favorite 45/70 cast loads

[sabbatus]

so ive been playing with different loads in my 22 inch 45/70 handi lately and got to wondering, what are some of the favorite cast bullet loads in the 45/70 handi.  My most recent playing has been with the lee 340 gn cast of wheel weight.  So far the rifles favorites have been 50.0 gn of imr 3031 and 56.0 gn of imr 4064 loaded to 2.570 o.a.l.

[Dinny]

If you're just lookin' for a good plinkin' round, I would look no farther than a Lyman Gould 330gr HP and about 12gr of Trail Boss. It's just plain fun!

Thanks, Dinny

[rsl]

My fave is an old Trapdoor load.. 300 grain lead bullet and 35 grains of 3031... Nice plinker not for Grizz.

[Whopper]

I like Montana Precision's 405gr cast bullets with 28gr of H4198. Runs right about 1300 fps and is easy on the shoulders too. Good for plinking or for deer hunting.

[Blackhawker]

What kind of groups are you guys getting with these loads.  Since the time I've owned my BC, the best results I've got so far is about 3.5 inches at 100 yards with bullets ranging from 300 to 500 grains and powders of 2400, IMR-3031, and IMR-4198.  My BC has a Marbles tang sight on it but with my 38-55 barrel mounted, I can achieve 1.5 inch groups on the same action and at the same distance so it's not the sights etc, it's the load.

[Old Fart]

405 cast over IMR-3031 and IMR-4198.
Had good luck with both powders.

[OldBob]

   These were shot last Jan. ( cold ! ) with a 22" Handi, Lee 459-360 cast 3 parts wheel weight, 2 parts soft lead, ALOX lube, sized .459 and loaded over 47.5 grains of IMR 4895.  The left hand target I changed the scope on the last two shots to center it, the right hand would have been all in one group IF I did my part.

[tacklebury]

I haven't landed on a lead bullet mine likes yet.  I'm getting .75 to 1.25" groups from Hornady Interlocks or FTX with 46.7gr. Reloader7.    I forgot my camera the day I shot the intermediate ladder of 1/10th gr. increments from 46 to 47, so I don't have those pics, but the 1gr. ladders looked like this with sweetspots at 46, 47 and 50gr.:







*edit*
The fliers were called and it was a pretty stiff wind that day also from my right side.  These were shot at 100 yards with the std. Williams WGRS sights that came on my BC. 

[Buckwheat Jack]

My 22" Handi seems to do real well with Lee 450 grain bullets cast of wheel weights lubed with liquid Alox and over 24 grains of IMR 4198. Good accuracy past 100 yards and not too  much recoil.

[coues2506]

mine likes 405 oregon trail laser cast bullets with 29.0gr. IMR4759 or 30.0 gr of H4198 or 53.0gr of H4831 - good groups but they all tighten up with a 405 remington.

[Junior1942]

My 22" Handi seems to do real well with Lee 450 grain bullets cast of wheel weights lubed with liquid Alox and over 24 grains of IMR 4198. Good accuracy past 100 yards and not too  much recoil.

My 22" Handi and 32" BC barrels both like the as-cast, Junior Lube lubed, Lee 450 cast in pure lead or used shot, which is a tad softer than wheelweights.  I use enough WC860 beneath a lubed felt wad for slight compression.  Medium heavy crimp. V = ~1150 fps.  A = 1 MOA to 1 1/2 MOA. 

[NFG]

All my 45 cal's(458 American, 458 WM, 45-70, -90, -100, -110, and -120) like the Oregon Trails TRUESHOT 430gr GC with AA2700, AA2460, Varget, H4895 variously.  Accuracy depends on the sights...scoped run ~1 - 1 1/2, aperature and my old eyes run 2" for 3 shots.   This is as good as jacketed bullet of similar weight...400 to 450 gr.

The TRUESHOT bullets are the most uniform cast lead bullets I have ever shot, in weight, OD, length and ogive points, equal to or better than many jacketed 45 cal bullets, and penetration is on par with the jacketed brethren.

The 430 gr is a very good compromise between bullet weight and recoil.  Velocities run ~2000fs to ~2600fs depending on case size.  The 45-90, and -100 at ~2100fs to ~2250fs are probably the best compromise as far as recoil is concerned...still stout, but not bad in a 11# BC and the 458 American (45-70) at ~2100 isn't all that bad in a 9.7# SMLE either.

I would suggest you rechamber your 45-70 to 45-90 or -100 so you can benefit from heavier bullets and loads, if you want, while still being able to shoot the 45-70's.  After rechambering my BC to 45-120(Magnumitis still has ahold of me) I wouldn't recomment that to the average shooter...unless you plan on going after the big bears, it's just TOO much, but the 45-90, -100 is plenty for 95% of all NA large game and essentially almost the equal of the vaunted 458 Lott in the NEF.

Just something extra to think about.

Luck

[guns-o-fun]

I have not been loading/shooting cast out of my 45-70s, but here is a link to a number of loads that you can try.  Hope this does not get censored for some strange reason

http://www.realguns.com/archives/117.htm

[Catshooter45]

The first load I tried in my 22" Handi was 15 grains of Universal Clays under a 365 grain bullet that I cast.  Shot into an inch and an eigth at 100 yards.

Sighted three inches high at 50, dead on at 100, three inches low at 150 and six inches low at 200.

Love it.


Cat

[Graycg]

405 grain cast flat point over 14 grains of Unique, one big ragged hole at 50 yards with peep sights, less than 3 inches at 100 with same peeps.  If you want faster, try 21 grains of 2400 with same bullet.
regards,
 Graycg

[kevinsmith5]

Saeco #21AG 410 gr over 54.5 gr Varget, muzzle velocity 1750 fps.  From the traditional seated position I can do 1" at 100, off a bench on lead sled it makes ragged holes.  This is from my 32" BC, haven't given the 22" the love I should have since I got the .223 Ultra Varmint right after it.

[PawPaw]

My Handi likes the Lee 405 FP cast from pure lead with 2.5 cc of IMR 4895 with a pinch of dacron between the bullet and powder.    It's good for black powder velocities and very effective in the short-range thickets.