Powder best for loading in 45-70, I know broad question.

[joec]

Now I know their are several powders for pistols (and rifles/shotgun) that are for lack of a better term kind of Universal. Now with that said I'm looking for a powder for making up some loads for Oregon Trails Laser cast 45-70 bullets. Now the one powder common to all three bullet weights 300gr, 350gr and 405gr was Reloader 7. Now I know some of the other common powders for 45-70 Gov Lever guns that are common it seems regardless of bullet is the 3031 and a few others. Now for just plain plinking and small varmints I would just trial boss with a 300 gr bullet though odds are I would use a 9mm or 45 colt for that stuff.

Basically what I'm asking is what powder to load with to get started with these bullets would work with all three. I will probably use others later just trying to find the one that is acceptable, not always the best I know. Looking for consistent accuracy and stopping power for pigs to deer and perhaps a black bear in a pinch.

[Ranch Dog]

I'm a Hodgdon guy so when I think of the 45-70, I think H335, H4895, or Benchmark in that order.

[joec]

I'm a Hodgdon guy so when I think of the 45-70, I think H335, H4895, or Benchmark in that order.

I'm kind of into the Hodgdon powders myself though mostly because of the Goex I've used a lot for BP as well as Pyrodex. I will check these out and see how they if I can find the information load in the Oregon laser cast bullets. Very little accurate information on them though I guess they would work fine as simple lead cast by grain weight too.

[pricedo]

H322, H4198, IMR3031, IMR4198, RL7

I've always preferred IMR3031 in the .45-70 GVT.
It's a fairly common power, available most anywhere and very clean burning, about the right density to properly fill case without air space or compressed loads, hard to over charge.

[joec]

H322, H4198, IMR3031, IMR4198, RL7

I've always preferred IMR3031 in the .45-70 GVT.
It's a fairly common power, available most anywhere and very clean burning, about the right density to properly fill case without air space or compressed loads, hard to over charge.

Thanks and I already had the 3031, 4198 and Reloader 7 on my list of ones to try.

[deaddoc4444]

I have been satisfied with IMR 3031 for years for MOST 45/70 applications . Lately I have been playing with Varget , with some success . For jacket bullets I WILL stick with 3031 SOME cast applications I like the Varget but most cast applications I use AA 5744 . I do load black powder but not as much as I used to. 5744 seems to have a pressure curve that just goes with cast bullets . I just completed a trade yesterday that got me my first Rossi 92 in that trade I let go one of my last Sharps rifles leaving me with only two 45/70 Rifles . ( down from 17 previously owned ) I mention this ONLY for the fact that I have owned numerous 45/70s in all strength categories,over the last 40 years, and ALL responded well to the above powders. Some responded to some others Like H4895 etc, but ALL would do well with the above . JMHO

[joec]

I have been satisfied with IMR 3031 for years for MOST 45/70 applications . Lately I have been playing with Varget , with some success . For jacket bullets I WILL stick with 3031 SOME cast applications I like the Varget but most cast applications I use AA 5744 . I do load black powder but not as much as I used to. 5744 seems to have a pressure curve that just goes with cast bullets . I just completed a trade yesterday that got me my first Rossi 92 in that trade I let go one of my last Sharps rifles leaving me with only two 45/70 Rifles . ( down from 17 previously owned ) I mention this ONLY for the fact that I have owned numerous 45/70s in all strength categories,over the last 40 years, and ALL responded well to the above powders. Some responded to some others Like H4895 etc, but ALL would do well with the above . JMHO

Thanks doc and I will be loading mostly Laser cast bullets for the most part.

[pricedo]

I'm a Hodgdon guy so when I think of the 45-70, I think H335, H4895, or Benchmark in that order.

In that case (another pun ) try H322 & H4198 in the 45-70 ...........you'll like them.

[Tazman1602]

Any of the 4198's or RE7 work great in my 45-70 but I'm not shooting max loads with cast bullets either.....

Art

[deaddoc4444]

Over the years I have owned about 15 or so rifles and a Contender Pistol in 45/70 . I am currently down to 2 right now. I can do EVERYTHING cast or jacketed with either IMR 3031 or Varget or AA 5744. I have owned 3 Marlin 95s ( still have one ) one Browning 86 Carbine and for a Short time a Converted Siamese Mauser. ALL of which LOVED the Speer 400 grain ( or Remington 405 ) with 53 grains of 3031 (RIGHT On the LIMIT ) . ALL of those rifles ALSO LOVED the Hornady or Speer 350 Grain with 55 grains of 3031. All my loads in the 45/70 I use the Fed 210M primer .
I cast with the Lee 400/405 Grain , the Lee 450 grain , the Lyman 385 Grain RN, AND RD 350 and 425 Boolits . ( the Lyman 385 grain I also Hollow Point that bullet sometimes with the Forster Hollow pointer that reduces it to about 360 grain ) All of the cast boolits do quite well with the 5744 and do well with the Varget also. I would hate to do with out any of these for my 45/70s but IF I had to choose one Id use Varget for all