45-70 reloading

I'm about to start reloading for my 45-70. I have a 32" barreled buffalo classic. Are there any slower powders I can use to take advantage of the long barrel. All the reloading info I can find uses faster powders. The slowest I saw was imr 4198, which I have. I have some 300 gr. Bullets for now. I will most likely go heavier later on. This will be used for hunting, plinking, or whatever I feel like at the time.

Anything slower than IMR3031, you run out of case capacity. Hornady Sixth Edition lists 4064 with 500 gr bullets in the Ruger section. Crescent Steel Buttplate will determine where you stop!

I use 4198 for 45-70, and I would suggest using the slowest powder that you can find reliable data for...in this case, sounds like that is 4198.

I had a similar dilema when I started reloading 357 mag for my rifle. I too wanted to take as much advantage of the longer barrel as I could. I looked for the slowest burning powder that I could find data for and settled on 300MP. I have been very happy.

Y'all confirmed what I was thinking. I may look into 4064 for the heavies but I'm not sure if I want to mess with the ruger loads but then again I get curious.

I checked my note, 47.5gr Reloder 7 with a 355gr cast gas checked bullet. Shoots good in the Marlin, I have not run across the chrono. Sounds like a good excuse to go to the range this weekend!. How is the sight on your Buffalo Classic? The front sight was a bit tall on mine, have replaced with one a bit short

Its scoped now, but I'm putting a Williams target sight on it tomorrow. I believe the factory sight was ok.

If you check out Hodgdon's site, there are many slower powders you can use. 4198 is kind of the standard powder for the 45-70. It works very well in the standard lever gun barrel lengths. With your 32" barrel, you can get some higher speeds with the slower powders, easily 150 to 200 fps faster. You will want to use a drop tube to help compress the powder when you pour it in the case with these slower powders. Since your rifle is a single shot, you can also seat the bullet out further beyond normal 45-70 lengths to get more powder in the case. Just make sure you are not jamming the bullet into the rifling. Crimp it just enough to hold the bullet in place, since you will not be feeding it out of a tube fed magazine. You can get away with a few tricks to help get more powder in the case since its a single shot.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

I was going to use the 4198 because I have it and according to imr it had the highest velocity. I am curious what a load of 7828 or a similar powder could do but I don't have a starting point. I would guess case volume would limit it. I may not be able to get enough in the case to be of use. I'm going to find my max length and work from just under it.

Chad do you have any thoughts on a magnum primer with the slower powders? Found some people are having good luck with varget but are limited by capacity with a max of 60 grains. I may have to try that too.


After farther research I do believe 4198 is the way to go. Varget may work with 400 gr but is to slow for 300 gr bullets. With that said anything near 7828 would be a reduced load from what I'm seeing.

You definitely don't want to use 7828 in the 45-70. When I say slower, I'm meaning slower than 4198. Something in the 4895, 8208, R15 or Varget area should be good. Also, as you seat the bullet out longer than the normal 2.520", you will gain some case capacity. You will also be able to increase your max charge a little since the bullet is further out (depending on where the bullet makes contact with the lands). I would think 8208 would be a good option for the 300 grain bullets in a 32". If you go to a heavier bullet, like a 400 or 500 grain, then a slower burning powder would also help. 8208 is a very small extruded powder, and it will pack in well with a compressed load, and meter very well. Just don't hot rod the round too much.

A magnum primer would be fine for the heavy powder charges.

I was editing my post while you were typing. I think 4198 is my best bet with what I have now. When I go heavier I will probably try to use r15 and varget because I already have some. I don't want to do too much hot rodding with it, that's what I have the magnums for. I have a feeling after playing a bit I'll settle for a tamer load.

The load I use most in my 45-70s is 59 grains of Varget with 350gr Hornady round nose softpoints

Tried out a few loads with 54 gr of imr 4198 with a oal of 2.635 about .003 off the lands. Recoil wasn't bad but it did loosen my new sight, so I'll have to locktite it before I go back. I couldn't find any signs of excess pressure.

54 grains?! Whoa! That is a bit hot! I'm not familiar with the rifle you are shooting it out of, but I hope it has a strong action! I shoot 51 grains under 300JHP in my Marlin, and it is a punishing load.

If you look at imr's site it is a minimum load for a lever gun. The max is 57. I know the minimum load is hot compared to other data but I have no pressure signs. Plus I have it loaded long which slightly reduces pressure but then I'm running magnum primers so the pressure is probably higher. The recoil honestly is not that bad.

I have a NEF with the 22" barrel, same brand as the Buffalo Classic. I know its stronger than a trapdoor but not a Ruger No 1.

What will these NEF's stand up to?

Marlin pressure.

I was guessing that but hoped someone could second it.

I second it. I'm running 54 gr of imr 4198.