Worked up a Red hot load recently for use in the Ruger No.1 only.

Brass - Remington .45/70
Primer - Win Large Rifle
Powder - 47grns AR2207 (This is an Australian powder. I'm not sure what Hodgdon call the same powder in the US.)
Projectile - 500grn Hardcast made by Westcasting

This load is heavily compressed. It delivers a very consistant velocity chronographed at 1880fps and 1" groups at 50yards (22" Barrel)

Recoil in the light Ruger with a thick decelerator pad would be best described as refreshing!

WARNING: THIS LOAD IS FOR USE IN RUGER NO.1 & NO.3 RIFLES ONLY. USE IN OTHER .45/70 CHAMBERED RIFLES WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DESTROY THE RIFLE AND PROBABLY THE SHOOTER. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

WARNING: THIS LOAD IS FOR USE IN RUGER NO.1 & NO.3 RIFLES ONLY. USE IN OTHER .45/70 CHAMBERED RIFLES WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY DESTROY THE RIFLE AND PROBABLY THE SHOOTER. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED

Your warning also applies to the following!!

My best HEAVY LOAD for my Ruger No. 1 45/70 is 60 grains of Alliant RE7 behind a Barnes Original .458 Spitzer, Rem. cases, Fed 210 primers. This load produces 2270 feet per second at 15' from the muzzle, and all the recoil one would care for, +! eek: The only scopes I found which will stand this recoil are Leupolds. In my rifle, this load gives 3-shot groups averaging 1.5" @ 100 meters (110 yards). It might shoot better, but that's the best I can do!! I tried the 300 barnes Original spitzer also, and got 2490 with 63 grains of RE7, but accuracy was not as good. The IV for this load was 2490 feet per second. For a reduced load, I use a Lyman .457122 hollow point cast bullet and 60 grains of 3031. This gives 2100FPS, and I insert an inverted Hornady gas check over the powder, as this is a plain-base bullet. All are compressed loads. The Ruger No. 1 45/70 is a real killer!! Good luck!!

I prefer the Hornady 350 RN in my Ruger #1.

Use Vithavouri N133 - 57 gr for accurate load and managable recoil .
Now that I am back in South Africa I use the local Somchem S335 - 56 gr for 2000 fps.

Ben

elde... I am surprised that you have only found your leupolds to hold up under this recoil... you might try a burris, they are wonderfully strong scopes.

This isn't very hot...but I use 50gr IMR 4198 behind a 300gr Hornady bullet. I shoot it from a Marlin Guide Gun with Tasco Pro Point. Groups are generally under 2" at 100 yards unless I goof.