45-70 350gr Berrys powders?

[SpeedyR]

Hopefully picking up a new 1895 (Dark) this week. I've got a bunch of brass, a variety of powders and just ordered some Berry's 350gr plated bullets to break in and get used to shooting a 95 (my first 45-70 1895, have plenty of other lever guns but no 95/45-70's). So my question- reloading for the 45-70! I reload a bunch of different cartridges but never for the 45-70. Have dies and factory crimp, and plenty of brass/primers. Anyone have some suggestions for powder to start with for the 350 Berry bullets?

I've got a pretty wide variety from looking in the manuals but thought I'd see if I could narrow it down with some suggestions. I have the following on hand: H4895, IMR 4227, 3031, 4064, Varget, Trailboss, A2230, X-Term, H335 and probably some others. leaning towards the 4895, 3031, or 4227, but open to suggestions. Have read that Unique is also good for lighter loads (12-15gr?)?

Long term will be to develop some subsonic loads for coated/cast bullets (I have a Lyman 457406 480gr GC mold that I will start with). If anyone has a subsonic load for the Berry's 350gr I'd love to hear it!

 

[buellbrewer]

the only 45/70 i've reloaded was for my 1894 Trapdoor. The bullets were #2 alloy 405s. I would have to look (its been awhile) but Im pretty sure 32 grains 3031 with a small wad. Fairly recently bought a book by JS and Pat Wolf and have been putting stuff together to replicate the original loads for the 45/70. Its a fun old caliber!

 

[Freshly Minted Georgian!]

Some guys have had good luck and good things to say about lightweight, collar button style slugs. https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-45-collar-button-4-cav-aluminum/

If you cast, seems like a good option. They'd save wear and tear on your shoulder and with such light loads, extend the life of your brass quite a bit. Have fun, its a great old caliber.

 

[1006]

These guys will have a lot of responses, there are 100’s of threads on the subject.

Cast Boolits

This is the dedicated cast bullet forum!

castboolits.gunloads.com

I load for a 375Winchester. It uses many of the same powders and can be loaded with just about any powder from Red Dot to 4350 as shown on the burn rate charts. Bulky powders tend to fill the case better and give the lower Standard Deviations in velocity. Typically: The faster the powder, the less velocity you can achieve.

Reloder#7, 4198, 1680, and LeverRevolution are some of the best.

Reloder 7, and 4198 are known for accuracy in lever guns of all calibers fired at standard velocities.

I have used 800x and 2400 with good results with cast bullets at 1200 to 1500 fps in the 375Win and 30/30.

If I were looking for a sub load, I’d start with the popular 300BLK powders, Trail Boss, and the Black Powder Substitutes.

Here is Hodgdon’s list.

 

[jglenn]

3031 and 4198 were the 2 powders my family used for our 4570s(3) back in the day. We.all ean 300 grain hornadys

 

[SpeedyR]

Picked up the rifle this morning and took a few rounds to the range to play with. I loaded the Berry's 350gr plated bullets with 3031. Did 10 rounds with 40 grains, ten with 45 grains, and ten with 50 grains. Max load for the lever 45-70 was like 65 grain (compressed). I guess I shouldn't have shot a bunch of 22lr prior to hitting the rifle range with the 45-70. Even the 40 grain load was "stout". lol. Didn't feel a huge difference between them but all functioned fine. Will go back another time with a chronograph and put some on paper to see how the accuracy is once I decide on optics.

I'd really like one of the old Leupold scout rifles with the firedot but they don't make them any more (I don't suppose anyone has one laying around they don't want? The 1.5-5x Firedot Scout).

This thing is going to be fun.