Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Any 45-70 pet loads using H322?

I can't get my favorite - H4198. But I do have an unused pound of H322. I want to load up some 1700-1800fps 405gr Remington JSP fodder. Now I know I can get close with 50gr of H322, but I also know that it's not a sweet spot with my Guide Gun. Anybody play with this powder in the 45-70 and can give me some pointers? Thanks.

I started at 48.0 grains and quit at 50.0 because my accuracy was nice and velocity was what I wanted.

Brian Pearce did an article in Handloader a few years back on loading the 45/70 and my velocities followed his with H 322. It's my favorite powder for heavy loads.

I used R -P brass, CCI 200 primers and applied a heavy crimp with the Lee Factory Crimp Die.

Good luck with it!

I have some old test data showing nearly 100fps variation by simply adjusting the FCD crimp - using H322. This is something I did in 2002 when I was first looking for a load for the guide gun. This crimp sensitivity always perplexed me and made me wonder about the suitability of the powder for this application.

I ran H322 up to 52gr pushing a 405gr Remington JSP. The 50gr target had the best group, but it wasn't a "one-hole"-type load. I had an H4198 load that was a real one-holer. As you know, the Guide Gun has sweet spots, and I never found one with H322.

I guess I'll load up some 49.5gr, 50.0gr & 50.5gr to see if there's a zone I've missed. I don't think the powder is fast enough to warrant finer increments - but maybe I'm wrong.

I use 50 grains with a WW case, WLR primer, and a Beartooth Bullets Piledriver Jr (actual weight 436 grains), get mid 1700s with great accuracy.

I've also used it with 300 grain bullets, taking them up to 2200 fps, again, good results in the accuracy department.

Like you, I have also found H4198 to be very, very accurate.

dla,

To be honest I couldn't tell any difference in accuracy between half and full grain increments with that combination.

That's interesting about the velocity swing using the FCD, I'll have to keep that in mind. Come to think of it that could be why I had some pretty smoking velocities with H322 when I used it in the 30/30. Hmmm...

My GG wears XS peeps and I never did serious work with a scope for load work up but three shot groups were around 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches at 100 yds. which more than satisfied me for the ranges I use the rifle.

Hope you find the sweet spot.

dla,
It's likely you'll get faster results with a ladder test. I found my accuracy node between 49.0 and 49.6 grains of H322 on my second string of shots.
Good luck and have fun!

Tom

I came close but not quite today. There is a sweet spot around 49.6gr of H322, but I didn't quite get it dialed in. Seems like 49.2gr is too low and 50.0 is too much. 49.6 is close, but not quite there. 49.6 yielded 1777fps which is very close to my favorite H4198 load velocity of 1785fps.

My pet load is Starline brass with 52.0gr of H322. I use this load for both Remington 405gr JSP and 405gr Kodiak Bonded, it clocks right at 1900fps with the remington and 1930fps with the kodiaks. I used this load almost exclusively in my old guide gun and had recomended it to several others.

I recently got another 1895 in 45/70 so I decided to take it out. I loaded up a box of my old standby load and headed to the range. Shot the first 5 round group at 100 yards, adjusted and fired the next group of three. I haven�t found a marlin it won�t shoot good in.

I can't tell from the pictures - what was the measured group size?

The centered three shot group is just over 1 1/4" and the five shot group is 1 3/4" but 4 of them under an inch and three under 1/2". Not going to set any benchrest records but prett darn good for a big bore lever gun with a low powered heavy restocked scope.

That is nice shooting, Mr. Sorenson.

Same load as Mr. Sorenson here except using Speer 400 grainers. Works best in my LTD II.

I began using H322 in an old original modern Marlin around 25 years ago. I shot a lot of cast bullets (Lyman 385 grain RN) in that shallow groove rifle. The only problem with using those bullets was that they tended to tumble. Many loads/powders were so bad that you could hear the bullets 'bumblebeeing' as soon as they left the muzzle. The first and only powder I found that would shoot them stably was H322. And it doesn't seem to be particularly fussy about mild, moderate, or heavy loading either; many ways to get useful loads with it.

I load 46 gr. of H-322, W-W Winchester large pistol primers,Starline brass and BTB 425 gr, .460 diameter bullets, Lee crimping die. These bullets weigh about 430 grains on average. Use in a Marlin 1895 SS with Micro-Groove rifling. Did start at 49 gr. but loads were stout enough to make lever pop open. Haven't chronographed this loading but happy with the results. 100 yard 5 shot groups average around 1 1/2" to 1 3/4".

Can't say anything about the powder of choice, but I use H4895 loaded with 405's going out at 1,750 fps. It gets my attention when they go off.

Large RIFLE! primers.

My guide gun's tack driving zero recoil plinker load is 25 grains of H322 under a 405 grain cast lead plain base bullet.