[Digger]

OK, so I will apologize now if the length of this post offends anyone. I will also make a public apology now to Marshall Stanton, for shooting those copper bullets through his targets, but he created the perfect scout scope target, sorry. I will also humbly apologize to Greg Bell, who up until Wednesday might have been getting his rifle back. Unfortunately, my lovely Sister in Law has been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I want my wife to be with her during this time, reducing our income a bit. So, no new projects for me right now, and I will be keeping the Brockman 1895gs with 16" barrel instead of selling it back to its original owner(Greg Bell) to fund a build of my own, sorry again Greg.

Now onto my story.

Here is a pic of the gun as it sits now with my Leupold Scout in Gun Metal Gray atop it.

We went to the range today, (we being me, the 1895 and a Romeo y Julietta Bully) after loading an assortment of 350gr Hornady FP's on five different charges of RL-7. All loads were in new Starline brass, with WLR primers and seated to the crimp groove. 5 Shot groups were fired from Lead Sled at 50yds.
The weather was cool and wet( go figure, I live in Western Washington) and the range was mine, mine, mine, all mine, not another soul there. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

The loads were 45, 46,47,48 and 49 grains respectively, and the data is as follows;

45.0grs, Velocities- 1616,1666,1688,1663,1679- Avg. 1668 FPS

46.0grs Velocities- 1704,1712,1699,1737,1689- Avg. 1708 FPS

47.0grs Velocities- 1786,1820,1810,1781,1821- Avg. 1803 FPS

48.0grs Velocities- 1844,1825,1836,1817,1815- Avg 1827 FPS

49.0grs Velocities- 1840,1869,1824,1846,1845- Avg 1844

So, although all the groups are good, it seems my gun likes it better the faster I push them. Having said that, I think I will stick with the 48gr load as it is almost as nice of a group as the 49gr, but that extra grain of powder did not pay much dividend in velocity. It did make the lever start to pop open upon firing though, so 48grs it is. Hope this is helpful to someone, I couldn't have done it without the help of so many folk here.

As much as I love the Piledriver Jr's, I think for deer, elk and bear in my home state, this Hornady 350gr FP may be a really good choice. I think the PD's will be better when I take a Bison though, or bigger bears and hopefully African game someday. All opinions welcome.

Oh, and BTW, this was a 1 Knob Creek post, thought it might take two, but I'll have to enjoy the second one over the replies.

Look out Ideeeho Bears, here comes Digger!!!!!!

 

[lever addict]

Great groups! Now print up some postal match targets and get them dead center of the bull! Good job Digger!

 

[JD338]

Nicely done Digger!

JD338

 

[achildofthesky]

I have a modest pile of the Hornady 350FP's cached in my loading stash and they do seem to shoot pretty well in any 45-70 I have loaded for. The price was right when I got them a few years back during one of the "Blem bullet" sales at Midway. Other than a couple with fingerprint stain tarnish they measured as any other 350FP Hornady...

For powder I have used H4198 and also tried H4895. Sometime I will try other propellants but for now, I have several #'s of those I mentioned.

Enjoy
Patty

 

[Bearcat 74]

Nice work, I have not revisited RL7 with the 350's yet, I'm using H4895.


Great groups with your 48 and 49gr charges.

 

[Gaterskiner]

Great post! Thank you.

 

[Seabass]

Very good post, thank you.

 

[picketpin]

Nicely done Digger, and prayers for your sister in law.

james

 

[Digger]

Nicely done Digger, and prayers for your sister in law.

james

Thank you. Your prayers are appreciated. Cancer is such an ugly disease. Through the marvelous advances in treatment and the power of God's love and grace she will beat this.I will speak no other outcome.

 

[gunlaker]

Although I have not tried Reloder7 with 350gr bullets, just cast and jacketed in 405gr, I found that accuracy always went up considerably as charge weights went up. Not all powders have behaved like that in .45-70 for me, but I never got good accuracy with reloder7 until the charge was within say 2 grains from max.

Chris.

 

[Digger]

Although I have not tried Reloder7 with 350gr bullets, just cast and jacketed in 405gr, I found that accuracy always went up considerably as charge weights went up. Not all powders have behaved like that in .45-70 for me, but I never got good accuracy with reloder7 until the charge was within say 2 grains from max.

Chris.

This is the first time I have used Reloader 7 for anything, but my results certainly bear that out. There are many on here that swear by it, and I can see why with results like these.

 

[Gaterskiner]

Hey Digger
When is your next load development report comming out? ;D ;D
Can't wait!

 

[findrichard]

It is also interesting to note that as the velocity of the rounds increased, the shot group patterned lower on the target.

 

[zerbe]

As to the group patterning lower on the target for faster loads go, I suspect that its a case of the bullet exiting the barrel faster under recoil/barrel jump that causes it to hit the target for a lower POI.

 

[Digger]

It is also interesting to note that as the velocity of the rounds increased, the shot group patterned lower on the target.

Sorry, should have put that in the post, I adjusted the scope down a little between 47 and 48 grains. That is why the groups are lower.

 

[Bob Hatfield]

Digger, that Hornady 350 gr. FN will also do the job on bison. I have taken three bison with that bullet loaded to 1800 fps in my Marlin 1895 LTD-V and Sharps 1874.
All three were one shot stops. Two of the bison were hit at the neck-skull junction and they dropped without taking one step. The third was slightly facing away and took the shot in the chest, lacerated the heart and ended up under the hide on the far shoulder. It was recovered, expanded to about 75 cal. and still retained about 80% of it's weight. The first two were complete pass thoughs, no recovery of the bullet.
The heart shot bison took about 5 steps, stood for about 10 seconds and dropped.

 

[Digger]

Digger, that Hornady 350 gr. FN will also do the job on bison. I have taken three bison with that bullet loaded to 1800 fps in my Marlin 1895 LTD-V and Sharps 1874.
All three were one shot stops. Two of the bison were hit at the neck-skull junction and they dropped without taking one step. The third was slightly facing away and took the shot in the chest, lacerated the heart and ended up under the hide on the far shoulder. It was recovered, expanded to about 75 cal. and still retained about 80% of it's weight. The first two were complete pass thoughs, no recovery of the bullet.
The heart shot bison took about 5 steps, stood for about 10 seconds and dropped.

Thanks, that's really good to know. Looks like I'm going to be spending some time in North Dakota, so shooting a bison just moved up on my list of things to do.

 

[SgtDog0311]

Wow... great post!!! Thanks, and we'll remember your sister-in-law too. Got the same situation here with my sister-in-law. Great distraction you've provided. AND, since I'm working towards reloading for the same weapon, the info is much appreciated.

By the way, I've three boxes of Hornady LEVERevolution... was going to use that as my once-fired start-up. Maybe watch for sales and buy two more boxes for an even hundred. Not too sure now from what I'm reading about the case length. And Hornady's answer is to buy their die. They say no problem crimping with theirs. Got more to read obviously.

Keep the reports coming, supurb job!

 

[w5cds]

I will speak no other outcome.

Don't, because words have power! Prayers going out for you and your SIL and her family.

Thanks for the great info on the new (trial) loads. I will soon be reloading for my 1895SS and need all the info I can get.

 

[HotShot2]

Great report and photos Digger, thanks

That sure is a mean lookin little shooter you've got there, very nice too. ;D