17.5 gr Blue Dot
300 Rem HP
Starline brass
Win LR Staynless No. 7-111 (yellow and red box)
1326 fps average velocity at 15'
1351 fps corrected to muzzle velocity
1216 ft/lbs energy at muzzle
Taylor KO 26.52
9.55 ft/lbs recoil
Standard NEF barrel on a H&R shotgun receiver





This group was 19.5 gr at 100 yards, using a Tasco 4X.

Tomorrow I plan on testing loads ranging up to 23.5 gr with the same Rem 300 gr HP. If things work out right, I'll report on velocities and etc.

It's about 80 degrees outside right now and my shoulder is still in one piece!

Here's what today's numbers look like:

All loads were Blue Dot with 300 gr Rem Hp's and Win LR (No. 7-111) primers in R-P brass, the only thing that differed was the powder weight. I assume the Handi rifle weighs 7.5 pounds and used that weight in the recoil calculations. Target distance was 100 yards with almost no wind. The Chrony F-1 Master was set at 15'.

20.5 gr Blue Dot
1481 fps
1487 fps
1489 fps
1489 fps average
1514 fps MV
1527 ME
12.81 ft/lbs recoil
29.72 Taylor KO
2.5" group

21.5 gr
1528 fps
1539 fps
1521 fps
1529 fps average
1554 fps MV
1609 ME
13.6 ft/lbs recoil
30.5 Taylor KO
2.25" group

22.5 gr
1574 fps
1579 fps
1573 fps
1575 fps average
1600 fps MV
1706 ME
14.5 ft/lbs recoil
31.41 Taylor KO
4.75" group

23.5 gr
1613 fps
1616 fps
1609 fps
1613 fps average
1638 fps MV
1788 ME
15.3 ft/lbs recoil
32.15 Taylor KO
5.5" group

try Unique for powder and I think you will get better groups than with Blue Dot. 18 grains of Unique & the 300 grain Remington is good for 1,450 fps out of a Ruger #1S. 20 grains of Unique is good for 1,550 fps. both loads are good for 1.5 inches at 100 yards any time you want. Unique and 2400 are the only powders I use in the 45-70 and I don't use any fillers of any kind

Paul,
Are you using filler over the Blue Dot?

Puncher,

No fillers or wads, but it seemed like it might have been a good idea at the lower loading levels. I thought I noticed some powder position sensitivity with really light loads, but it may have been my imagination.

************
Since I haven't ever had any Unique and hadn't planned on getting any, I may try Universal instead.

I will certainly try Green Dot, since I have about 4-5 pounds laying around waiting for a use to come along.

25.0 gr 2400 gave me a pattern, not a group.

I have one of those rifles.
40 gr IMR4895 and 405 gr. cast.
My brothers never punched me that hard!
It scares me just looking at your rifle's picture.

Paul,
If you're open to suggestions, use a little more dacron than is required to fill the case so as to slightly compress the dacron. I think you'll see a difference.

Here's what 20.0 gr Blue Dot, 300 gr Rem HP, R-P brass, Win LR looks like at 100 yards.


It's 1.125" with recoil in the .30-30 class, in a 7.5 lbs rifle, but has almost twice the Taylor KO as a .30-30.

That Blue Dot can do some good groups for a shot gun powder can't it Paul??

Nice groups guy!

Cheers,
seafire

Seafire,

Blue Dot makes the .45/70 a lot more enjoyable to shoot!

I loaded another 5 rounds duplicating the 20.0 gr load posted above. I need to see if the results were just a fluke or if they are reproducable. I'll set up the chrony this time and check the velocity, if I can remember to charge the battery!

Shooting today
20.0 gr Blue Dot
300 gr Rem HP
1408 fps (this 1st round wasn't counted in the group size, I don't know if it's just a cold barrel or needing a little fouling)
1469 fps
1479 fps
1450 fps
1457 fps
1453 fps average
1478 fps MV
1456 ft/lbs ME
12.2 ft/lbs recoil
29.01 Taylor KO
1.375" at 100 yards



45.0 gr (this is a mystery load from a box of reloads that were given to me. I did break one round down to weigh the components. I'll use this load for comparison purposes later)
400 gr (?)
1711 fps (this round acted like a difference in fouling changed things, the barrel was already warm.)
1735 fps
1728 fps
1725 fps average
1744 fps MV
2702 ft/lbs ME
34.92 ft/lbs recoil
45.64 Taylor KO
4.5"

Well, it wasn't Blue Dot today, but at least it was a Dot!

12.0 gr Green Dot
400 gr Rem SP
Win LR (standard)
R-P brass
1030 fps
1044 fps
1035 fps
1036 fps average
1055 fps MV
989 ft/lbs ME
9.67 ft/lbs recoil
27.61 Taylor KO
1.0" at 100 yards.