Can anyone provide me some good loading data for .470 Nitro express loads? I need data on solids and other bullets such as Barnes, etc. If you can give me specific data on recommended powders (brand name/# and weight) , primers, bullets (type and weight) that will be appreciated very much. Thanks.

Do not use any Barnes bullets other than the old "Original" softs with .049" copper jacket and lead core. Good plinker.

Use Woodleigh Weldcore softs.

Use any GSC FN solid or HV soft.

Use North Fork FP solid or Cup Point "Universal" soft-solid.

Use H4831 Long Cut or Short Cut Extreme powders.

Charge weight: 108 to 110 grains depending on the bullet and trial and error. You might want to start around 105 grains to be cautious and have the fun of watching the loads come down and converge their POI's on POA, as you go up by 1 grain at a time.

GM215M or F215 primer: the only difference is the pay-grade of the inspector who looks at them before they go in the box.

Brass: BeLL/BELL/Mast, Federal, Norma, Jamison all good. Minor variations in case capacity will be tweaked by trial and error.

No filler needed with the monometal copper bullets above.

A few grains of Dacron/polyester fiber wadding packed tight if there is any air space with the lead cored softs above.

Chronograph everything and get it to converge at 50 yards, then back off and try to make it parallel to infinity.

RL-15, ditto above, except don't be tempted to use foam filler disks. Use 5 grains of dacron/polyester fiber with loads starting at 85 grains. I went up to 92 grains with some bullets but settled around 90 grains with most.

Velocity goal is 2100 to 2150 fps, with about 24" barrels, and be happy with whatever shoots best in your rifle.

Desired RL-15 loads will be right at or just over 40,000 PSI, but peaking closer to the chamber.

Desired H4831 loads will be in the lower 30K PSI ballpark but peaking a little farther from the breech.

I find H4831 loads at least as accurate as and maybe better than RL-15.

The above applies to doubles.

If you have a Ruger No.1 in 470 NE:
Load it like a 470 Mbogo, they have almost identical case capacities. 2700 fps with 500-grainer is possible.

If you have a Searcy, send him a note with the serial number and he'll provide loading info.

My older Field Grade Searcy rifle seems to be regulated for 500 gr Woodleigh softs with either 108 gr IMR 4831 (2250 fps) or 85 gr RL-15 (w dacron) at 2050 to 89 gr RL-15 at 2200. The RL-15 loads are significantly kinder in recoil than the IMR 4831 loads. I use BeLL (Jamison) brass and Federal 215 primers.

The IMR 4831 loads will likely be a bit warm in some guns ... so contact the manufacturer of the rifle for guidance and use good reloading practice (start low and work up).

H4831 is a slower powder and less temperature sensitive than IMR-4831. They are very different 4831's.

I have no experience with Searcy 470 NE doubles. He must regulate them for higher velocity loads than a classic British double, or Merkel. The factory Federal loads are geared toward the latter.

And, powder lots vary. Keep that in mind.

What RIP said - he's on fire today!

There are only two, maybe 3 reloading manuals that cover the 470 Nitro. Barnes and Norma are the only ones I know of. My opinion is that the information in the Barnes manual is less than useful. I have not checked all of the powder makers websites, but generally if its not in their manual, it's not on the site.

all of this is good info/data. Thanks guys!

my merkel likes 91 gr of RL15 and shoots woodleighs, barnes, and a frames all to the same impact point. COntrary to many i don't use a filler, cause i tend to agree with old PO ackley on them.

Are Northfork Cup Points alright to usein an older British double? I beleive the rifle was built in 1924.

RIP, you don't mention Woodleigh solids is that because you prefer the NF's?

The North Forks ae safe to use.

The rib design on the bullet shank keeps pressures low. Copper alloy that is displaced by contact with the lands has room to accomodate that displacement.

Back to you RIP.

Bro' Dart,
Yep, the North Fork FP solid and Cup Point "Universal" soft-solid have the true driving band design. Easy on even the oldest antique Nitro Express double.

When they originally came out, the bands were .474" diameter and had scanty number of bands, minimal bearing surface..

Mike had reports that indicated they were not tight enough and had too little bearing surface for best accuracy, in some rifles they keyholed, doubles included.

The FP and Cup Point have been redesigned to fully .475 diameter and a few more bands have been added. They should be greater than ever, for doubles and all .475 caliber rifles.

As for the North Fork soft points: they are a grooved design with some full diameter smooth shank above the grooves that is solid copper shank that merges into the ogive. These may be too "hard" for antique doubles.

We need someone for an inside job at Federal........216M primers for everybody on the crew!