Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 45-70 component recommendation

I'm looking to handload the old warhorse but keep it simple in having a low power practice load and a full power hunting load (Marlin '95).

I'm thinking of staying with 400 to 405 grain bullets and H4198. What bullets--hard cast or otherwise--would you recommend in this weight range for serious close range hunting?

Thanks.

I like the Lyman M dies for reloading the 45-70.
Accurates 5744 powder is excellent for cast bullets.

You'll want to slug the bore of your rifle and then find the supplier that sells bullets .002 diameter over the groove diameter. .001 will be alright but might give some excess leading. Montana Bullet works in Billings makes and sells good bullets in a pretty good selection of diameters. Cheycast sells good bullets also.
Keep an eye out at the supply houses, many times the Remington 405 gr bulk bullets can be purchased at or below the price of cast.

As to hunting loads keep in mind the 405 gr bullet lopin along at 1300+- fps is what made the cartridge famous, and kept around for a 100 years or so just waiting to be "discovered"

My powder for most loads is Reloader 7. It burns cleaner than any other I've tried. Some others have left so much powder residue, the grit made the lever hard to operate. Cleaning the rifle was also more difficult than with Reloader 7.

I plan on trying Varget.

"I had exceptionally good results with the two Remington bullets and Hodgdon's Varget powder. The combination in Starline brass with CCI large rifle primers was easily capable of 100 yard five shot groups under one inch. A charge of 50.0 grains of Varget with the 300 grain Remington JHP delivered 1,433 fps and .75 inch groups.

That's a good bit below the velocity of factory ammo with the same bullet (1,800 fps) but since it shot so well I didn't see any reason to increase charge weight. The 405 grain JSP and 40.0 grains gave 1,136 fps and .8 inch groups. This is also-about 100 fps below factory velocity."

After I asked about cast bullet loads and such for my 405, Ranch13 gave the suggestion of AA5744 powder. I bought some and loved it so much in the 405 Win, that I started using it for my home cast 405 gr bullets in the 45-70. I bought a cheap Lee mold and cast wheel weights as is and drop them into water. No leading problems, and the accuracy is real good. Very cheap to shoot, and a load of fun.

Ranch13 gets my vote of confidence when it comes to the thumpers for sure!

I just started reloading for mine. So far it loves the Speer 400 gr FP over 44 gr of IMR 4198. Kind of sucks when it shoots real decent with the first load you try.

For cast bullets look at the Laser Cast 405 grain Flat Nose .459" diameter and Cast Performance 405 grain WLNGC .459" diameter. The Laser Cast can be used for plinking and deer, while the Cast Performance should be good for anything you might come across on this continent. Here are some 45-70 loads for H4198:

Marlin 1895 45-70 22" barrel

405 grain Laser Cast FN seated to 2.53" and crimped with a Lee Factory Crimp Die
Winchester brass, 2.1" trim
CCI 200 primer
27 grains H4198 1200 fps
31 grain H4198 1410 fps

405 grain Cast Performance WLNGC seated to 2.56" and crimped with a Lee Factory Crimp Die
Winchester brass, 2.1" trim
CCI 200 primer
46 grains H4198 START approx. 1800 fps
50.5 grain H4198 MAXIMUM approx. 1950 fps

Thanks for the info everyone but I will not be rolling my own bullets.
Jackfish-

Very useful; I see Cabelas has both Laser-Cast and Cast Performance bullets.

What kind of accuracy are you getting from those loads?

I finally got this thing to the range, kind as an after thought because I really went to work on a 375, and a 270 Wby.

I had no handloads but a box of 405-gr Winchesters and a box of Horn Leverevolution 325-gr's. The first chrono'd at about 1650 from the Guide Gun and the second box, the Horn's, at 1975 fps.

I was dumfounded at the Marlin's accuracy though with both. The Win's shot five shot groups into an inch and so did the Horn's. I was amazed the Marlin on this day beat out my 375 with it's favorite handloads and did it with factory stuff. I'm impressed with this little rifle.

I would really like to press it into action in CO next winter for elk but the fly in the soup there is the shot may come at any range up to 300 yds or more.

4198 or R-7 with a 405gr CPB LBT style should work for anything in N. America.....I've been hearing more and more good things about Leadhead bullets, and just ordered 1000 of them for my 45 Colt +P loads www.proshootpro.com

The 300gr Speer uni-cor is a great bullet for anything up to elk/moose size. It is a real jackhammer, and inexpensive to boot.......

I got the lee mold also , drops a 405 grain .002 over size and darn thing drives nails with Reloader 7, I have tried other molds but cheapo lee works great in the 45-70

I have been loading my Marlin 1895 Cb with a cast 405 grn GC from leadhead bullets they mic out to .460 and over 50.0 Grns of IMR 3031 give close to 1800 fps they have killed three hogs at ranges from 125 Yards to 10 feet (thats another story) and two whitetail and a Mulie at 100 125 and 150.
I get some comments about the "long barrel" on the CB but I have had no problems in brush or in a tree stand with it. I am thinking of scopeing it with a 2-7 shotgun scope with that diamond reticle I think the points of the diamond will work like a Ballistic plex / Mil Dot type reticle. I have also used the remington bulk JSP 405 grain and the JHP 300 Grain bullets they shoot good as well. The one deer I shot with a 300 grain JHP went down twent feet away shot at a paced off nintey yards running. The old 45 Govt piles them right up.

If you arwe looking to scope your CB. You might look at Cabela's Lever-Action Scope Item:IH-712741 $99.99

You're kidding right?

I think I'd much druther have a Leupold VX-II in 2-7X33 than that piece of junk. It'll cost you more, but at least you'll have a decent scope with a decent customer service.

a 1-4x20 Leupy is a nice one too for the purpose.........