Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 45-70 subsonic

Anyone have any good subsonic 45-70 loads for whitetail? H&R single shot.

Trailboss loads in my 458WM were subsonic with 400gn cast projectiles. The loads were maximum space capacity of 20grains, so the 45/70 will be less than this. They were fairly accurate and good enough for hunting. I haven't used these on game but have no doubt they would do well on medium sized game. Maybe you would need a lighter projectile in the 45/70 to up the speed but still stay subsonic with Trailboss?

500gn cast projectiles with Trailboss didn't shoot well enough, but worked with other powder in 1,400fps loads - but no longer subsonic obviously.

405 grain cast over 13.0 grains of Trailboss will get you there.

I have good luck with Unique for my plinking loads. The fact that they are subsonic is coincidental. This group was a fluke, but the load and bullet is consistently accurate.

BTW, that is with a 22" barrel.

11gr of Trail Boss and the Lyman 457122 Gould HP have worked well in my Handi. This bullet loses it's nose at speeds over 1100fps so it's a perfect fit for subsonic use.

Dinny

At my elevation 3,500 ft and 50% rel humidity 1128 is the speed of sound, so I tweaked my loads to produce 1100 fps 10 ft from the muzzle. 405 gr plain base cast and 11 grains of Unique.
I got sub 2" 5 shot groups at 100 yds, iron sights. But since I don't know how to post photos, it didn't happen.