Carbine load, 45-70 Lighties

[HEAD0001]

I was in the market for a 45 Colt carbine barrel for a Contender carbine I am putting together. Then I found a good deal on a 17" Contender Carbine barrel in 45-70 with a Muzzle Tamer(included in the 17").

I am looking for some light loads for this new Carbine. I was thinking TrapDoor loads for the light, short barreled Carbine. It will be used for woods hunting only. But I would like the load to be effective to about 150 yards if it had to be. But then we all know a TrapDoor load is fully effective to 150 yards.

So what light loads do you guys like. Please keep in mind that this is a short barrel. So I think I need a powder that burns fairly fast??

Anyone think I might have any luck with RL-7 or 2400?? With or without a crimp??

What velocity do you guys think I should go for?? 1200??, 1100??, or slightly less?? Thanks, Tom.

[Chas.]

My favorite load is 24gr. Alliant 2400 and a 300gr. cast in my BFR's (7.5" & 10"). Don't know the vel. but I'd guess about 1200. Bullet is .001 over groove diameter and I get little to no leading.

[Stan in SC]

I have a trapper 45/70 Handi Rifle with 18-3/4" barrel.My load is a mild one.300 grain bullet and 40 gr of Reloader7.It is an accurate load.

Stan in SC

[damienph]

Stan, is tha a 300gr cast or JSP?

[Streetstar]

What a coincidence, i just got a sweet deal on a 15" encore barrel in 45/70 -- (posted elsewhere on the forum as "OT-New Pistol")

I thought it might have been Dirty Harry syndrome at first - you know -- the rumors about like new Model 29's being sold off along with a box of rounds with only 2 missing, that type of thing.

But then again, the Encore is chambered in cartridges a lot more brutal than the 45/70 --- just the thought of touching off a 30-06 in a 15" barreled handgun brings chills to my spine. Oh, and if the light loads i am going to be experimenting with work out, i will be sure to pm you after the range report is posted

[Noah Zark]

My mild load for 45-70 for the past 30+ years has been 13.5 gr of Unique under a 400 gr cast bullet. Remarkably accurate, no recoil, and significantly reduced report, yet still enough juice to take a whitetail.

Noah

[Old Ironsights]

I'll have to dig up my 457122 HP/Gould 2400 load. It's very mild. A great load if you are using a Lee Loader to load ONE AT A TIME (it's really easy to double (triple ) load using 2400...

Here it is: I use a 1.6 dipper (21.6gr) for roughly 1300fps.

[HEAD0001]

Anybody have any experience with Trail Boss in the 45-70 in a Cowboy Action type load?? It seems like TB would be prety good for case fill?? What do you guys think??

I never thought about Unique. Do you use a filler with Unique?? Tom.

[Noah Zark]

. . . I never thought about Unique. Do you use a filler with Unique?? Tom.

Tom:

Never used a filler, never had erratic ignition. I went so far as to chrono individual 45-70 reloads that I tapped base-down and bullet-down and single-loaded in my 1st year Marlin 1895 back in the early 80s, using my ancient by dependable Oehler 33. Velocity variation of powder-back cartridge was within 21 FPS of powder forward group of cartridges.

Always used a standard LR primer, generally either Winchester or Federal.

I use the same 13.5 gr of Unique under a 265 gr cast / gaschecked .379 bullet in my Marlin 336 CB in 38-55, with virtually the same results -- no recoil, reduced report, ~ 1270 to 1310 fps, and One Ragged Hole accuracy at 100 yds shooting from bags on the bench. And still enough juice to do for a deer out to 100 yds. I was shooting it three weeks ago at the range and one of the "Fudds" doing his "shoot three shots, walk 200 yds" drill was flat blown away when he saw my target, then asked about the gun, cartridge, and load. Could not believe an unscoped lever gun shooting a reduced cast bullet load with pistol powder could be that accurate, and produce a solid "thwack" when the bullet hit the berm behind the stand.

[Borregos]

12gr of Trail Boss and a 405gr cast give me 950fps out of my Marlin 1895SS, should be fun to shoot out of your carbine

[TedH]

The Lyman/Gould HP bullet with 13 gr. of Unique is very accurate in my Marlin, minimal recoil.

[Stan in SC]

damienph,That is a Remington 300 Gr. JHP.

Stan in SC

[2X22]

. . . I never thought about Unique. Do you use a filler with Unique?? Tom.

Tom:

Never used a filler, never had erratic ignition.

Always used a standard LR primer, generally either Winchester or Federal.

I couldn't agree more. I don't use a filler with 11grs of Unique and a 300gr cast. Same results, 1 ragged hole at 75 yards. I am sighted in for 85 yards, right to the corner of the chicken pen where the coyotes come into for the occasional chicken dinner. Leaves one ragged hole there too

2x22