What is the most common smokeless powder used in a 45/70. I would like to get 1350-1400 FPS from a 405gr. cast bullet? Just looking for something to start off with.

Buck 3,

what gun, pleasE?

I've got two loads for my Marlin 1895 Cowboy with a 26" barrel.

One is mild at around 1300-1400 fps using a 350 grain Laser Cast and Varget. That load is one that you could shoot all day and it is a ton of fun to shoot long distances with.

The other is wild at around 1980 fps using a 405 grain Laser Cast and H322. That load has a fair amount of recoil and my hunting buddies are usually done shooting it after a couple of rounds. It would handle most if not all of the stuff a lad would run into in North America and Brian Pierce, the writer, has used a similar loading for Cape Buffalo successfully.

I tend to shoot the mild load a lot more. Hope you find a load that fits your needs as this caliber is really fun to shoot. I've shot it long distance, 600-800 yards, into a setting sun and had observers follow the bullet path.

I think that most of the buffalo hunters of by gone days, that used this caliber, only pushed their loads around 1300-1400 fps also.

As Jeff said, knowing which firearm you are shooting is of the utmost importance, however;

I have a Remington #3 Rolling Block that I shoot the RCBS 500-grain Silhouette bullet in. The projectile is cast 20:1, and I use 27 grains of AA 5744 with a 1/8" wafer of florist foam over the powder to hold it against the CCI-200 primer. 5744 is not supposed to be position sensitive, but I have seen no ill effects from the foam, and back when my eyes were good this load would cut holes at 100 yards off a bench, using vernier tang sights.

Jeffeosso, I am shooting an replica Sharps.

Buck,

I hear those are tanks ..
I joined ammoguide.com .. not schilling for them, just saying that nearly everything you can imagine is there ... and if you post it, it will be there!

quote:

Originally posted by Buck3:
Jeffeosso, I am shooting an replica Sharps.

Buck,

I have one load that works pretty good in a Uberti Sharps.

RCBS 45-405-FN, Linotype, Hornady gas checks.

Rooster hard lube.

IMR 3031, 50.0 grains.

Remington Brass.

Remington 9 ½ primer.

I like RL-7 and IMR3031, but I shoot heavy loads exclusively. The 3031 requires a heavy crimp for best ignition and it's still kinda dirty but VERY accurate.
Regards, Joe

I'm with JD, Reloader 7 is my first choice followed closely by 3031

I use 30 grs of 4198 in my 45-70 for 1380fps with a 468 gr hard cast. Kills hogs nicely.

Thanks for all the replys. They have been very helpfull.

Buck3,