Working up a 45-70 load

[SteveR]

Hello everyone,

I'm in the process of working up a load for my H010B and have a hopefully simple question. I'm working with a moderate load of IMR4198 and the manual I'm using calls for a "polyester fiber wad", which I'm having trouble finding. I was hoping someone could recommend something else to use for the wad material. I was thinking about maybe a thick piece of cardboard cut to fit or maybe a couple of smaller cleaning patches, or even not using a patch at all. If anyone can help with this it would be appreciated.

[Travlin]

I have four reloading books including PET LOADS by Ken Waters and none say anything about using "Fillers" for any loads. I use a cardboard disk under the bullet when I load the 45-70 with black powder but this is to protect the bullet base as the case is filled with FFg.I have loaded 45-70 for over 50 years for leverguns and single shot rifles.

[Kissmybrass]

What recipe are you using? How many grains of 4198 and what type and weight are the boolits? I love 4198 and some of my lighter cowboy loads all work without fillers.

[Kissmybrass]

I hear oatmeal works but this is NOT coming from me

[SteveR]

The manual I've been using is the "One Book/One Caliber" for the 45-70. The bullet I'm working with for now is the Berry 350gr. over 35gr. of IMR 4198. I seem to recall reading somewhere that although the Berry bullets are plated it is a thin plating compared to jacketed bullets and data for lead bullets should be used. I've only fired two three shot groups of reloads so far, one with 3031 and one with 4198. The 3031 seemed decent at about 2.5" but the 4198 group was more like 4" and no wad was used in either. There didn't seem to be any problems as far as pressure goes but I was thinking the use of a wad, as called for in the manual, might be more consistent and accurate.

For now, I'm mainly trying to work up a "plinking" load to get familiar with the rifle and intend to later work up a jacketed round for hog hunting, although I'm sure any 350gr round at decent velocity would work just fine.

Thanks for the information and please keep the tips comming.

[Rifletom]

I hear oatmeal works but this is NOT coming from me

Seems I've read/heard that also. No idea where tho.

[Kissmybrass]

I'd be interested in any accuracy improvement with or without the wad. CC me on any info. I know the bullets themselves make a difference. I have Grizzly gas checks, Missouri coated lead and Hornady Leverevolution fully jacketed. Tightest groups are always the Hornady but the other two are nothing to sneeze at. (and wayyyyyyy more cost effective)

Also dabble with IMR4895 for the lead bullets which use more powder per charge but seems inconsistent.

[NHshtr]

I hear oatmeal works but this is NOT coming from me

Seems I've read/heard that also. No idea where tho.

I read the same in a blackpowder handgun manual I have. I used the oatmeal as a filler with FFG and FFFG and it worked fine for me, both in handgun loads and rifle loads. (I skipped the maple falvored variety and went with the old fashioned - I think it's more true to the old west! )
But I have no idea about 45/70 loads or using the powder SteveR is using, so caution is the best course.

[SteveR]

Ok, what I'm thinking about doing is loading up a few rounds with the 4198 load that I used before with so, so results. Since this leaves some space in the case, I'll use a small cleaning patch on top of the powder with some cotton filling the remainder of the space. This should keep the powder charge in place against the primer and hopefully be more consistent. I'll also load a few with the same powder and no filler as a control group. I don't see a problem with this since the added weight of the filler would be negligible and won't be creating a seal of any kind. If someone else does see a problem please speak up. I'll do this over the weekend and let ya'll know the results.

[Kissmybrass]

Ok, what I'm thinking about doing is loading up a few rounds with the 4198 load that I used before with so, so results. Since this leaves some space in the case, I'll use a small cleaning patch on top of the powder with some cotton filling the remainder of the space. This should keep the powder charge in place against the primer and hopefully be more consistent. I'll also load a few with the same powder and no filler as a control group. I don't see a problem with this since the added weight of the filler would be negligible and won't be creating a seal of any kind. If someone else does see a problem please speak up. I'll do this over the weekend and let ya'll know the results.

Look forward to the results

[SteveR]

I shot the loads I made up with the 4198 and the Berry's bullets, two four shot groups, one with and one without a filler wad. They were both from 3" to 4" which was about the same as before. I decided to load a few more with 3031 since they had shot fairly well before. I shot 3 and they shot great at 1.25" at 100 yards. I realize that 5 or 6 groups aren't enough to give me any really meaningful data, but at least it gives me a place to begin. From what I've read both 4198 and 3031 are popular in the 45-70 but I was trying to use the 4198 since I have more of it, and I don't use it for any other calibers.

I'm curious to know what results others have had, particularly with these two powders and the Berry's 350gr bullets. Also, if anyone can suggest a load they've had luck with that would be great. And last, if anyone who has a Henry in 45-70 could please give me an idea of what kind of accuracy I can expect from my rifle it might save me some time and effort trying to get it to shoot better than it's capable of.

Thanks, Steve

[Kissmybrass]

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IMG-3717.jpg (117.49 KiB) Viewed 838 times

Not sure the grain loads now but the Missouri and Grizzly GCs were charged with IMR 4895 and the Hornady FTX with IMR 4198
All same day with my Henry H010G and a Leupold 1.5-4X scope.