.45-70 Loads w/ Varget, Need Help!

Wood: some comments about for pistol and the critters you wanna shoot.

1. Big weight range of critter considering squirrel to bear. .45-70 usage would be like squishing squirrels I would think.

2. As stated on this post, LOTS of velocity range in .45-70 loads, I would sure start mild. The 60gr of H4198 w/ 300gr Hornady's will thump ya good in a rifle, handgun, you'd best be ready for the hammer to drop.

3. You may wish to consider a 'Blue Dot' load w/ filler for a handheld firearm. I have seen these used in .45-70 and they work well.
 
This is a list of possible powders from QuickLOAD. I sorted them by velocity. I think what has worked well in MY rifle (Varget) would be terrible in a short barrel (burns too slow). Just my .02

Keith


Code:

Code: 
Cartridge           : .45-70 Govt. SAAMI
Bullet              : .458, 300, HDY HP 4500
Cartridge O.A.L. L6 : 2.550 inch or 64.77 mm
Barrel Length       : 7.5 inch or 190.5 mm
Powder              : Hodgdon H4198

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step    Fill. Charge   Vel.  Energy   Pmax   Pmuz  Prop.Burnt Btime
 %       %    Grains   fps   ft.lbs    psi    psi      %        ms

-20.0   69    36.00   1126     844   16814   7506     59.5    0.889
-18.0   71    36.90   1152     884   17672   7823     60.6    0.872
-16.0   72    37.80   1178     925   18572   8146     61.7    0.855
-14.0   74    38.70   1205     968   19514   8475     62.8    0.838
-12.0   76    39.60   1232    1012   20501   8809     63.9    0.821
-10.0   78    40.50   1260    1057   21534   9148     65.0    0.805
-08.0   79    41.40   1288    1104   22615   9492     66.1    0.790
-06.0   81    42.30   1315    1153   23749   9841     67.2    0.774
-04.0   83    43.20   1344    1203   24936  10193     68.3    0.759  ! HOT LOAD !
-02.0   84    44.10   1372    1254   26179  10550     69.4    0.744  ! HOT LOAD !
+00.0   86    45.00   1401    1307   27481  10910     70.5    0.729  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+02.0   88    45.90   1430    1362   28845  11273     71.6    0.715  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0   90    46.80   1459    1419   30273  11639     72.7    0.700  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0   91    47.70   1489    1477   31768  12007     73.8    0.687  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0   93    48.60   1519    1536   33323  12377     74.8    0.673  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0   95    49.50   1549    1598   34941  12749     75.9    0.659  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba     86    45.00   1496    1491   31910  12083     78.7    0.686  !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba     86    45.00   1299    1124   23203   9574     61.6    0.797

 
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wksinatl; I just realized that you made that chart up for 7 1/2 in. barrel. thanks alot man. The Magnum Research website say's to use rounds for lever action rifles. Thanks again, Joe
 
It's gonna snow tomorrow starting early up here so I packed up my visit and headed home. Stopped on the way and bought my 45-70 revolver, reloading stuff and 2 boxes of ammo.
The cartridges I bought are Remington 405 gr. JFN as a starting point. The bullets for reloading are Speer 400 gr. JFN and I ended up with the IMR-4198 powder. Did you guys now that Hodgdons bought out IMR?
Tomorrow I'll see were shes shoot'n. What a massive gun, Big, looks like it was made in Texas. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif They say it's got a little under 3 1/2 lb. trigger pull. I'll see about that.
 
I have 2 Marlin 45-70's....one is an 1895 Cowboy I purchased with fur money a few years back, I simply adore this rifle. The other is an 1895 Guide Gun in Stainless Steel and straight walnut stock,...I adore this gun as well.
I had a ton of Imr4895 that didn't work in any other cartridges that I load for, so I load it for plinking with 300 and 405 Remington bullets. Excellent speed and accuracy.
I tried Imr3031 and noticed a ton of unburned powder everywhere in the barrel and action. .
I like Reloader 7,..It's a good powder for the 45-70.
Shooting the 45/70 is real cheap too.
I can purchase 405 grain Rem bullets from Midway , dealer cost, for 11.58 per 100 and 12.53 for 300 grainer hollow points. Powder is free when I use my Cabela's points.
Shooting those 45/70's is addictive,...I love it when my friend's jaws drop at the mention of a 405 grain bullet....not to mention the reaction I see when they look at the big hole in the end of the barrel....PRICELESS !!!
CkM
 
COYOTEKILLERMILLER, I hear ya! Even though I sold mine I miss it. I am a Tactical shooter. I have all of the high tech way cool gear for competition. HOWEVER, everytime I go to the local gun store there is a stainless guidegun that calls my name when I go in there. I don't even hunt deer anymore so it wouldn't make sense to buy it. Some day I just might have a weak moment and money on the hip and get it.

Keith /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
I had a weak moment. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

45-701.jpg


I just got back from shooting.
The remington express I bought were nice and
mild. I can still feel a little tingle in my palm. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

45-702.jpg


I gotta work on getting a holster before Moose season.

45-703.jpg
 
Wood: Great looking gun!!!!!!!! I had loaded some .45-70 w/ 60 gr of H4198 prior to loading the Varget. If ya want your WHOLE BODY to tingle, try some that on, WOW! It thumps on both ends!!!!!!!! The Varget is MUCH more tame!
 
Longcruise I like your Idea. I'm gonna try something a little different. I got a couple of different kinds of shotgun powders and some bb shot. I'll put a good charge of powder in the case then a felt wad, bb shot on top. Then I'll make a partition out of cardboard, put it in on the shot and pour hot wax to the top.
If The pattern holds together for 30 ft. It'll work on these little red squirrles. If not, it will scare'm to death.
 
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