Favorite loads for Winchester 1885 HiWall .45-.70

[Scarlet Angel]

My dad just acquired a new .45-.70 and would like to know some of your favorite loads.

He would like to use a 405 or 500 grain lead bullet and smokeless powder.

Johnny would appreciate some starting to max loads suitable for this gun.

Thanks

[Ol Gabe]

Comin' in real quiet like...don't want to step on anybodies toes.
It would be a big help if we had some more data, as in:
-Has he ever shot a 45-70 before?
-What distances will he be shooting at, 20 yds, 400 yds, 1,000 yds, etc.?
-Is this for a hunting or a target/paper-punching load?
-What kind of brass, primers, etc. has he thought about or has been 'told' he needs?
-Will he be reloading or just shooting out-of-the-box?
-If he is reloading, what type of reloader is he using?
Sorry to ask so many questions, but all these items have a bearing on 'suggested' loads, the data can vary of course, but it would be a big help to have before suggestions were made, after all, nobody wants to suggest a 'recipe' that may end up causing a desire to not shoot the rifle again.
Best regards and good shooting!
'Ol Gabe

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Scarlett, In my 45-70 BC, I'm using 405's with 25.4g of XMP-5744 and a CCI BR-2 primer. Now, the BC has a 32" barrel, so this might not work quite as well in a shorter one, but at least will give him somewheres to start. This load clocks at 1299fps out of the BC.........Buck

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[Scarlet Angel]

Thanks Buck,
Ours is a 32’ barrel also. This sounds like a good place to start. We have heard good things about XMP-5744.

Gabe,
Thanks for the reply, and you’re not stepping on my toes.

Yes, Johnny has shot a Ruger #3 .45-.70 with 300 grain jacketed bullets at 1900 fps MV for large game, max of 300 yard range.

Johnny says he is in quest of the iron buffalo out to 600 yards

He has been using new Winchester cases with cci large rifle primers.

Johnny has been reloading for a number of years and his main goal with this rifle and loads is to comply with SASS rules for the long distance side matches.

Thank you for your questions and response.

Scarlet

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Scarlett, I'm using 405's from Bonus Bullets that have three lube grooves. these have enough, I think, to work well in the extra length barrels. i recently went to this load trying to get back to BP speeds. works quite well in my BC. When I chrono'ed it, the backing target showed one basically ragged hole for the three shots. I believe two were in the same hole. I'm using the Win. cases as well. For dies, I'm using Hornady's with the LEE factory Crimp die. i find the LEE die makes a more consistent round. The rounds I chrono'ed had an SD of 3.31 and an ES of a little over 7. I had been using a bullet with one lube groove and it wasn't quite as accurate. Hope this helps him a little more..........Buck

[Scarlet Angel]

Is anybody familar with moly coated bullets?
From Bear Creek bullets.
We do have access to those. They are a grease grove type bullet but you don't grease them. We have heard they are successful and shoot clean.

Thanks
Scarlet