45-70 reload advice please.

[syoungs]

So got some bench time finally, settled on a 50g charge of h 4198, 52 g was bearable to me, but it was sure a wallop, especially for not seeing but a average increase of only 25fps over the chrono.

5 shot average was 2008.5 fps,
2033
2023
1970
2009

I'd like to see tighter then a 62fps spread, or am I alright with that?

After seeing these chrono numbers I didn't mess with shooting the 54g loads.

Accuracy at 46g was sub par, though minute of bear woulda been no problem. At 50 yds, with the stock iron semi buckhorn sights I was able to group 5 in less the  4" which for me is a-ok. I'm gonna play around a little. Ore around the 50g of powder mark, with a extra leupold 3x9 I have mounted up to do the accuracy work.

Seems like I was running a touch fast for my load to, but I ran some known pistol rounds over the chrono and it was within 15fps. Anything stand out as off to anyone?

[syoungs]

I should note that when I was shooting groups, it was off an improvised rest, after shooting 25 rounds through the chrono, with factory winchester ammo, when I had the scope on the gun before, and a decent rest, I was shooting just a hair over 1" groups at 100 yds on my best days. And 3" groups off hand.

With 50g h4198, 350g hornady, I was able to hit a 300 yd gong on my 3rd or 4th attempt.

[theleo]

If you are pushing for accuracy, the factory buck horn sights aren't going to be your friend. That being said if you've never tried it you may consider trying a 6'oclock hold for accuracy shooting. Line everything up in the sight as you normally would but instead putting the front bead/blade directly over the target put it just under the target. For 50 yards with buck horns and an improvised rest 4-5" groups aren't that bad in my book.

[BigGoonTuna]

i just found the time to try out my first few handloads, 405 gr hard cast with 4198(i think they were trap door safe loads, just the starting load listed in lee's book).  definitely a little more power behind them than some of the factory ammo i've shot through my 1895, and the big thing for me is that they all went bang and didn't blow me up

[dbur525]

Hi
I have some hard cast bullets 525 gr large meplate area these are custom cast and very hard hitting, they are equivalent to the pile driver bullets
As far as powder charge I would have to go thru my notes
I would sell you some of the cast bullets if you are interested.
You cannot buy a bullet like these except from a bullet maker in Idaho but there is a 6 to 8 month backlog after you place an order. Sorry I don't remember the bullet manufacturer but if you do an Internet search for pile driver cast bullet it will give you the manufacturer name.

[syoungs]

Thanks for the offer, I've got 75-100 500g Hardcastle boolits sitting on the shelf, I think for now I'm gonna stick with the 350g hornady's, shouldn't be nothing that walks in the lower 48 that they can't handle I imagine.