45-70 Range Day

[Guy Miner]

Yesterday I sent some cast 405 gr bullets downrange at 30 and 100 yards, sitting, kneeling and standing.

Sure was fun!

 

[JD338]

It's always a good time when you are shooting a 45/70. Myself, I like lobbing the 300 gr BST's at the 250 yard gong. It sure sends back a satisfying ring when you make a hit. What hard cast bullet and load are you using Guy?

JD338

 

[SJB358]

It is a lot of fun shooting the 45-70s and other bigger bore lever guns.

 

[mjcmichigan]

Saturday! Got my scope back. It came with a sun screen and the threads were messed up. Got it back yesterday, so will mount it Friday and verify site in.

I will post a couple pictures of the bore.

I noticed I get bullet shavings left behind ...

Maybe I need to run tubs final finish to get rid of some weird edges...

I need to do more of the sit/stand/kneel vs bench. Most my hunting is from a blind.. so typically seated with a decent rest( at least a downed tree trunk.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Guy Miner]

It's always a good time when you are shooting a 45/70. Myself, I like lobbing the 300 gr BST's at the 250 yard gong. It sure sends back a satisfying ring when you make a hit. What hard cast bullet and load are you using Guy?

JD338

Buddy of mine casts them locally - he's got quite a small business going - I don't know what mold he's using. It's a flat point, plain base bullet, 405 grains.

I loaded over 48 grains of IMR 3031. Haven't ever tried them over a chronograph, but I'm thinking 1700ish fps. According to Hodgdon it's near the top end of the "trapdoor" loads but nowhere near the pressure limit of the Marlin.

Guy

 

[JD338]

Thanks Guy. That's a good looking bullet. The big wide meplat will do some serious damage to a big game animal.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Dang Guy, that picture is pretty cool just with the old metal can of 3031....

Lead bullet chuckers are kinda nice to have around should other stuff get tight.

 

[Elkman]

Those are beautiful Guy. I have been loading 50 Grains with mine, and usually the 350's from Montana Bullet works. My last batch using the Rem 405 gr, Remington Bullets, was using IMR-4895 from a can. I have three cans of 3031, just like yours in my storage room.

 

[Guy Miner]

I think that was the last old metal can of 3031, or any powder, that I had. So - when it was emptied, it took a spot on the shelf, next to the wolf skull and other cool old mementos of hunts & shoots.

Ya - I'd take pretty much any North American big game with that flat nosed lead bullet.

Guy

 

[SJB358]

I think that was the last old metal can of 3031, or any powder, that I had. So - when it was emptied, it took a spot on the shelf, next to the wolf skull and other cool old mementos of hunts & shoots.

Ya - I'd take pretty much any North American big game with that flat nosed lead bullet.

Guy

My experience with the flat nosed big guys it to put them on leg bones. I get a much better effect and less running. Putting them on ribs does kill but they will usually run a good bit. On bone and they usually won’t move.

 

[Paul Barnard]

3031 is THE powder for the 45-70. When I had a guide gun, 57 grains of 3031 pushing a 350 grain Hornady RN would always deliver MOA and sometimes half. that was with a cheap Simmons 2.5X shotgun scope.

 

[Guy Miner]

3031 is THE powder for the 45-70. When I had a guide gun, 57 grains of 3031 pushing a 350 grain Hornady RN would always deliver MOA and sometimes half. that was with a cheap Simmons 2.5X shotgun scope.

I'm at 56 grains of 3031 with the 350 gr Hornady Round Nose. And yes, I found it surprisingly accurate!

 

[KinleyWater]

Love me a 45-70! And there is something special about cast 405 grain FP loads. I'm using RL-7 for mine, but I don't recall the charge offhand.