I'm looking for the best powder choice for the 45-70 with 400-405 grain bullets. Will be loading in the 35-40000 PSI range. The 2 that appear the most promising are H322 and H4198 or IMR4198. I had read someplace that one was better for the heavy bullets and the other was better for lighter - 300gr. What sayest thou?
I get better accuracy with 405 grain bullets using H322 than H4198.
Marlin 1895 45-70 22" barrel
405 grain Remington JSP seated to 2.55" and crimped with a Lee Factory Crimp Die
Winchester brass, 2.1" trim
CCI 200 primer
49 grains H322 START
55 grains compressed H322 MAXIMUM 1950 fps
I also use H-322 with my 405 JSP and was using it for my 420 and 550 cast but I am going to go over to RL-7 for all my bullets from 250/550 grains as soon as weather permits.I use RL-7 with my 300 Nosler and Barnes and the 350 Woodleigh and Hornady 350 FP now.RL-7 also gives good accuracy and less pressure than the Hodgdons powders in most cases.
Jayco
I use both H322 and IMR-4198. Both work pretty well, though my most accurate load so far with 300 grn bullets is with H322.
I am also playing around with a can of Trail Boss to see what
I can get for plinking loads with 400 grn plain base cast lead.
I don't know if it is best, but I use and like Varget. It has many other uses is why I like it.
I prefer, or rather, my rifle prefers H4198. This in Winchester cases, Winchester primers, and topped with a Remington 405 grain bullet for 1,861 fps. Accuracy is excellent, there is no excessive pressure noted, and kills things dead quite handily.
I have a ported Guide Gun and I found that 405 grain Cast Performance bullets shot really well with 56 grains of BLC-2 (1600fps through my chrony). Got an 1 1/2" group off the bench at 100 yds.
510 Grain paper patch bullets, I use Rl-7, the best I have tried. Rl-10 gives slightly lower vel/press, but leaves a slight residue of unburned powder. Rl-7 definitely the choice, IMHO.
I like 3031 for jacketed bullets, and AA 5744 for cast in the 45-70
510 grn paper patch, shot into soft sand, accuracy moa, vel 1600fps, recoil stout. Powder RL-7.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c264/Muffin1954/MVC-003S.jpg
IMR-4198 gives great accuracy with mild loads under 300-gr jacketed bullets.
I don't have the numbers in front of me right now, but after quite a bit of testing, I settled on 3031 for 300 and 350 grain bullets.
I've had great success with Reloader 7 with jacketed bullet weights from 300gr. to 405gr. and cast bullets from 330gr to 405gr. Primers are CCI 200, cases are Winchester and all loads are crimped with Lee Factory Crimp Die. Marlin used is a 1895G (non-ported) with Ballard cut rifling and a stiff 18-1/2" barrel.
With the 45-70 cartridge, I recommend that you try the start loads and work up until you find a accurate load and then stop. I don't appreciate excessive recoil and found the accuracy loads for Reloader 7 to be several grains less than the max PSI loads for Marlin lever guns. And yes, I did try the max loads just to be sure.
Pvt Skidmarks
djpepper Hogdon Benchmark has become my favorite powder in my 1895SS loaded about max under 300gr.Partitions as well as the Hornadys.As the Benchmark is slightly slower than H4198 it might be just the ticket for your 400-405 grainers.BTW Benchmark meters like a dream and it fills the case.Good luck.
Reloader 7
I load 52.0 under a 420 for 1922 fps out of a 16" barrel.
55.5 AA2495 with a 420gr paper patch pure lead. CCI 200 primer and Starline brass in a 1895G works for me
Muffin and db, how does the rifle cycle without tearing the patch?? I paper patch for my Sharps but never considered it for my Marlin due to reaosn I referred to.
http://www.hodgdon.com/stories/rifle/kirkland.phpThis site tells my story with H322. Great powder for my Guide gun. The buck I shot last season with that load was a "bang/flop".
After reading about RL7, I might try that powder with some Rem 405 grainers and see how that does.
Thanks, guys.
Ought6, read your article in the link you provided. I wonder how that load would do with 300 grain Nosler Partitions?
I've used it with the Hornadys, as mentioned, and the cheap bulk Remington 300gr jhp from Midway. It still maintains its tight group and it was with the Remington bullet that the buck went bang/flop. The bullet was a broadside pass through, shot at about 90 yds.,leaving a large entry hole and a much larger exit hole.
I think it would be dandy with the Nosler Partitions. The 60 gr load is no where near hot. According to the manual I was using at the time, it was the maximum for a trapdoor Springfield <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />!!! I know that the 300 grainer can be pushed to 2200+fps. I just don't need them that fast for 200yds and under for shooting deer sized game.
The best powder is usually the one a caliber is designed for. Have you tried FFg?
Mr. Edwards,
I gather you're a Venturino fan. I really like his writing also, but I just can't shoot my lever action with black powder. I would think the clean-up would be awful!!
My brother has two 45-70s and he said without fail, a Pyrodex 70 gr equivalent load was "the berries" for accuracy in his Handi-rifle and his TC Contender - 12". He said if you shoot them close to dusk, they are even more impressive. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
In my rifle I have had the best luck with IMR-3031 with bullets 350 grains and heavier.
ET, check out the picture link on my previous post, that loaded round has been paper patched, the bullet with patch is fully contained within the case. Feeds just like any other round. muffin