anyone have favorite light load for 45-70

10 grains Unique under any cast bullet, either use a filler or magnum primers.

I have had good success with IMR 4227 and a 400gr. cast bullet.

24 grs. 5744, but use Federal 215 magnum primers for complete ignition. Can be used with any bullet weight.

How light do you want to go?

I have used 250 grain cast lead bullets meant for the 45 Colt sized .454 over something like 30 grains of 2400. They ran about 1,100 FPS if I recall correctly and at 50 yards with open sights I was shooting 1.5" groups so the slightly undersized bullets didn't seem particularly wobbly in the bore.

Makes for very cheap plinking and recoil is several steps below mild.

Here's a bunch of cast plinkin loads for the 45-70 and a lot of other chamberings.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Many are having a lot of success with Trail Boss powder. Not a lot of energy, but filling the case almost to capacity and avoiding hangfires...the rounds are a lot of fun to shoot.

I also used 457 round balls seated right on top of 2.5 grains Unique. Don't even size the case, just deprime with something like say, a 45-120 die.

I have tried several different powders. Many have issues if you point them up or down before shooting them.

I have found trailboss with a 405gr lead slug to be very accurate and consistant.