Highest velocity 45/70 loads

preventec47 · Post by **preventec47** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:26 am

A year or so ago I was talking with a Barnes technician
( strictly off the record privately )
who was working with his 32 inch H&R buffalo classic and
their lightest 45/70 bullet. I cant remember either the bullet
details or any of his loadings but I seem to recall he was
using some powders that were a step slower than most
powders recommended in the charts for the 45/70. He
was getting some velocities above the 2600 fps without
exceeeding recommended pressures for the H&R.
I think the bullet weight was 250 grains and possibly a
bullet they no longer make or sell. I recall at the time it
was discontinued and they only had a few hundred left.

Of course many can argue whats the point or why
and one reason I can think of is recoil as with such a lighter
bullet there would be noticable relief. Also would be interesting
to refer to your 45/70 as your varminter rifle :-)

Has anyone here done any work with 32 inch barrels in 45/70 ?

Bluehawk · Post by **Bluehawk** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:42 am

I am one who will have to say "Whats the point?" except to say you did it. A bullet that light in a 45/cal is almost a round ball so the BC cant be good enough to get any thing extra out of the velocity for distance shooting .
Its lke any thing else in firearms if I want to get 2800 FPs out of a 150 grain 30 cal bullet I go to the 30/06 instead of pushng the 30 WCF WAY over its limits. I can see getting the max performance out of any firearm you own through careful hand loading I do it all the time and thats the fun imn this stuff but you cant make a silk purse froma sows ear
I dont think you can ? Can YOu

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:04 am

preventec47 -

Your post makes about as much sense as your post in the "444 XLR" thread the other day.

Along with Bluehawk, I gotta also say "what's the point".

What's your experience with the .45-70?

rjohns94 · Post by **rjohns94** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:16 am

I thought the fun of the 45-70 was to shoot big heavy bullets

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:30 am

Maybe somebody can find a sabot and stick a 180 gr .30 spitzer in it...

Works for the .50 SLAP...

preventec47 · Post by **preventec47** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:38 am

I just love it when I can predict the responses ahead of time.

The point here as this is a discussion group was to share
something someone else had done that I thought was
interesting and still do. For all you that complain about
hi recoil well here is this guys solution. I think he even
said there were some bullets in 458 that were even lighter.
maybe it was a 200 grainer. Dont know. Thats why I
was passing it along. Does anyone here think 250
grains at 2600 wont kill anything ?

Speaking of 444, it seems to me this kind of loading
overlaps into the 444 territory as far as lightweight and
hi velocity combination.
Ed, you keep asking about my experience. Do you somehow
think it relates to the point of my post ? Do you see
any assertion being made where credibility however
derived is a factor? Lighten up buddy, I'm just making
conversation and I am not asking whether you agree or
disagree and dont care. I for one personally would like to
play around with some loadings like his in a 32 in barrel.

With bullets maybe spanning 200 gr to 500 gr I guess
the 45/70 can be any kind of toy you want it to be.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:33 am

I can see how 250gr would be a fun light plinker. Balistically it would be a good 150-200 yard light game bullet better BC then a round ball since a .490 RB is 180gr. The only problem I see is that a bullet in this weight at 2600fps would be very explosive not good if you want to keep pelts.
If you loaded it down I imagine that it would be a good loading for older kids and women that are recoil sensitive but want to shoot the cool guns that 45-70 comes in.

Bronco · Post by **Bronco** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:58 am

Howdy,
For me part of the fun of reloading is to try things that are safe and unusual. Finding a safe load that the bullets only sticks in the plywood half way and can be pulled out with a set of pliers, stuff like that. If someone want to have fun loading up a small light bullet in a 45-70, I can't fathom why someone would put that down if he is having a good time with the exercise. Just my $0.02.
John

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 11:08 am

preventec47 -- check out this thread:

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewtopic.php?t=5352

Although they talk about mostly heavy bullets, much of the info they give relates to your questions. "leverluver" gives some very good info as relates to various powders.

As for you experience with the .45-70, I was just curious.

You asked, "Ed, you keep asking about my experience. Do you somehow
think it relates to the point of my post ?"

Yes, I believe it absolutely does. It would really be neat if you owned or had used (maybe you do/have) a .45-70 with a 32" barrel to relate your experiences with the lighter bullets so as to compare your experience with the guy from Barnes Bullets.

Just my 2Â¢