The Big Iron - .45-70

[MTLabrador]

I’ve always loved lever actions, and since I was a kid I always wanted to own a .45-70. I decided that it was time and ended up coming home with a Henry with some very nice wood. The new Marlins I looked at were great, but I wanted blued steel and walnut in a carbine length barrel instead of laminate. As nice as a low powered scope would be for hunting purposes, I am probably going to stay with iron sights and add a set of Skinner peep sights. It will be a great camp companion in griz country and I’m going to enjoy hunting elk in the timber with it as well. The long range rifle bros and archery bros can hate me equally.

I have never loaded for the .45-70 before, so for those of you that have, I’m curious what powders and bullets you like. Since it will be used for elk and bears I’m thinking along the lines of a 350-405 gr soft point. I have quite a bit of IMR4064, which I know would work, but I’m open to suggestions for better powders too.

Some shameless rifle porn:

 

[longbow51]

Know nothing about .45-70 loads, but that's a sweet looking rifle. Congrats.

 

[SaskHunter]

I love my 45-70 and it's a great bear or thick bush rifle.

Also, "Henry with some very nice wood" has a whole other meaning if we're not talking rifles!

 

[p_ham]

Great looking wood on that one.

IMR/H 4198, Re 7, IMR 3031, IMR/H 4895 all work great in that weight range.
405gr hard cast has been my go-to bullet.

 

[MTLabrador]

Great looking wood on that one.

IMR/H 4198, Re 7, IMR 3031, IMR/H 4895 all work great in that weight range.
405gr hard cast has been my go-to bullet.

I was thinking about going with a hard cast as well.

 

[noharleyyet]

Beautiful grain MtLab...`

 

[Ben Lamb]

I was thinking about going with a hard cast as well.

Yes. 405 grain ahead of 70 grains of fff black powder.

 

[std7mag]

Alas, my Henry isn't a lever action.
Henry Single Shot Brass in 45-70.

For now I'm going with a 300gr Sierra JHP over a charge of Vihtavouri N130.

Perhaps next year I will give Missouri Bullets a go.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I carried my marlin almost every day of guiding career, love that rifle. Stuffed the case with RL7 behind a 400 grain Barnes buster. Topped with Skinner sights it was just plain handy.
I enjoy shooting her with a little softer load. Have fun it's a great cartridge.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Great looking wood on that one.

IMR/H 4198, Re 7, IMR 3031, IMR/H 4895 all work great in that weight range.
405gr hard cast has been my go-to bullet.

Back when I owned one I loaded it from mild to wild with a hard cast RCBS 405 FNGC (actually weighed about 420gr). I used unique, 2400, and RL7. For what you are talking about you don’t need max speed for a big thump and a big hole all the way through an elk (or to stop a bear). I’d find the widest flat nose bullet of 400gr or higher and push it to moderate speeds that your rifle likes and call it good

 

[Dan O]

If you cast the Lyman 457193 casts about 420 grains with wheel weights or 30-1. Also Brooks makes a nice heavy flat point for hunting to your specs taking in account you're using it in a lever action. You have to watch OAL so it will cycle ok. I used the Lyman bullet in my 45-70 highwall with reloader 7 at the top end Ruger loads. Do not use those loads in a lever action they have a set of Marlin lever action loads in the Lyman manual. I also used 400 grain Speer flat points with that Ruger load. Achieved 2000 fps with it in a 28 inch barrel. Lots of recoil!!!! Don't use the Ruger load data.

 

[.270Rem]

You made a solid choice and looks like you got a nice stock on that Henry. I had a Marlin look at me the wrong way in the Cabela's Gun Library back in May and somehow it lasted a few days for my return trip when I bought it. Haven't shot it yet, but I hope to get it some time afield this Fall.

 

[Nick87]

Gonna get one some day. Love that gun!

 

[BrentD]

I'm backing @Ben Lamb, though I opt for 2 or 1.5Fg Swiss black and maybe 410 grs of paper patched bullet with a little grease cookie in between.

How easy is it to pull the bolt on these Henrys so you can clean from the rear?

That is, indeed, a very nice stick of wood.

 

[hank4elk]

Nice.
I always wanted one.
A Henry 45-70.

Not for the reasons listed...LOL

 

[p_ham]

Alas, my Henry isn't a lever action.
Henry Single Shot Brass in 45-70.

For now I'm going with a 300gr Sierra JHP over a charge of Vihtavouri N130.

Perhaps next year I will give Missouri Bullets a go.

I think Lasercast are better than Missouri.

I'm backing @Ben Lamb, though I opt for 2 or 1.5Fg Swiss black and maybe 410 grs of paper patched bullet with a little grease cookie in between.

How easy is it to pull the bolt on these Henrys so you can clean from the rear?

That is, indeed, a very nice stick of wood.

The bolt comes out easily, there's a few for internals than a Marlin because of the transfer bar system. I've had a couple come in that were shooting black. Yuck.

 

[std7mag]

I think Lasercast are better than Missouri.


The bolt comes out easily, there's a few for internals than a Marlin because of the transfer bar system. I've had a couple come in that were shooting black. Yuck.

I have a distributor/wholesaler that is local and has really good prices.
So the Missouri are readily available and cheap.

Already running Missouri Bullets in 45 ACP, 45 Colt, 38 SPCL, 30 Carbine.

 

[BrentD]

I think Lasercast are better than Missouri.


The bolt comes out easily, there's a few for internals than a Marlin because of the transfer bar system. I've had a couple come in that were shooting black. Yuck.

Sounds odd. I shoot black in all my guns and do not find it an issue at all.

 

[buck23]

Blue steel, walnut and leather all make a fine combo. I know you will enjoy that rifle a ton.

 

[noharleyyet]

Sounds odd. I shoot black in all my guns and do not find it an issue at all.

Ray Charles could've seen that one coming....