reloading 45-70 powder of choice?

[360hunt]

Hello Alberta Outdoorsman,
I'm recently picked up a 45-70 with a large amount of reloading components. Hundreds of brass, bullets and casting equipment.
I'm curious to what reloading powders have worked for other members before committing to an eight pound jug. I have been using reloader 7 but it seems to be almost impossible to get around my parts. Any advice is much appreciated.
Cheers 360hunt

[Smokinyotes]

I use varget with a 350gr round nose hornady

[LeroyvdH]

2ff Goex 405 lead bollit

[Flieguy]

Originally Posted by LeroyvdH

2ff Goex 405 lead bollit

[Boogerfart]

There's many different powders that work in the 45/70, pretty much any medium to fast powder will work with proper attention to detail. I currently use H4198 a lot as its easy to find and safe to download, IMR3031 is popular too, my current favorite load is 25gr of H4198 behind a 405gr hollow base cast from a Lee mold with wheel weights. It's got more power than you'd think and is easy on the shoulder compared to full power loads. Velocity isn't needed with heavy bullets, a friend shot his moose this fall with a 405gr HB over 14gr of Unique- the moose fell in it's shadow.

[YYC338]

Lots of good powders out there. As mentioned 4198 is good. either IMR or H and no, the load data between the two isn't interchangeable. H322 (322 is an "extreme" powder) & H335 are good also as is Benchmark.

[dogslayer403]

Imr 3031 is my go to for 300g-405g and Trailboss for reduced loads

[pyk]

42 gr 3031 behind 405 gr cast bullets gets around 1400 in a 1895 Marlin. Same load is accurate in a 34inch sharpes. I haven't run that one over a chrony. A little more powder starts to become noticeable with the straight stock and crescent butt plate.

[4570]

Marlin JM guide gun
Leupold VX R scope, low power

350g hornady RN
reloder 7

405g bullet barn hard cast (excellent company, family operation)
12g trail boss for around 980 fps
and lots of fun shooting gongs

[303carbine]

40 grains of IMR 4198 under a 420 gas checked cast bullet out of a shorty 4570 gets 1630 fps.
Either of the 4198 powders burn the cleanest of all powders I have tried.

[catnthehat]

Never did much serious shooting with anything but FFG and cast bullets in my
Vintage cartridges .
Messed around a bit with Unique and 4759 but when I get serious I grab the black powder
Cat

[Huntsman]

IMR 4198 for jacketed and cast boolits

[brewster29]

Marlin guide gun
Hornady 350 RN
Starline brass
CCI 200 primer
Hodgdon load data max loads H4198 and H322
MV 2050 fps
Great accuracy

Planning on trying CFE223 next.

[Pioneer2]

These loads are not for any other 45-70 IMR 4198 -44gr/350gr Hornady FN shot .504" group 54gr- IMR 3031/300gr Hornady HP shot .536" group

[Dean2]

In pretty much any 45-70 you are looking for the lowest pressure loads you can find that still produce good velocity. For 350, 400 and 500 grain loads the powders that do this most effectively are Varget, followed by H4895. A 350 grain bullet at 2000 fps produces 10,000 CUP less pressure than the same speed loaded with 4198. Check Hodgdon's load manuals and you will easily see what I mean.

I always look for the powder that produces the highest velocities at the lowest pressures. They make a great starting point for load development.

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

[Pioneer2]

At a tolerable level while still retaining accuracy was my criteria.My Marlin has the straight stock with curved butt plate [ no lawyer proof safety] so you can feel all the recoil ...........traditionally.In the neighborhood of 50 ft/lbs and a 338 win mag is about 32 ft/lbs for comparison.Didn't see the point of playing with other powders when I was getting this kind of accuracy.Harold

[Bowser]

Accurate 2460 and anything...but I use a 405 gr.