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Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #20365]

Mon, 04 March 2013 17:43

Nicholas
Messages: 24
Registered: December 2012
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Forum Newbie

I've purchased a 45-70 barrel with muzzle tamer for my Contender and am anxious to shoot it. Never fired this caliber before, hot 44 Mag is the most powerful round I've shot in Contenders.

I don't hunt so don't expect to be taking any game with this unless I get an opportunity to hunt wild pig.

I'm looking for a reasonably good medium power load for plinking with capability to bump up to pig loads, probably 300gr. cast for plinking to keep the cost down and jacketed hp for pigs.

I have 8 rounds of Hornady Leverevolution 325gr. FTX and 20 rounds of Federal Fusion 300 Gr. that I hope to shoot soon. I've learned that the Hornady brass is shorter than standard to meet OAL specifications with the FTX bullet. Can I use this brass for reloading in the Contender? No need to crimp for Contender use?

I haven't reloaded since the mid-80's so for all practical purposes I'm starting from scratch. Appreciate any tips, pet loads, etc. to get me started again. Used to load 357, 44 mag and 22-250 so have experience with straight wall and bottle neck cartridges.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Nick

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #20375 is a reply to message #20365]

Mon, 04 March 2013 22:04

WV338
Messages: 262
Registered: June 2011
Location: Central Oregon

Forum Regular
Forum Moderator

The FTX shorter brass applies to lever guns only. I've been shooting 48.0 grs of IMR-4198 with 350 gr Speer FN.
good luck and good shooting...
Greg

Whisper Ventures
355th TFW

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #20447 is a reply to message #20375]

Wed, 06 March 2013 19:13

dave22250
Messages: 160
Registered: January 2012
Location: S.W.Pa.

Junior Member

Seems a little warm of a load for contender,lymans data calls for 36 max with a contender,speers manual for a trapdoor is 36 max for 350,and its a handfull in a lite contender,I've shoot the hornady 300 XTP,with 36 grns,and its a pretty stout load for a 4 1/2 lb rifle.fairly accurate load.

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #20454 is a reply to message #20447]

Wed, 06 March 2013 21:33

Nicholas
Messages: 24
Registered: December 2012
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Forum Newbie

Picked up a jar of Trailboss tonight. Looks like I can use TB with 45-70 and 45 Colt loads in the Contender. Need Winchester LP primers to start loading 45 Colt, not decided on a 45-70 primer yet. Still looking around for cast boolits for 45-70 also. Slowly accumulating pieces/parts to get started.

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #20476 is a reply to message #20454]

Thu, 07 March 2013 12:17

fishcoho
Messages: 63
Registered: October 2012
Location: yk delta

Novice Contributor

i've been wondering about the rifling in the tc contender 45/70's. my marlin lever action has shallow micro-groove, and data say's load cast bullets mildly so rifling wont be smeared with lead. what about the tc's, they shallow too?

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #20522 is a reply to message #20476]

Fri, 08 March 2013 16:51

Nicholas
Messages: 24
Registered: December 2012
Location: Cincinnati, OH

Forum Newbie

Fishcoho, good question. I've spent several hours reading different forums looking for reloading information and there is plenty of it out there. The general consensus is to not hot rod cast bullets, they will lead the barrel. Having said that, there appears to be safe loads for cast bullets in Contenders in 45-70 but I believe the velocity needs to be sub 1000 fps. Some of that will also depend on the hardness of the cast lead.

I've got some cast bullets on order and will try a few rounds with Trailboss to establish a baseline. I've got the Hornady 49th edition book and lee's second edition so have some good starting points.

Nick

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #20523 is a reply to message #20522]

Fri, 08 March 2013 17:31

dave22250
Messages: 160
Registered: January 2012
Location: S.W.Pa.

Junior Member

The Tcs rifling isn't micro grove,never seen the exact rifling used,and the contenders load data shows mid trapdoor to mid lever,but I don't want to stretch my frame,so I just use trapdoor load data.You don't need more than that,how many buffalo was killed at some unbelievable ranges with trapdoor loads.I have'nt shot any cast yet but have a couple differant bullet weights ready to go,to many projects and shoots,limits my time.

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #21097 is a reply to message #20523]

Tue, 26 March 2013 11:15

Deezil
Messages: 31
Registered: March 2013
Location: Lynden, WA.

Novice Contributor

I have some dies and 300gr bullits coming, thinking about IMR4198 (35-37gr), seems to come up in searches often.

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #21098 is a reply to message #21097]

Tue, 26 March 2013 11:23

dave22250
Messages: 160
Registered: January 2012
Location: S.W.Pa.

Junior Member

36 grns is a good 300 grn bullet load with imr 4198 thats what I was shooting but want to start cast bullets the 45 grn bullets are getting pricy

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #21264 is a reply to message #21098]

Mon, 01 April 2013 12:38

Deezil
Messages: 31
Registered: March 2013
Location: Lynden, WA.

Novice Contributor

Ok, shot a few of the 36gr IMR4198 behind a 300gr JHP bullet. Shot good, felt softer than factory corelok 300gr ammo, going to chrony some to see what they are doing and how far off the factory rounds they are in fps.

Anyone go more than 36gr?

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #21361 is a reply to message #21264]

Fri, 05 April 2013 22:19

Deezil
Messages: 31
Registered: March 2013
Location: Lynden, WA.

Novice Contributor

anyone reload for this?

Factory ammo is running 1530ish, Ive tried 36.5 and 37gr of powder, cant get any more speed, it averages 1250-1260fps. Do I need a tighter crimp?

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Re: Good Contender loads for 45-70 Govt.? [message #21373 is a reply to message #21361]

Sat, 06 April 2013 10:17

jamesgammel
Messages: 1708
Registered: August 2012
Location: Lovell, Wyoming

Top Contributor

John,
I've never seen or known of "crimping" bullets to have any significant effect on velocities. I've quit crimping at all for single shots, except shotshells so the shot doesn't fall out. Some crimping is suggested if used in repeaters so that recoil doesn't let bullets slip forward from prior fired rounds on those left in the magazine or tube. I'd be surprised if you saw 5-10fps gain in average velocity going from no crimp to a real heavy crimp with your selected load.
Jim

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