I have a Contender Carbine barrel on the way and would like to get a head start on ammo.What 45-70 ammo shoots best for you guys ?I am also going to get some reloading dies and bullets so I can roll my own.I have never owned or shot a 45-70 before but I wanted to get a barrel for big game for my contender to go with the 223 barrel and the Muzzle loader barrel.Thanks in advance.

I have had a s/s T/C Contender Carbine for a while now and one of my barrels is 22" long and chambered in 45-70.

I have never fired factory ammo thru it due to being a reloader so can't help you there other than any over the counter factory fodder should work fine.

I have loaded and shot thru my rifle 300gr jacketed bullets on up to 430gr WLNGC bullets.

H322 is my favorite powder for the 45-70 and is now the only powder I use for it.

My top load is 54grs H322 with any of the 300gr bullets they are all safe in my gun and give very good accuracy out to 200 yards (have never really tried shooting further than that with this rifle).

For 400gr jacketed or cast bullets I stop @ 47grs H322 and a bit less for the 430's.

These are top loads for my Contender so if anyone cares to give them a try reduce the loads by at least 15% and work up slowly and safely from there.