Share your experiences in 45-70 or any other cartridge

How has T-7, Blackhorn, Pyrodex, jim Shockey , alliant muzzle or any others worked for you?! Talk about subs, grain size, weights, accuracy, power. How do they shoot? Consistency.

I think T-7 shoots great for me. Only drops about 14 inches In 200 yds. I was able to sight in and get on target in a very short time because, though off the paper, I knew where it was hitting. Was having a problem with schuetzen 1fg so far off I had to aim in no mans land and still difficult to get on target. But an 8 inch group turned up and there is still room for improvement. Happened really fast and it worked really well. Using a 459-405…. Lee hollow base with a 1/8 wool wad. 45-70, CVA scout, black. And a scope. 3.7-4.0cc, 2fg not compressed much. Pet loads anybody? This is my best performance yet.

I know you have some experiences and some bragging rights so let us know here. (:

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Elmer Keith loved the 45-70 in an 1886 Winchester. His pet load that he used with great success was a 400 gr Speer jacketed flat point and driven with 53 grs of 3031. They come out of the muzzle doing over 1800 fps. I have used this load successfully for over 50 years! Have shot through heavy brush, saplings, and small trees. Most deer go down and do not get up! Have never recovered a bullet. Farthest shot was 178 yards.

Is that a Speer lead bullet? Oh.

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Originally Posted by Rockindaddy

Elmer Keith loved the 45-70 in an 1886 Winchester. His pet load that he used with great success was a 400 gr Speer jacketed flat point and driven with 53 grs of 3031. They come out of the muzzle doing over 1800 fps. I have used this load successfully for over 50 years! Have shot through heavy brush, saplings, and small trees. Most deer go down and do not get up! Have never recovered a bullet. Farthest shot was 178 yards.

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I think I have some of those bullets. The Lee 405 grain works with bp sub. Have you ever tried bp sub in 45-70? I’m impressed by anything Elmer Keith would do. I cast and use his designs in 45 colt. Has he ever used cast in 45-70. Then we would have more in common. I appreciate your interesting post. Have you ever shot bp or bp sub? @Rockindaddy

I use a duplex load in 45/70 -------7 grains 4227 + 63 grains homemade FFG + 40 thou overpowder wad of HDPE poly - boolit is a 335Grain cast - it gets a whisker over 1500FPS - shoots accurate and clean - Extreme spread for a ten shot string with no cleaning between shots I got 8 FPS (ES NOT COV)
Boolit is an adjusted version of the LEE 459-405-HB

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Originally Posted by indian joe

I use a duplex load in 45/70 -------7 grains 4227 + 63 grains homemade FFG + 40 thou overpowder wad of HDPE poly - boolit is a 335Grain cast - it gets a whisker over 1500FPS - shoots accurate and clean - Extreme spread for a ten shot string with no cleaning between shots I got 8 FPS (ES NOT COV)
Boolit is an adjusted version of the LEE 459-405-HB

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How much does it drop @ 200 yds? I only have 1fg but sounds like a good one to try. Are you a non subber?

45/70, 500 gr 3r, lee mold. pure lead, greaser, make my own lube, mag primer, 41 grs, weighed, blackhorn 209, card over powder wad, plastic wad under bullet, light compression, 1200 FPS, very accurate out to and beyond 1000yds.... 45/70, guide gun, 515 gr lee mold, pure lead, 27 grs 5744, weighed, mag primer, this is a trapdoor load.... 45/60, 500 gr FP, lee mold, about 30 grs weighed, blackhorn 209, mag primer, cork and cut wads to fill, mag primer, very accurate at 100 yds.... May need to change powder soon, only have about 8 lbs of blackhorn 209 left ??

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Originally Posted by Gobeyond

How much does it drop @ 200 yds? I only have 1fg but sounds like a good one to try. Are you a non subber?

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yeah I am a non subber (I think) bought a can of pyrodex years ago, fired ten shots, sold it cheap to a bloke I didnt like

200yard drop ? dont know - its an open sight 100yard hog gun - sight in 6inches high at 100 should be shootable to 150 and I would expect about a foot low at 200.

Thanks guys. It’s all good. Is there a bore rider nose on the 500 grain lee? Blahut. If not won’t fit in my gun. 405 way compresses things. Thanks for that very helpful info @indianjoe!

My duplex is not working. I think I should Chuck bp except for my mzldr. It’s so cold blooded I need it to be easily ignitable.

Bp did not work good with Hornady 500 gr RN or with sub- too slow. Back to loading T7 2fg and 3fg the right way and a chronograph.

Go .
I load for an 1895G and have run Rapine 458-201 255 RNFP , 458-340 Lee , 461-420 MP in 380 HB and 417 PB , 458193 415gr Lyman , 45-500 530 gr GC RCBS , and NOE version of the 458132 Postell .

The Rapine was driven to 2000 fps MV on H322 . It shouldn't have worked every thing is wrong for a high velocity/pressure load .

The Lee 340 must have been unremarkable , probably cast 50/50 WW / cores and 12-15gr Unique.

The 458132 Postell was a single fed only deal with action closure requiring firing to remove the case from the action.
The 45-500 is intended for the Marlins 2.55 OAL it shows promise as a sub and load data only pushes it up to 1350 fps so 1100 fps MV with a 175 zero for 8" over at 100 and 9" under at 200 is satisfactory for my 150 yd needs .

Another good question to consider is using a lighter bullet. 200-275 grain for shorter ranges. Flat shooting compared to a rainbow trajectory for longer range. Like @Harter66 was saying. Many think you are confined to 150-200 yds for hunting with the 45-70.
But for paper or gongs at 200 yds flatter shooting would be easier, more pleasurable and make more sense. Less drop in bullet
And not needing the terminal ballistics is it going to work? Am getting ready to try. Any comments?

I’ve got some cartridges loaded with 4064 and imr 4895 an 2fg T-7. Will get to the range before long. Hope I don’t forget what they are. T-7 has 500 grain Hornadys and smokeless has 405 grain lee lead. Still experimenting.

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Originally Posted by Gobeyond

I’ve got some cartridges loaded with 4064 and imr 4895 an 2fg T-7. Will get to the range before long. Hope I don’t forget what they are. T-7 has 500 grain Hornadys and smokeless has 405 grain lee lead. Still experimenting.

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The 405 gr grouped at one hundred. It shoots good with everything. 500 gr not worth a heck. Needs more power like 53 grs of 3031 like Keith shot. Smokeless has the power to get out there a little farther.