Tired of paying $200/box for factory ammo. What are the "best" loads for the .470 NE in most rifles? I am not looking for something that will set some new world speed record, rather something that pretty much duplicates factory loads in terms of speed, pressure, recoil, etc. Would be nice to stay away from having to mess with fillers too.

Fillers do not have to be a problem. I bought a package of Kynoch foam plugs used for filler. The plugs for the 470 are size 2, and weigh 1.2 grains. They are available in three different sizes.

My favorite load in my Kreighoff is Bell cases using 88 gr REL 15, Federal 215 Primers, and Woodleigh 500 gr softnose. Average velocity for this load is 2122 fps.

I think this is very close to the Federal factory load.

Jim,

Can you please provide a link for the availability of the Kynoch foam plugs?

Thanks,

90 gr RL15 works great in my merkel

Kynoch foam wads can be ordered directly from Kynamco in the U.K, no restrictions exist on shipping and they cost ver little to ship due to lightness of weight, you can contact them via e-mail.

from memory they offer 3 sizes.

I bought the Kynoch Nitro-Express Wads at the SCI convention. The 470 wad is a #2

You may want to try contact@kynochammunition.co.ukto order direct.

Galizan's also carries them.

Geronimo

FYI,

I called Galazan's, and the lady who answered the phone said they didn't sell the foam filler wads. I sent an email to Midway indicating I wished they'd carry them. Then I emailed Kynoch and asked them to give me an alternate US agent to buy from, since Galazan's isn't carrying them, and suggested they try Midway.

I'll let you know if I get a response.

RL-15 loads as above are good. I've tried them.

H4831SC loads are better, see jjs's thread about the .470 NE load in the Double Rifle Forum.

George Hoffman was fond of H4831 in the .470 NE, same as Jack O'Connor liked it in the .416 Rigby.

I call these the "memorial loads" to these men:

George Hoffman: .470 NE, 500 grainers, H4831SC @ 109 to 110 grains, solid or soft: 2125 to 2150 fps in a 24" barrel, roughly.

Jack O'Connor: .416 Rigby, any 370 to 410 grainers, H4831SC @ 105 grains: 2450 to 2550 fps depending on bullet and rifle.

These loads will always be safe, and are accurate in any rifle I have tried and in any that others I know of have tried.

Of course I suppose there exists a rifle out there somewhere that might require some fine tuning of the powder charge, but it won't be by much if any.

Want to save some time and trouble, just starting to load for the .470 NE? Use H4831SC.

Maybe the antique double rifle with thin and weak pre-WWII barrel steel needs to have the pressure peak closer to the chambers with RL-15,

However, that pressure peak with RL-15 will be close to 40,000 PSI.

With H4831SC the pressure peak will be closer to 30,000 PSI.

Greater recoil with H4831 than RL-15???

I can't tell it.

Only if my rifle shot better with RL-15 and filler would I use that over H4831SC.

That won't be the case in most cases.

Rip,

Can you use the 4831 without a filler?

Have you ever tried IMR7828 in the 470NE?

Thanks,

Steve

Steve,
Yes, no fillers with the 4831's.

The A-Square Manual lists charges of IMR-7828 from 109 to 112 grains powder charge, with velocities and pressures similar to his H4831 loads ranging from 104 to 113 grains (old lot).

The newer H4831SC is better than ever, meters well, temperature insensitive, fills the case with no fillers needed, ignites uniformly with F215 primers, gives full velocity and proper barrel time and recoil needed to match Merkel regulation to crossing at 50 meters.

IMR-7828: I would use it only if I couldn't get H4831SC for some reason.

All,

Kynoch emailed me back and said to deal directly with them on the wads and they would ship them.

Thanks, RIP, for the reloading info.

I'd prefer not to have to use filler. I'll get some of that H4831sc. I have some of the 7828, and so I thought I'd try it just to see if it shoots well in my Merkel.

The regulated load (Federal TBSH) printed first pair touching. After first pair, the first (right) barrel seems to print 1.5" higher once it's hot.

With the Woodleigh 500gr soft Federal load, the right barrel prints 2.5" high from the first shot. Weird, huh?

Both loads are vertically dead on with both barrels. I'm pretty happy with the accuracy and consistency of the rifle. I'd like to shoot single barrel groups and try it at 200yds just to see how it does.

Steve