WOW! fast 45-70

[tree rat]

My Ruger #1 45-70 now thinks its a .375 H&H !!!!  I have been playing with what I refer to as mouse fart loads until now. ( 12gr unique and 405 cast about 1100 fps) I have been getting urged to load it to its potential since I got this rifle, well curiosity got to me, I AM IMPRESSED! 5 rounds over a cronograph averaged 2,510 fps. the load is a 300 jhp with h4198 2gr under max for a #1. the only pressure sings are the black and blue spots on my shoulder, the primers are even still rounded. brass extracts easy, and this brass is on its fifth load. If I could only have a higher ballistic cooefecient I could flatten the tragectory. WOW I am excited, now I just need to make sure the accuracy is still there, did I say WOW? well you get the idea.

[quickdtoo]

Congrats!! Now all ya have to do is work up a load using a bullet that will perform at that velocity without self destructing on impact with a critter!!

Tim

[tree rat]

thats kinda what I was hoping for- varmit ballistic tip effect up close and just about right at 300 yrds

[Coyote Hunter]

I'm going to suggest a couple of bullet options.  My favorite is the 350g North Fork.  The Barnes 250g and 300g bullets if they shoot in your gun, also the 350g A-Frame.

[jrlinz]

Try the 405 Idaho Territory.  Hard lead, but holds together pretty well in a pig at 2,000.

[bustedknee]

That ain't no 375!

That is a 458 mild magnum!

[Larry Gibson]

Tree rat

I'm pushing the Barnes O 400 gr SP at 2300 fps from my Siamese Mauser. Let's you know your pulling a trigger, much more so than my M70 .375 H&H.  More fun tha a human should be allowed!

Larry Gibson

[MSP Ret]

Any idea what the pressure (cup) is on that 45/70 round? I would be interested in trying 1 or 2 of them in my 45/70 H&R Handi. I am not one of those afflicted with "magnumitus" and usually shoot my 45/70 loaded with 350 Grain Hornady RN or FP bullets ahead of 28.0 grains of 2400 for 2 reasons, it shoots nice and easy and it cloverleafs on a good day and always shoots within an inch at 100 yards which is what I want. I just would like to have a full house load available IF I thought I might need it for something some day. The choice of bullet and the achiiveable accuracy will be very important also....<><....

[quickdtoo]

MSP, 63gr H4198 is max for the Ruger data with the 300gr Sierra HP in the 2006 Hodgdon Annual, Win brass and CCI 200 primers, COL of 2.525" @50kcup, Hodgdon got 2532fps in their 24" test barrel with that load.

FWIW, I get 2425fps with the 300gr Nosler PP with 56.2gr H4198, Rem nickel brass, Rem 9½ primer, COL 2.533" crimped with Lee FCD, in my 22" Handi.

The Hodgdon 2006 shows an overlap for the 300gr Sierra with H4198 tween levergun and Ruger levels, levergun starts at 55gr up to 60gr Max @40kcup,  Ruger data starts at 59.5gr to a max of 63gr @50kcup. That's not a typo, if it is, it's theirs, 10kcup increase in only 3 grs seems a lot, but that's what it reads. I started at 50gr and worked up in ½gr increments until I found good accuracy, never had any pressure signs, all round ejected just fine, but each rifle is different, what works in mine may not in yours.

I believe you'll probably not want to go to that level without some recoil prevention in the light Handi, mine has the cinn lam stock set and lead filled pipe in the stock bolt hole along with a Limbsaver recoil pad. I also wear a Past magnum shoulder pad and use a high rest so my body is upright and can move back with the recoil.

Be safe and have a Happy New Year!!

Tim

[MSP Ret]

Thanks Quick, as usual you are the go to man and the man to go to too  .
I have copied, pasted, and printed your above post as well as tree rats for future reference and loading. We should always have a few "full house" loads ready just in case we may need them right?....<><....

P.S. I am so excited about my "new" .35 Remington Handi that is in the first stages of it's coming into existance I can hardley contain myself, thanks for all the help in bringing that long awaited project close to fruition...Andy....<><....

[quickdtoo]

Andy, glad the 35 Rem is finally becoming a reality, you're gonna love it, it's a joy to shoot!

Thanks and Happy New Year!!

Tim

[jw4570]

Barnes makes two different Jacket thickness originals, one is thinner for 45-70, and seemingly harder to get, as everyone is nearly always out.  So you might want to see which one of theirs is better for the velocity you want.

Jason

[sluggo]

 Kudos to the 35 rem., have one in lever action, nuthin' safe in the woods from it.

[quickdtoo]

Andy, here's some data, both cast and jacketed that should work great in the Handi using safe handloading procedures and careful load work up.

Tim

http://www.realguns.com/loads/4570.htm

[coyote trapper1928]

How many Ft Lb's of recoil does that load produce?

[quickdtoo]

Here are some recoil calculators.

Tim

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/rescources/calculators/php/recoil.htm

http://www.huntamerica.com/recoil_calculator/

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

[ggeilman]

An explanation of that would be helpful. 25 ft lbs and 14fps doesn't seem like much.

[tree rat]

back with a report. my light loads were shooting 1 3/4 groups at 100yds, my hot loads I got 4 inch groups at 100. both with iron sights. but I think recoil was getting to me when I shot for groups with them, as I caught myself flinching. recoil off hand is very strong, but off the bench is a whole new experience, imagine this, shoot one, jump back an squeal like a little girl, then go shoot another one just to confirm it was really that bad, my brother was having fun watching me! after about 10 rnds he flat refused to shoot anymore of them. I wanted to retreive an expanded bullet so I shot into a small creek with about 4 inch of runing water at about 10 ft , no bullet left when water cleared,  just aprox. 60 pieces of copper and lead about the size of #4 shot. I am going to see if I can call a coyote in real close and try it out, I think it would be interesting to see if a coyote would respond to this load like a praire dog to a 22-250 ballistic tip!