Hand loading for the 45-70

[Weatherman68]

I purchased some bullets from MidwayUSA.  They are Remington 405 grain soft point bullets.  I intend to use these for black bear here in PA.  In reading some of the reviews about the bullet someone mentioned that this may not be suitable for use on a bear since it may not expand properly giving the proper penetration.  Anyone have any thoughts or experience on this.  I imagine that could happen if the load was too hot but I am new to this game and want to be certain that I have all of my ducks in a row.  I will be shooting these in a Buff classic.  Thanks for the assist!!       

[jhalcott]

  They should do great! Those are the ones Rem loaded in their factory ammo.Just don't push them over YOUR recoil  tolerance level.

[Dave Weiss]

After trying a variety of bullets out of my Handi rifle 45-70, I've settled on the 405 Remingtons @ moderate velocities (1500-1600fps). They're accurate and not too hard on the shoulder. I plan on using mine for black bear and moose. I've got an old friend up here that shoots a moose almost every year with his 45-70 and Remington factory loads, he claims they just die where he shoots them.

>>>===> Dave

[burntmuch]

My handi shoots the 300 grn remingtons real good. 42 grns of reloader 7  1650 fps

[mt3030]

....settled on the 405 Remingtons @ moderate velocities (1500-1600fps)....

Same here.  Load to these levels for two NEFs and a Marlin lever action.

[Weatherman68]

Thanks for the info.

I sent the same question directly to Remington and the response I got back was to check my reloading manual  (Ya think??)  Needless to say that didn't help much.  I appreciate the quick response and the good information.  Now I just have to find the time to reload and do some shooting.

Have any of you with the H&R single shots found that the recoil is that bad that you added weight to the stock?  Is that something you can do yourself or is it something that should be left for the pros?       

[quickdtoo]

Have any of you with the H&R single shots found that the recoil is that bad that you added weight to the stock?  Is that something you can do yourself or is it something that should be left for the pros?

Adding weight is easy to do at home if needed on the heavier loads, not usually necessary shooting trapdoor loads, but the question should be asked in the NEF/H&R Centerfire rifle forum and you'll find info on the subject in the FAQs in that forum.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html

[HEAD0001]

IMO the Remington bullet was designed to expand at Trapdoor velocities, or so I was told by a Remington rep quite a few years ago.  It may stick together at higher velocities, I have shot a few deer with the bullets, but have never recovered the bullet.  The bullet did knock them flat.

Personally I like the larger 405 grain bullet at about 1500-1600 fps.  I also like the lead cast bullet-I prefer to cast them myself.  I find that I get great expansion with this bullet, and it certainly knocks them flat.  This load is not a shoulder buster.  No added weight should be necessary.

IMO the 300 grain bullet in the 45-70 is a high velocity bullet(for the 45-70), and I would prefer a hard cast for that instead of the Remington.  Tom.