Load data for Lee 45-70 molds?

[7.62Man]

Hi All,

I purchased the three Lee 45-70 molds 457-340-F, 457-405-F and C457-500-F. So far I have cast a batch of plain WW air cooled and for the 405 grains and they came out to be .459 and 410.5 grains in weight. My problem is I can find load data for the powders I can get. The Lee manual list loads with accurate arms powder and the lyman cast bullet manual does not even come close in weight, but list the powders I have on hand. The main powders I use are RL-7 and IMR 3031, I can purchase locally Hodgdon, IMR and Aliant powders.

Can anyone give me some load data for a marlin lever gun with these mold or point me to a manual that list data for the 340,405 and gas checked 500gr?

Thank-you
Bill

[Maineboy]

I've been using 50 grains of 3031 behind the Lee 405-FP as my hunting load, velocity is 1625 fps from my 22" 1895 Marlin. My mould makes boolits out of wheel weights that weigh 415 grains and are .459 in diameter. I think this load is on the safe side as the Hogdon Reloading Data Center shows a starting charge of 51 grains and a maximum charge of 55 grains 3031 for 45-70 lever action rifles using the Speer 400 grain jacketed bullet. I think their published velocities for those loads may be a bit optimistic...

[44man]

First I will say IMR 3031 is a fantastic powder in the 45-70. But here are some loads for you.
340 gr boolit;
H4198--42 to 46 gr's.
H322---54 to 58 gr's.
H4895---56 to 60 gr's.
IMR 4895---54 to 57 gr's.
IMR 3031--50 to 55 gr's.
IMR 4198---42 to 47 gr's.
RX-7---43 to 48 gr's.

405 gr boolit;
H4198--41 to 44 gr's,
H4895---52 to 56 gr's.
IMR 4895--50 to 53 gr's.
IMR 3031--48 to 53 gr's.
IMR 4198---39 to 44 gr's.
RX-7---37 to 40 gr's.

500 gr boolit;
H4895---48 to 52 gr's.
H4198---39 to 41 gr's.
IMR 4895--47 to 50 gr's.
IMR 3031---44 to 48 gr's.
RX-7---35 to 38 gr's.
Work up carefully looking for pressure signs.

[Whitespider]

I also use 50 grains IMR 3031 with a 405-410gr boolit.

[7.62Man]

Thank-you!

[Adam10mm]

Hodgdon Annual and Lyman #48 are decent manuals. Pick up a copy of the latest Handloader magazine. 8+ page write up about the 45/70 in the Marlin 1895. Tons of loads, four different pressure levels, 13 bullets, about the same powders.

[9.3X62AL]

That Lee 405 grainer is a winner in my #1. I don't run it real hard, and it has a DEFINITE sweet spot between 1000 and 1400 FPS. 0.9 oz. of lead at almost 5 football fields per second will harvest everything short of mastodons, and those haven't been sighted since I was in elementary school. I think they are gone.

Take a good look at trajectory charts for the ballistic coefficient of those flying bricks. Getting those 405 grain boolits to 1600 FPS doesn't flatten the trajectory enough for me to put up with the recoil, especially when the #1 can group them into 1.25" at 100 yards from 1000-1400 FPS reliably. The black powder cartridge shooters do some fine work with sub-sonic velocities and heavy boolits to 1000 yards. The old 1873 load intensity of 405 grains @ 1300 FPS works well on game, and has done so for almost 135 years. You can shoot those all day, too--so good, thorough practice can be enjoyed, not endured.

[Adam10mm]

Slap on a SVL pad on any gun and it makes shooting full house loads enjoyable, especially when the crowd gathers round.

[44man]

Yeah, that Marlin can let you know in a hurry that it went off.

[Adam10mm]

Specially in this little guy>>>

[Adam10mm]

That Lee 405 grainer is a winner in my #1. I don't run it real hard, and it has a DEFINITE sweet spot between 1000 and 1400 FPS. 0.9 oz. of lead at almost 5 football fields per second will harvest everything short of mastodons, and those haven't been sighted since I was in elementary school. I think they are gone.

Take a good look at trajectory charts for the ballistic coefficient of those flying bricks. Getting those 405 grain boolits to 1600 FPS doesn't flatten the trajectory enough for me to put up with the recoil, especially when the #1 can group them into 1.25" at 100 yards from 1000-1400 FPS reliably. The black powder cartridge shooters do some fine work with sub-sonic velocities and heavy boolits to 1000 yards. The old 1873 load intensity of 405 grains @ 1300 FPS works well on game, and has done so for almost 135 years. You can shoot those all day, too--so good, thorough practice can be enjoyed, not endured.

Sure is fun to get 4000fpe of ME from a cartridge designed in 1873.

[JFoster48386]

Hodgdon Annual and Lyman #48 are decent manuals. Pick up a copy of the latest Handloader magazine. 8+ page write up about the 45/70 in the Marlin 1895. Tons of loads, four different pressure levels, 13 bullets, about the same powders.

Is there any chance the Handloader magazine article is still floating around anywhere?

Thanks, Jon.