bfr 45-70 reloading

[Mr. Curious]

Hello everyone,
I am wanting a bfr in 45-70 with a 10" barrel really bad!!!!.  Anyway everyone seems to reload the normal bullet weight for the 45-70:  has anyone tried reloading the lighter bullets like 200gr to see how much velocity increase there is.  I was wondering how close you could get to 460S&W velocity with the same weight bullet.  Maybe there is reason why it has not been done or tried?  I am just curious b/c if not I might have to get a 460 to go with my 500.  Thanks for any insights.
Mr. Curious

[Redhawk1]

Hello everyone,
I am wanting a bfr in 45-70 with a 10" barrel really bad!!!!.  Anyway everyone seems to reload the normal bullet weight for the 45-70:  has anyone tried reloading the lighter bullets like 200gr to see how much velocity increase there is.  I was wondering how close you could get to 460S&W velocity with the same weight bullet.  Maybe there is reason why it has not been done or tried?  I am just curious b/c if not I might have to get a 460 to go with my 500.  Thanks for any insights.
Mr. Curious

The concern is what the pressures would be trying at achieve 460 velocities. I don't think the case is designed to handle it. Magnum Research is making the BFR in the 460 Mag also.  

[sawfish]

MRI originally offered the 45/70 because you could achieve .454 velocities with heavier bullets without the higher pressures.  Your objective of light bullet high velocity is contrary to the case design.  I have owned a 45/70 BFR for a number of years, and have fired a few thousand rounds of test loads.  

From this testing, I have found that you can usually achieve more consistent and sometimes higher velocities with heavier bullets because the increased resistance promotes more complete burning of the powder.  One problem with the 45/70 handgun is that lower velocities will not reliably expand the popular jacketed rifle bullets in this caliber.  Exceptions are the R-P 300 gr. JHP and the Nosler 300 gr..  I have also heard that the R-P 400 gr. gives good, but sometimes inconsistent results, but have not tried it on game.

I like the 350 gr bullet weight as a compromise, but have had poor luck with expansion from the 350 gr Hornady and Speer (intended for .458 Mag) bullets, which acted just like solids.  I have finally settled on the CPBC 405 gr. bullet, as I have not found a 350 gr. lead bullet with a profile that I like.  Good luck.

[fyrepowrx]

sawfish is correct..the 350's will NOT expand readily on deer very well, which is why i chose them for last weeks hunt on bigger stuff...i put a couple of pix on the TC handgun forum of some of the results just today. Using the 350 grain Hornady one shot went  through both front shoulders of a Buffalo & lodged under the hide on the other side, i still have it. havent weighed that bullet yet, i though i will tonite when i get home, i am curious as to how much weight it retained. It did expand but that may not be a valid comparison since it hit plenty of big heavy bones.

The shot that took the Bull Elk didnt stop at all, it punched through the ribcage on the onside, and broke the offside shoulder on the way out the other side, i didnt get that bullet back.

i have take several deer & 2 hogs with the 300 grain loads & they open up nicely, even at slower speeds, i get the impression the Remington 300JHP is the softer of the 2....

sawfish; i havent tried the CPBC 405's...they shoot fairly well in your guns?

i shoot the 45/70 is an SSK 14" TC, a 21" TC Carbine, and a Ruger #1...its a fine caliber...