If you are new to the caliber and have not started reloading, choosing your bullet now is a detriment. If you are restricted to the mono flex type of bullet, I suppose that’s a different story. If not, better to choose the bullets that work best in your gun. I have not reloaded that bullet but have shot the factory loads with it and found them to be accurate at appropriate range for the 45/70.

 

If you're apparently not wanting max velocity out of your load, I'm not sure why you don't just use 325gr FTX Hornady loads? But I'm sure that you have your reasons. I'm just curious, not being rude. Thanks👍

 

I've shot plenty of Hornady's 250 MonoFlex bullets. They are accurate bullets that work well on whitetails. Shooting my 1895 SBL (18.5bbl), I use Starline cases that have been shortened as recommended, 57.5gr AA1680, Federal 210M primers. I get about 2,330 fps from the short (18.5") bbl. This is the maximum load listed in the Barnes manual for their 250 TSX bullet.

As always, start at lower powder charges and work up.

 

I run into cases all the time that are slightly shorter than the minimum posted trim length. Don't know why.

 

Hi!
Thanks for your answers!!
I’ve reloaded 5,56x45, 8,6 Lapua Magnum, 7,62x51 and swedish 6,5x55 for the last 34 years but never a straight wall case like the 45-70😀 I have had really good results with the Lapua naturalis bullet in different calibers. I like copper or monolithic bullets and my experience have been good using them, no lead in the meat and my family likes that😀 Never hunted with the 45-70 but I think it will suit my ”close range” hunts and it’s going to be both interesting and fun finding out. I’ve also got the Barnes 300 grain Tsx Fn and it will be interesting to compare the Tsx Fn and the monoflex even though the only answer comes from practical hunts. In Sweden there is a law that says that the hunting bullets must give 2000 joules @ 100 meters… so if I can reach that limit without having to use max loads I’m satiesfied😀
Perhaps the bullets have to sniff on the max loads for accuracy but thats what I’m gonna find out while testing my gun and loads. I usually decides on a bullet and then see what it can do in my rifle before moving on to the next. Slow and heavy should do it but regarding to the law and so on… the common powders here are the Norma and Vihtavuori even though other manufacturers are to be found but since I’m used to these two I’ll go on using them…
Still don’t know why the Hornady factory loaded cases are shorter than suggested trim lenght in their reloading app but that won’t be a problem!
I’ll get back when I’ve found out what the rifle likes😀

best regards,
Ping

 

The Hornady brass is short to accommodate the shape of the FTX bullet.

 

I shoot the 300gr Barnes using IMR4198. I have the Hornday 250gr FTX but haven't loaded them yet..

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk

 

If full length 45-70 brass is used with pointy bullets. they will not cycle through the action of lever action rifles.

 

Hi all!
Yup, I understand that they have to be shorter in order to cycle with those pointy bullets…
I just wondered why Hornady say trim full length brass to 2.040 but their own factory loaded brass is even shorter and more close to 2.030…
Here’s Hornady’s answer as from today;
”That is if you are starting off with full length brass. If you already have trimmed brass that had those Monoflex bullets in them you will not need to trim”…
Doesn’t give the whole truth as to why it’s differ but will not give me any problems anyway😀
All the best!!

 

Hey Ping74 -- this is slightly off-topic, but when you get those 250-grain .45-70 rounds "dialed in" and you're hunting with them, many of us would appreciate a Swedish hunt report with pictures!

 

G’day!
I’ll keep you updated!
I’ll start trying out the loads next week when my vacation starts.
For me the deer hunt starts at the 16th of august but I might be going after wild hogs before that, depends on how much I have to work😎

All the best!

 

I've been shooting the 250g Hornady Monoflex for about 5/6 years now, with no complaints. I don't mind trimming the brass for my 1895 GS. Off a bench/bags at 54yds. - 1 ragged hole with 5 rounds. Using the Hornady 8th. edition manual for 1900fps and IMR 4198 powder. The recoil is quite abit less than the 300gr. pills. I've taken black bear, deer and a 350lb. hog, all under 100yds. with one shot. If you use a single shot rifle, you probably don't have to trim the brass and you can really pump up the volume. Let us know how you make out.

 

Hi!
Thanks for the info!
After playing with numbers I need 2140 fps out of the muzzle to meet the law of 2000 joules (1476 ft-Lb) at 100 meters, in -10 degrees celsius, that keeps me on the right side with the authorities, but the accuracy will tell me to go up or down😎
I’ll keep you updated👍🏻
/ Ping

 

Do you think the game wardens are going to have a conagraph , a bullet puller,powder scale in the trunk and be able to tell what powder you are using? Any .45 cal bullet will go straight through hell look how many Buffalo were killed with the .45-70. Even the lightest bullet weighs more than most other caliber heaviest bullets. You use what you want to reload

 

i pushed 250 gr Barnes bullets at 2400 FPS with great accuracy. That was the .45-70 HP. It is a very good load for the Marlin 1895 for deer and bear.
Have a great day.
Jim

 

It would be helpful to know what load you used and the length of your barrel. There's not much info out there on these new(er) 250 monos in the 45-70.

 

Ping74,
Before I got my hands on 300 gr TSX I did some load development and shot couple of boxes lighter 250 gr TSX bullets at the range. Thats not the same bullet you are going to use, but both are made from copper and same weight.
Maybe this can help you someway.

Picture from target was when I measured average velocities, didnt focus on best accuracy anymore.

After those test groups I found heavier ones and they perform better than I expected so there was no need to turn back.

 

My limited (<100 reloads) experience showed them opening up group sizes when I pushed them harder. Lower vel's they were fine. Shot as good as others in my 1895CB. I was using H4198 in the mid-40's grains and up. No hunting experience with these.

 

When loading the heavier 300 gr TSX, I found three sweet spots for my own gun with limited test window. It goes like a sine wave, velocity increases and groups open and then again tightens.

When that sweet spot is found, powder charge can sometimes vary surprisingly lot +/- and still have good accuracy and low velocity difference.

But yet again, many times for my guns best accuracy is found from near starting load than from high end.

 

I ran 54gr of 1680 Accurate in the 1.8 case and crimped in middle groove on the Barnes 250gr bullet. In th full length case I found 55gr of 1680 to be good. Overall length was 2.515. Both of these loads were for Marlin 1895 with 22 in barrel. This was out of the Barnes manuel.
Have a great day.
Jim

 

The 300TSX shoot into an inch @ 100yds from my Marlin. Best accuracy was with H4198 @ 2,000 fps. They are VERY effective whitetail medicine. The recoil is noticeably less than heavier bullets at lower velocities, IMO.

 

Hi all!
Sorry I haven’t posted anything until now but my father passed and it has been alot around that, and work is just crazy.
I used Hornady’s reloading manual but made the cartridges COL 2.600”, the brass sized to 2.040” using a finnish powder that you can see on the picture. I’ve just tested it on 54 yards (50m) papertarget and a 5,9 inch steel ”gong” @ 109 yards with good result. Haven’t used it on any game yet but will be using the gun when I hunt with my dog. All that is left to do is to chronograph it so that the ft-lb meets the swedish regulations. The rifle was not that hard kicking after all😀
All the best to you, shoot straight and stay safe!!

 

True and I don’t…
My own curiosity getting to know a new caliber…

 

Looks like a good load.

Sorry for the passing of your father, loss of parents is a life changing event.

 

I’ve decided to go with 53.2 grains of Viht N130, a 2.600-2.603” COL and Federal LR or CCI BR2 for ignition (made no differents) for the 250gr Monoflex with the brass sized to 2.040”, it gave me this (picture) at 100 meters (109 yards)(5 rounds left target, 5 rounds right target) so the load works great in my Ruger made Marlin. The gun turned out to be a shooter!
I don’t think the load went that hard on my shoulder either, I’ll go down alot for my ”training” loads to make it easier on the gun in the long run.
Loosing close kin and brothers in arms is always life changing and gives perspektive to life. Thanks all!

I’ll get back when I used them on game.

 

I shot a small buck the other day with the 250 MonoFlex. He was quartering away at 100yds and I aimed just behind his shoulder. The bullet hit the point of aim but the deer's angle was more severe than I realized, or he was turning. The bullet entered behind the shoulder, exited in the front of the shoulder, re-entered the deer at the base of his head and blew out through the top of its skull. It was an ugly sight, but the buck dropped like a stone. The second exit hole was huge.