5744, 4198, Unique, 2400, Vihtavuori N110

 

5744 (Buffalo Rifle) Unique, Red Dot

 

5744 (Buffalo Rifle)? Are these the same?

 

I have tried Trail Boss, Unique, 2400, Red Dot and a few others for light and subsonic loads. Most of the pistol powers are not going to fill the case much so you really have to watch the powder levels with those.

 

I can't remember which bullet weight I used, but I believe that Varget can be used in light loads. Suggest you get a copy of Lyman's Cast Bullet Handbook. They have numerous light loads listed.

 

I have used IMR 4198 for everything from mild to wild. It has a broad range in the 45/70. My plinking loads are from the trapdoor section.

 

I’ve had good luck with VV N120 in mild loads, it has replaced 5744 in my lineup for everything but my Trapdoor loads. But I have used it mostly with 400-500 grain bullets. Also check out the Lyman cast bullet manual. Obviously they won’t have data specific to the Berry’s plated, but it should give you a good starting point for some mild load data.

 

I used IMR3031 for some plink loads, and 350gr Berry Bullets. They were comfortable to shoot and accurate enough to blow up some water jugs at 20 yards, hard to have more fun than that

 

HS6 is great in mine. 2400 is as well

 

I have a new Marling 1895 and want to make some light loads for target and plinking. I have a box of 350 grain Berry's Bullets and 100 Starling brass that I have already primed. I charged one case with Hodgdon's starting 38 grain load of X-Terminator and did not like the fill level. Barely over half of the case. I can't find Trail Boss.

Can anyone recommend a powder that is working for your light loads and 350 grain bullets?

CSM,

Attached is a link of tested reduced loads for the 45-70 along with 10 shot group accuracy.

Lever Gun Performance Studies

Reloading Data for cast bullets, result of lever gun accuracy studies on cartridges: 357 Magnum, 41 Rem Mag, 44 S&W, 44 Russian, 44 Magnum, 444 Marlin, 45-70 Goverment, Pistol Powders, Large Capacity Rifle Cases

www.gmdr.com

PS: Mind the charge. Look into the case with a flashlight before putting a bullet over the powder. All loads within the article can be double charged without overflowing the case!

Stay Safe

 

^^^THAT’LL leave a mark!

 

Unique was my “go to” powder for reduced loads. I have not seen it on a shelf or available online in several years. If you can find it that is my suggestion.

 

All of the powders mentioned are not a position sensitive powder. Just follow the directions in your reloading manual.

 

Vihtavuori N110 works good, I use it with H&N copper plated bullets: 400 gr v0 around 425 m/s and 300 gr v0 around 480 m/s.

 

I have found that the Berrys 350 and a moderate load of IMR4064 (which I had laying around) produced very accurate ammo @ 1,300fps.

 

I happen to have some IMR4064. Do you remember your charge weight for that load?

 

46.0gr IMR 4064 was getting me 1,350fps in my 18.5" bbl SBL rifle. Brass was Starline and primer was Fed 210M.

 

Unique for my .444 and .45/70 cat sneeze loads.

 

I have used this data. Pretty awesome stuff. I am using 300 grain hard cast lead bullets from Missouri.

Lever Gun Performance Studies

 

I use Unique or trailboss for plinkers.

When using unique I load on the single stage instead of the Dillon and seat the bullet immediately after charging the case.

 

I have been watching for Trailboss for many years. Never have seen any for sale. I have just opened my last 4 pounder of Hercules Unique. That said I use Alliant Green Dot for reduced loads. 9.5 grains gives just over 1000 FPS with a 300 grain lead SWC in 45-70. Very little recoil, clean burning and accurate at 100 yards.

 

5744 (Buffalo Rifle)? Are these the same?

 

I use 25grains of 2400 with a wad.

 

IMR4198, H4198, & even IMR3031.

 

I wanted to use 4198, but it's $73 at my local shop. I settled for LT-32 since it was $44 at Bass Pro.

 

Lots of powders will work for light loads in a 45-70. Look at the books and use a powder that you already have and are no longer using.

 

I am approaching 50 years of loading and shooting 45-70 an thought I would provide my insight. When I first started loading/shooting 45-70 back in the 70's I thought I needed to push 300jhp's as fast as the action of Marlin 1895 would take. A pretty much case full of 4198 accomplished this producing velocities over 2000fps. While these were fine for hunting they weren't much fun for plinking due to the recoil. I began casting and working on lighter loads at or below the original trapdoor ballistics. What I found was the 4198 did not work too well at this level especially with 300-350 grain cast bullets. Velocity extreme spreads approached 200fps. Checking old Lyman manuals found loads for Unique and 2400 which I had on hand for loading handgun ammo. I found these much more suitable producing better accuracy and low ES/SD's. What I found out sometime later is the single base extruded powders like 4198 and all the IMR type powders need 25-28000psi before they burn efficiently. Below this level they burn inconsistently thus the huge extreme spreads in velocity. 4198 is about the fastest of the single base extruded powders, even slower powders of this type make the situation even worse. Squibs are a possibility and I wonder if some of these blown up rifles are a result of a failed ignition sticking a bullet in the barrel and another round being fired. My advice for light loads is to use double base pistol/shotgun powders from bullseye to 2400 in burn rate. 5744 is another great choice (bit slower than 2400) for 500+ grain bullets but I found it to have ES/SD's higher than I want with bullets under 400. GMDR and older Lyman manuals are sources for data. Remember to carefully check for double charges. My $ .02.