the 49 gr. Reloader7 level for regular usage.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2012, 08:02:32 AM »

Here's a couple, 350gr Hornady @ 2027fps and 300gr TSX-FB at 2320fps. I've also shot the 300gr Nosler Partition at 2425fps with a case full of H4198 from a 22" Handi, you'll have to PM me for the specifics.

Tim

45-70.gov · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2012, 08:10:05 AM »

405 WFN from LBT

48 grains 3031

all the fun i want

BluDino · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2012, 10:24:06 AM »

500 Grain Montana Precision lead over 35.3 gr IMR 4198. They wouldn't stabilize, though. Keyholed.

Other than that, 300 gr Hornady or Remington over 46 gr IMR 4198 when I want to abuse my shoulder and 35.8 gr (1600 fps) when I feel like the gun doesn't deserve this kind of ill treatment. That last load is good for 3/4 inch at 100 yards.

BluDino · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2012, 10:30:24 AM »

Crap, wrong photo...

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2012, 10:51:22 AM »

Quote from: BluDino on November 22, 2012, 10:24:06 AM

500 Grain Montana Precision lead over 35.3 gr IMR 4198. They wouldn't stabilize, though. Keyholed.

What diameter? I've shot 525gr Piledrivers with no problem in the 1:20" H&Rs, but they're .459", shooting undersize cast is a recipe for failure. $:-\$

Tim

BluDino · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2012, 12:50:41 PM »

Box sez .458, Quick. I just measured one and it came out exactly that. Do I need .459s?

Spanky · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2012, 01:18:21 PM »

Quote from: BluDino on November 23, 2012, 12:50:41 PM

Box sez .458, Quick. I just measured one and it came out exactly that. Do I need .459s?

Generally you go at least .001 over bore diameter with cast.

Spanky

petemi · « **Reply #12 on:** November 23, 2012, 01:32:24 PM »

405 gr. Remingtons over IMR4198 1950 fps......not user friendly

Pete

thejanitor · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2012, 02:13:51 PM »

Petes load is very accurate, killed pigs and deer like a dream BUT have a scope with a long eye relief.....

Shooting over a bench is harsh but standing up shooting while hunting was not so bad. But it is very accurate in the 45-70s we own. thejanitor

gcrank1 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2012, 04:06:35 PM »

Full to base of bullet of Trail Boss and a 405gr. cast is my heavy load and will do everything a 45-70 was created to do, then and now.

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2012, 08:32:44 PM »

Quote from: BluDino on November 23, 2012, 12:50:41 PM

Box sez .458, Quick. I just measured one and it came out exactly that. Do I need .459s?

my two H&R 45/70s that I slugged both went 0.455+ to 0.459+ (around 0.4555 to 0.4595 measuered with Mic)

my third handi is an NEF, not sure of year, but rifling is barely there. I have yet to slug it.

all I can say is they are FAT

gcrank1 · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2012, 03:18:10 AM »

Use as large a dia. cast bullet as will fit the fully fire-formed neck of the case. This will usually be at least groove dia. of the barrel (min. required) and possibly up to several thou' bigger, but there is NO downside to that.

Spanky · « **Reply #17 on:** November 24, 2012, 04:31:03 AM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on November 23, 2012, 04:06:35 PM

Full to base of bullet of Trail Boss and a 405gr. cast is my heavy load and will do everything a 45-70 was created to do, then and now.

I've loaded up alot of 'em just like that for my Handi. It'd probably shoot through a moose and won't beat the hell out of you. I'm not really sure why some guys feel the need to hot rod it.

Spanky

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2012, 04:36:25 AM »

Quote from: BluDino on November 23, 2012, 12:50:41 PM

Box sez .458, Quick. I just measured one and it came out exactly that. Do I need .459s?

I'd go at least .459", .460" if you can, I have six H&R 45-70s, Mt Baldy 405gr .460" cast in Starline brass will chamber just fine in all of them.

.459" will prolly shoot just fine tho if that's all you can find.

Tim

Plenty Coups · « **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2012, 08:26:23 AM »

Speer 350 over 48 grains of IMR 4198. Due to heart problems I reduced this to 46 grains,added a lace on recoil pad and a mercury suppressor from ebay and all the bruising went away from having to use blood thinners. STILL I don't shoot rifles much so 20 rounds off a bench in about an hour or little more develops some flinching so I keep my range sessions off the bench to 15 shots in an hours time.This is with my BC and standard 32" tube.

Cartridge and load is for elk at any angle in which it presents itself for I KNOW it will get the job done at ANY reasonable 45/70 range with out a bunch of meat loss such as produced with many of the 300 mag loads used today.

KT

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:01:35 AM »

32 grains H4198 405 Oregon Trail Laser Cast . Easy on shoulder, tough on whatever is on the receiving end.Accurate in my 22'' Handi.
Happy Trails
George

Singlebarrel · « **Reply #21 on:** November 24, 2012, 10:04:25 AM »

Crank, have you chronographed that trail boss load?

gcrank1 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 24, 2012, 03:14:03 PM »

Yes, and compared it to a full charge of Black. It is close to the BP ballistics, thats what sticks in my head right now; IIRC about 1280fps with the 405. I also have used the Lee 350 and only a few of the 500s. The 350s would be my 'Express' loading and the 500s are overkill for anything I would do, but there is something about launching big, long airships......
That is from my 24" Ultra Hunter, BTW, and they 'feel' good on me and the rifle.
Some seem to want more velo, often said to 'flatten the trajectory', but looking at the midrange traj. charts the velo has to get too hot to really do much of that. Its a looper no matter what anyway, so why beat yourself and the gun up. The old-timers forgot more than most of us know

.

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #23 on:** November 25, 2012, 01:13:07 AM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on November 24, 2012, 03:14:03 PM

Some seem to want more velo, often said to 'flatten the trajectory', but looking at the midrange traj. charts the velo has to get too hot to really do much of that. Its a looper no matter what anyway, so why beat yourself and the gun up. The old-timers forgot more than most of us know .

I have played with a ballistics calculator, and I agree, the MRT is simply not much of a concern if you keep your range limited to 125yds or so...

and for my purposes, I doubt I'll see a 100yd shot, as my 45/70 is my bush gun. I carry something different when I need to reach across 40 acres

quickdtoo · « **Reply #24 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:14:08 AM »

The 350gr Hornady w/H322 is real accurate in my scoped BC.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,102319.msg1098277453.html#msg1098277453

Singlebarrel · « **Reply #25 on:** November 25, 2012, 05:49:50 AM »

Hope this is within the jest of the thread. I have been using the Oregon Trail laser cast at .459. Where can I get a decent.460 diameter hard cast bullet? I know there are a lot of them out there, but I don't know anything about any of them. The laser cast shoot well out of my gun, but only at velocities around the 1150 - 1200 fps range. I don't want much more than that, but would like to get a little over 1200 fps in an accurate load. Using 14 grains of Unique right now. I think a larger diameter bullet would help.

wvrealtor · « **Reply #26 on:** November 25, 2012, 06:10:05 AM »

Quote from: gcrank1 on November 23, 2012, 04:06:35 PM

Full to base of bullet of Trail Boss and a 405gr. cast is my heavy load and will do everything a 45-70 was created to do, then and now.

Do this, you will have lots of fun and can still move your shoulder the next day.

Later,
Stephen

quickdtoo · « **Reply #27 on:** November 25, 2012, 07:04:57 AM »

Quote from: Singlebarrel on November 25, 2012, 05:49:50 AM

Hope this is within the jest of the thread. I have been using the Oregon Trail laser cast at .459. Where can I get a decent.460 diameter hard cast bullet?

I can send ya some of the Mt Baldy .460" 405gr FPGC to test, PM me your mailing addy if interested, they're closed for the winter, but their website indicates they'll be back after they move.

Tim

http://mtbaldybullets.com/

evan1395 · « **Reply #28 on:** November 25, 2012, 08:02:38 AM »

Quote from: BluDino on November 22, 2012, 10:24:06 AM

500 Grain Montana Precision lead over 35.3 gr IMR 4198. They wouldn't stabilize, though. Keyholed.

Other than that, 300 gr Hornady or Remington over 46 gr IMR 4198 when I want to abuse my shoulder and 35.8 gr (1600 fps) when I feel like the gun doesn't deserve this kind of ill treatment. That last load is good for 3/4 inch at 100 yards.

Even for that rifle being on a sled, I give that little guy props for shooting a 7lb gun chambered in .45-70 with a scope. I have friends that have shot my Handi (same setup as you have) and they'll never shoot it again. 2/3 took the scope recticle to the eye, the third friend won't fire it with the scope on.