Reloading help - reduced loads for 45-70

[shooter]

Going to the range on Sat. My cousin wants to shoot the 45-70, but I know he doesn't shoot full house loads from it. Are there any good reduced loads he can shoot? We may have some 325 or 350gr cast bullets, and I know there are some 405 gr. that I haven't loaded yet.

[Blaine]

Get thee to your reloading manual and look under TrapDoor Loads for 45-70.....There are dozens of them out there. I happen to like about 33-35 grains of H4198 w/405 for around 1300-1400 fps. 43gr of same w/405 is a pretty good/accurate hunting load that really does not kick all that bad, and is about 1700fps.

[2X22]

Most of my 45-70's will shoot 1 hole groups out to around 75-100 yards with 11 to 14grs of Unique and any 300 to 405gr cast or jacketed bullets.

2x22

[.45]

Sounds like you need some trailboss. Check out the IMR website. You will find a lot of easy shooting loads.

[flatnose]

34.5 grains IMR4198 under a 405 lead or a remington jacket bullet. Accurate and comfortable to shoot.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I second the Trail Boss motion.

[Chas.]

Here's some on Greg Mushial's website.
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

[shooter]

I was thinking about Trail Boss, but none of my manuals have any info for it. I also like the Unique on the site provided by Chas. I talked to one of my shooting buddies and he really likes the Unique load in his. Right now I'm going with Unique because that's what I have on hand. May try the Trail Boss later.

I thought about some of the trapdoor loads, but I don't know what he can handle yet, so I wanted to start lower and work up. He may be able to handle some of my loads. He wants to shoot a couple to see how he likes them, so you never know. We'll see. Thanks for all the info.

[Old Time Hunter]

30 grains of H4198 is more'nuff behind a 405 grain cast...that'll do around 1250 fps or so.

[piller]

Go to Hodgdon.com and get their load data for the 45-70 trapdoor rifles. If you use cast lead, it shows Trailboss to be at least 200fps slower than anything else. The trailboss was a good suggestion.

[Blaine]

30 grains of H4198 is more'nuff behind a 405 grain cast...that'll do around 1250 fps or so.

The older my shoulder gets, the more I'm moving back to that number

[KCSO]

Good old Unique, you can safely drop down to as little as 6 grains but 10 is a good mild plinking load.

[cassog]

I asked the same question a few weeks back (check out my earlier post) wanted a fairly light, but accurate load for indoor range work - someone suggested 13g of Unique. So I went with that behind a cast 330g swc.
Results in my Pedersoli Sharps cavalry carbine were very good - mild to shoot and very, very accurate. (see photo attached)

Someone else also suggersted 14g Trail Boss. I have some rounds loaded up and am headed to the range tonight to try 'em out.
Will let you know how that load compares with the Unique one.

Take care.

IMG_0878a.jpg

[gundownunder]

Alliant lists the following loads for a 24" barrel rifle as cowboy loads.
11 gr of Unique behind a 405 gr cast for 1000 fps, or if you have 300gr bullets you can use 10 gr Unique for 1054 fps up to 15 gr for 1424 fps.

[Tycer]

13 gr Unique.

[cassog]

Hi All,
Just back from the indoor range. As promised, here is how it wenty using 14g Trail Boss.
Very mild load, pleasant to shoot. Not as accurate (in my gun anyway) as the 13g Unique loading, so I'll guess I'll stick to unique.
If you want a mild, fairly accurate load to get someone accustomed to the big round though, the Trail Boss would do admirably.

Take care.