Can anyone suggest some loads for the 45-70 that will be used in a Ruger #1? I'd like to work up 2 loads, a 300 grain load and a 400 or 405 grain load. I'd like to get these loads as hot as possible without sacrificing accuracy and safety. Other load suggestions and advice would be welcome.
Thanks in advance!
Posts: 733 | Location: New Hampshire | Registered: 15 January 2003
I have had a Ruger No1 for over 25 years. I use one powder charge for 3 different bullets and I have killed deer with all three. I have used 56 grains of IMR 3031 with 300gr, 350gr Hornady RN and 400 gr Speer FN. I seat my 350 gr Hornadays slightly below the cannalure, some of the newer No1's have a shorter throat and you must seat the bullets a little deeper making it hard to get more than 55 grains of IMR 3031 in the case with the 350 grain bullets.[edited to change a typo] You will have to drop back a grain or two if your rifle has the shorter throat. Start with 52 grains and work up.
The 350 Hornady is my favorite bullet for the 45/70.
Posts: 16134 | Location: Texas | Registered: 06 April 2002
CHECK OUT VARGET REDUCE TOP LOAD AND START UP MY MAUSER LIKES 400 SPEERS AT 2300 FPS THE LOAD I USE IS OVER FACTORY DATA SO I WILL NOT SAY IT HERE (YOU KNOW THE LAWYERS CLAUS)GROUPS 1T0 11/2 IF I DO MY PART WELLS
Posts: 13 | Location: LANSING,MICHIGAN | Registered: 23 September 2004
I have worked up loads for my No. 1 .45/70 using both Alliant RE 7 and IMR 3031. My all-round load for the No. 1 uses the Speer 400-grain bullet and 53 grains of IMR 3031. This is Elmer Keith's old M1886 Winchester load. It is not too uncomfortable to shoot, and can be increased significantly until you just flat run out of room for the 3031 in the case!
I was able to exceed 2200 FPS with the 400-grain Barnes Original semispitzer bullet using RE 7, (which is both faster than 3031 and occupies less case space) BUT THE POWDER WAS FROM A LOT MADE IN THE 1980'S, AND I UNDERSTAND THIS POWDER IS FASTER THESE DAYS. I don't know if this is true or not, but my load is 60 grains of my old RE 7 in WW brass with Fed. 210 primers. This load should be approached from at least 10% or more below and worked up 1 grain at a time. I got this load from an old Hornady manual, and it is shown as developing 50,000 C.U.P.!!! I also used 63 grains of RE 7 with the Barnes 300-grain semispitzer for right at 2400 FPS MV, but this bullet has never shot well for me with ANY load - I think the 300-grain bullets are too small to shoot well in the Ruger No. 1 .45/70's.
I DO get good results with hardened wheelweight bullets cast in the Lyman .457122HP mould (342 grains) with this same powder charge (63 grains of RE 7) with an inverted Hornady gascheck over the powder. It clocks 2420 FPS average and is a very accurate load with very little shot-to-shot velocity variation!
ALL THESE LOADS ARE VERY HOT EXCEPT THE KEITH LOAD, AND MUST BE APPROACHED WITH EXTREME CARE, IF AT ALL!! PLEASE NOTE THEY KICK LIKE HELL!! I HAVE TO LOOP MY LEFT INDEX FINGER OVER THE BARREL TO HOLD THE GUN ON THE SANDBAG WHEN SHOOTING FROM THE BENCH TO ZERO THE RIFLE! I DON'T RECOMMEND THESE LOADS FOR ANYTHING SHORT OF A KODIAK BEAR, BUT IF YOU WANT A MAX. PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR .45/70, THEN GOOD LUCK & BE CAREFUL!!!
Right now in my #1 I am using 56 grains of 3031 and a 300 grain Nosler Partition as my PA deer/bear load. Seems to work well for me both in accuracy and bullet performance on game.>John
Posts: 725 | Location: Upstate Rural NY | Registered: 16 July 2004
The load mine likes best is a 400 grain hard cast/gas check bullet over 51 grains of IMR 3031 for 1800 fps. I have yet to find an accurate load for light bullets, but I keep trying. Lately I've been working with Re7 and BRP's 310 grain gas check bullet. For a light load I use the Lee 340 cast with 14.5 grains Unique. Strangely, at 100 yards it impacts about 10" higher than the others .
