I have acquired a .45-70 and I need some load data for heavy bullets - 350 to 500 grains (i.e Speer 350s, 400s). Where can I get reliable data for my Contender. Hornady data is so anemic, it can't possibly be max (much less than even trapdoor Springfields). Can I use Marlin lever data?

Help me out guys.

I'm gonna give you a vague answer. DO NOT use marlin load data for a contender. I would say do some cross referencing of load manuals--the best powders for the 45-70 seem to be h322, re7, and the 4198's. I would recomend you stay about 12%under marlin max data and about 5% over trapdoor max data. H322 and 4198 have been the best powders for me. This pistol IS NOT FUN TO SHOOT with bullets bigger than 300 grain. Watch for a sale on rem 300 grain jacketed bullets--they shoot great and you should be able to pick them up at about $15-19 per hundred. They will also perform excellent on game because of the slower speed. Good luck--have fun--BE SAFE.

I have found in my Guide Gun that 400 gr Speers and H-335 work well together and I get 1840 fps or so with Speers max charge for leverguns of 58.0 gr out of the 18.5" barrel. I am not recommending this load for your Contender but you might want to give the powder a try. IMR-3031 also worked well but velocities were lower so I made the switch.

Also, if you would like a plinking/practice load try 12.0 gr of Unique behind a 300 gr Cast bullet. Very light recoil and not bad to shoot a lot of rounds (at least out of rifle) in a day. The cast bullets I have are moly-coated and seem not to lead much if any. Sean

I have tried the 400 Speers with 50 gr. of H4895 and think I could shoot 50 at a sitting (magnaport is wonderful). Recoil is not so much my concern as are big things with lots of teeth that might want to chew on me. I have discovered some lever data is limited to 28,000 cup (Speer manual) and some (for marlin rifles) is 40,000 cup (Hodgdon manual). I understand I can use the former but not the latter. I know there are some of you guys out there that have used the 400 and 500 gr. bullets.

Look at the Hogdon data. Load to Trapdoor levels in the Contender. Do NOT load to Marlin levels in the Contender.

With the Hogdon data you should be able to get the 400 to about 1600 fps from a 14" about 1700 fps from a 20" or longer... (remember all barrels are different).

ROB--just curious if you ever chrono'd that 50 grain load of h4895 and 400 speers. I ran the load past quickload and it thought it would run about 1615fps at 36,000 psi. Quickload has a little less accuracy with big straightwalled cases but, if the velocity seems right I'd say that the pressure would be safe although you wouldn't want more. Just a little curious. Kraky

Rob,

I think that 28,000 psi is the upper limit for the Contender with the .45-70. I'm very pleased with the performance of my .45-70 Contender even with these limitations.