Hello Everyone! I have a Siamese Mauser in .45/70. Am trying to get a little speed with the 350 grain pointed X Bullet from Barnes. Still working my way up, but so far 58.0 grains of H4895 has yielded only 1970 fps from the 26" tube. Next test loads will be 59.0 and 60.0, though the powder is pretty heavily compressed right now, case capacity being a mite shy of Ideal. Am also starting my way up with IMR 3031, but it seems compressed charges will be the rule here, too. May be "forced" to rechamber to .450 Alaskan (Oh, Darn!)...

...But I wonder if there's a super-dense powder of the "right" speed that anyone here knows of. Maybe AA 2460..? Of course, one could always use an even faster powder and go above 50,000 lbs with it, above the listed loads. I'm aware that .454 Casull runs toward 60 Kpsi and is now chambered in a repro-1892!

Does anyone here have any experience with max loads (too hot for lever guns) in 450 Alaskan? All the info I find is based on Winchester '71s and '86s. Me Wantum MORE, Kemo-sobby!

Lemmee know what yawl think...

Looking through my records, I found a load using a 350 gr Hornady bullet, R/P cases, CCI 200 primers and 49.0 grains of IMR 4198 powder gave an average velocity of 2169 fps with a sd of 15 fps. This from a Siamese mauser with a 26" barrel.

Joe Jakusz I checked the Speer number 12 loading manual, they got their highest velocity with AA2015BR, with their 350gr. bullet.
Speer starting load 54 gr. 1918fps.
Speer max load 60 gr. 2132fps.

They show a max load of 63 gr. [compressed] of H4895 to give 2019fps.
Remember this is with THEIR bullet. The X bullet and a different seating depth can make a BIG difference. Prodcede with caution. I never found a hundred feet per second to make that big a difference.
I hope this helps.

Joe

Assuming your Siamese Mauser is one of the good ones(aka strong ones)here is data for Hodgdon powders from the Hodgdon manual. This reference can be found on the newsstand in magazine form for about $8.00.

350gr Hornady RN
24" barrel
Winchester case
cci200 primer
trim 2.1"
Twist 1:20

For Ruger#1 or #3, Browning 1895, Modern Bolt Action Rifles chambered in 45-70

h335
start 57.0g 2016fps @ 32,200 CUP
max 63.0g 2174fps @ 47,300 CUP

h322
start 52.0g 1898fps @ 25,800 CUP
max 57.0g(c) 2143fps @ 41,100 CUP

h4198
start 50.5g 2104fps @ 35,100 CUP
max 56.0g 2300fps @ 50,000 CUP

That being said, here are two loads I shoot from a Marlin with a 22" barrel, lengthened throat and modifications to allow a longer cartridge OAL of 2.67". These are top loads in my rifle and you should work up to them in yours using good load developement practices, a chronograph and common sense.

Starline brass
remington 9-1/2 primmer

Remington 405g bullet seated to 2.67" crimped in canelure with Lee factory crimp die.
h322 55gr 2014fps @ 41,300CUP MOA accuracy

Hornady 350 rn or fp
h4195 53gr @2148fps @ 39,000CUP MOA accuracy

This should get you a little more zip an may save you the expense of a rechamber. However, a 450AK is a mighty cool round. Lots of fun to work with!

If factory ammo is something you need to use, Buffalo Bore and Garrett ammo loads exceptional quality ammo. Tim at buffalo Bore assisted me developing the 405gr load I mentioned above.

[ 02-01-2003, 08:38: Message edited by: cgdavid ]

Thanks Very Much, Fellas..!

The Load I use in my 450 AK Win 71 is 69.0 of IMR 3031 and Fed 215GM Primers with 350 Grain Hardcst.

Joe; Have you checked your chamber depth?? With most Sia Mau you can seat the bullet out a long way to gain considerable powder space. 2100fps with a 350 bullet should be fairly easy to obtain.

I have gotten 2360 from a 342-grain cast bullet in a 22" Ruger No. 1 in .45/70!!

[ 03-11-2003, 21:54: Message edited by: eldeguello ]