I'm starting to load 45-70. I'll be using a 325gr WFN gas check. What's your favorite powder for this bullet weight? Since I don't have anything usable on hand, I figured I'd ask rather than pick a random powder out of the manual.

thanks,
Ian

My favorite powder for 45-70 is IMR 3031 with a magnum primer for a clean burn.

With 405 gr LSWC bullets, Unique to IMR4895 work perfectly.

But with 230 gr, and maximum velocity wanted, I like a powder in the middle, like Re7.

I'll second that, Imr 3031 is one of the best for a 45-70

For 350 grain bullets I use RL-7 and for 385 grain bullets IMR 4198 and for 445 grain bullets IMR 4064.
Jim

Anyone using RX7? The book is showing higher velocities with lower CUP than all the others.

Ian

Several reloading manuals back, Hornady listed 2400 for their 300 JHP. I used 20.0 to 22.0 grains with their 300 JHP. It gave acceptable accuracy.

2FG Black !

I like using Benchmark with 300 grain partitions in my Guide Gun.

Bob257

H4198 and a 300 grain Barnes X bullet.

Reloder 7's looked good in the book for .45-70, all right, but I've never used it. 3031's hard to beat all-around, 4895 works nearly as well, 2400's a great powder for mid-power loads for these lighter bullets (but if using a plain-base cast bullet will tend to lead more as it burns hotter than the single-base powders.) 4198's another good IMR powder for the .45-70, as is 4227 if you're not pushing for max velocity. My current favorites are sort of off-the-wall surplus powders, so I'll keep quiet about them. I've backed way off in how hot I'm loading the .45-70 recently, to about 1480 FPS with a 340 grain bullet; that's hotter than the old blackpowder .45-90, though we tend to regard it as a light load today. "Magnumitis" has hit the old .45-70, too!

I've just gotten a discontinued Lee mould for a plain-base 325 gr. flat point bullet that I haven't had a chance to try yet. Might turn out to give my good old Lyman #457122HP some competition, as I can cast faster with a non-hollowpoint design and it removes a variable in the production outcome. That old Gould bullet is a classic, though!

3031

12FLVSS,
Rx7 means the same as Re7 means the same as Reloader 7 means the same as R7.

3031 has never worked well for me in my NEF Handi Rifle .45-70 with a 300-grain cast bullet. Too much unburned residue left in the barrel. Probably because the pressures are too low.

Went to a faster burning powder (4198, either IMR or Hodgdon)and now have a cleaner barrel after extensive firing. Accuracy is very good at 100 yards.

Guess a lot depends on how hot you load 'em.

Yeah, 3031 and 4895 work best when you load all you can compress under a bullet in this weight range. At least for the 1895 Marlin class of rifles. I'd have to go look at a data book to see where the Trapdoor class rifles max out. I don't shoot any of those.

I'm loading for a Contender and use 54 gr. H322 with the Excellent question/topic. Sierra 300 gr. JHC to duplicate factory velocities at minimal pressures. I think RL-7 would do as well but I'm using that powder in the .38-55 to max performance. It seems to me that it works a bit better in the smaller case when compared to H322. I know a lot of people use 2400 but I'm not a fan of that combination.

You don't say what your platform is (unless I missed it in another thread) and this makes a big difference in the .45-70.

Re7, R7, Rx7, Reloader 7 all the same... thanks, I didn't know that . I called the local gunshop and asked for Rx7 and wadda ya know? They didn't have it. Had oodles of 3031 and "Reloader 7" tho. Looks like if you speak the same language they do you get better results .
The rifle I am loading for is the H&R Buffalo Classic. I'm gonna use FFg in some loads also, did so day before yesterday as a matter of fact cause it was the only thing I had on hand to shoot da new boolits.
Thanks for all the info guys, I'm off to the powder place for a can of 3031 and R(x)(e)7.

Ian

RX7 with 510 gr paper patch works for a buddy of mine. Over 1600 fps before reaching max load. 26" barrel.

AA 5744 AA1680 Re 7 and good ole Goex 2F

Hmmm, I'm not familiar with that rifle. What pressure class does it fall into? Does it need mild trapdoor loads, or can it be safely loaded up like a Marlin?

IMR3031 and Reloader 7 are good 45-70 powders, but they are temperature sensitive. I would recommend Hodgdon's H322. The burn rate falls in between Re7 and 3031. H322 is part of the "extreme" series and has very little temperature sensitivity in 45-70 applications.

I used to use 3031 exclusively, until I tried RE7. My rifle fell in love with it.

12FLVSS,
I have a rifle similar to the H&R Buffalo Classic: NEF handi rifle.

I went through a stress analysis to determine if it was trapdoor, Marlin lever action, or Ruger #1 loading that it is strong enough for.

I got help from my father the gun designer [M107, M110, and M158] and some help from a mechanical engineering professor [Peter Torvik].

I determined that the handi rifle was stronger than the brass and would take any load in an incremental work up.

I started out with the trapdoor load of 48 gr. IMR4895 and 405 gr. LSWC. I had a starting load of 40 gr. I fired one shot and the 5 pound rifle kicked me so hard, it hurt my feelings.

I didn't shoot the gun again for a year. Then I learned that a 30 gr. load was painful, but tolerable, like a 30-06.

Then someone at some forum questioned the validity of my calculations based on my qualifications for making calculations. So I validated my work by overloading the hand rifle until the brass flowed. My shoulder was not taking any recoil in these test, as my left palm was on the butt.

accurate reloading forum post where I show loads with Unique and picture of brass

But math and experiments are not persuasive when dealing with the emotional issue of pressure.


--
A society that teaches evolution as fact will breed a generation of atheists that will destroy the society. It is Darwinian.

Thanks for that, Clark!

Shows that visual signs like primer flattening aren't much help in judging pressure.

Well, after this w/e with my Dad's 45-70, I'll cast my vote for 3031 as well.
At 3.72" or so in an old H&R break-open shotgun action, this sucker was smoking 518g flat noses out at about 1700 fps.
The spent primers looked unimpressively normal, but he had never tried to break the 1700 fps barrier.
After about 120 rnds of this and hundreds of other, milder rounds, there is no sign of headspace change or other stress, and it sure is a pleasure to shoot. After about 12 rnds from the bench and shooting a 5-rnd 50yd group that was about 4" across, three shots of which were just outside an inch, I'm not sure i'd had that much fun in a long time.
Gun cost about $85 some years ago.
I wouldn't try 50g in a 2.6" load, though.

I shoot a Marlin microgroove and a Browning Hi-wall with mostly 350 grain cast from a Saeco mold. I get moa with both guns using H4198 and a dacron wad. I get moa with the Browning with IMR 4759. I also have great results with the Browning with a duplex load of 4759 and fffg. These guns are more fun to shoot at the lower velocities and that is why I like the 4759 for reduced loads. The Marlin is kinda picky about what cast bullet I load and has never done well with black powder compared to smokeless. Tom

H4198 and RL-7

I like H322. I never got good accuracy with Reloader 7 in the loads I've tried. Sr 4759 has given decent performance with a number of cast bullet loads in the .45/70 and the .30/06 as well.

3031 with Fed. 215 primers. At least in my stainless guide gun.