45-70 reloading with hornady 325g ftx ...powder choices?

[Steven mclean]

Looking for some help with powder choices for the 45-70 marlin dark running hornady ftx 325g
I have vhitavouri n130 on hand but can't find any load data for it has anyone used n130 before for the above ?
If so can you share your findings.
Or if you have a recommendation for powder
Cheers steve

 

[stalker.308]

Have you seen the hornady reloading manual for 325 FTX? Ive got it here can post it.

I’ve not quite got to the reloading point as I bought a load of factory when I brought mine back from Canada, so I am following this thread.

 

[Steven mclean]

If you could post up that page that would be great ..I intend to cast my own once this box of 325g heads are done so its just to get me started with the hornady rounds

 

[reiver]

There’s a few loads on the Vhit app for 45-70 in 130 not for that bullet weight but similar for load development Reloader 7 is a is a good powder that’s still available in the uk as well.

 

[Steven mclean]

There’s a few loads on the Vhit app for 45-70 in 130 not for that bullet weight but similar for load development Reloader 7 is a is a good powder that’s still available in the uk as well.

Yeah I looked at the vhitavouri app and seen the load data for 300 and 350 and as the bullet weight is 325 I decided on a figure in between both those loads at the lowest end of the scale but at 50 grains of n130 it near enough touches the base of the projectile when loaded into the case and was rightfully concerned about that load data..so thought I would reach out see if anyone has used it successfully

 

[Smellydog]

Yeah I looked at the vhitavouri app and seen the load data for 300 and 350 and as the bullet weight is 325 I decided on a figure in between both those loads at the lowest end of the scale but at 50 grains of n130 it near enough touches the base of the projectile when loaded into the case and was rightfully concerned about that load data..so thought I would reach out see if anyone has used it successfully

Why worry about it touching the base of the bullet?

 

[stalker.308]

If you could post up that page that would be great ..I intend to cast my own once this box of 325g heads are done so its just to get me started with the hornady rounds

Are you using hornady leverevolution factory rounds? Just bear in mind the cases are shorter because of the longer size of the bullets, perfect if you are reloading with 325ftx bullets.

 

[Steven mclean]

Are you using hornady leverevolution factory rounds? Just bear in mind the cases are shorter because of the longer size of the bullets, perfect if you are reloading with 325ftx bullets.

Yeah I have already shortened the cases to accommodate for the hornady rounds..cheers

 

[Steven mclean]

Why worry about it touching the base of the bullet?

Think its cause I was use to loading up for 357 straight cased rounds and they only used like 4.5 grains of titergroup powder barely enough to see it in the bottom of the case and now going from 1 extreme to the other just being overly cautious probably

 

[Smellydog]

Think its cause I was use to loading up for 357 straight cased rounds and they only used like 4.5 grains of titergroup powder barely enough to see it in the bottom of the case and now going from 1 extreme to the other just being overly cautious probably

Yes I see..
I use to do what I called small game loads in my 357 with just a few grains of shotgun powder but my full power loads were with powder near full to capacity. Slower or magnum pistol powder or small rifle powders.

A powder burn speed chart helps to see where you are for capacity.
Generally the faster powders for a given cartridge the volume or weight drops and the slower the burn rate the volume and or weight increases, usually with an ascending velocity rise.

 

[Muir]

RX7 is my #1 choice when loading 300-330 grain bullets in the 45-70. ~Muir

 

[Tim1989]

did you find out a good load using n130 ?

 

[stubear]

I rate IMR4166 highly for .45-70, seems to work pretty well with the 300gn and 405gn bullets in my experience.

 

[Steven mclean]

did you find out a good load using n130 ?

No not yet..due to running out of hornady 325ftx projectiles..near impossible to find in the uk at the moment ,I did settle on 40 grains of n130 for the ftx 325 heads.
Now casting 500grain lead heads, gas checked and powder coated so working up load data for those

 

[Tim1989]

No not yet..due to running out of hornady 325ftx projectiles..near impossible to find in the uk at the moment ,I did settle on 40 grains of n130 for the ftx 325 heads.
Now casting 500grain lead heads, gas checked and powder coated so working up load data for those

what sort of accuracy are you getting with the 500g cast ?

I just ordered some .458 speer 300g and 350g soft points to load

 

[Steven mclean]

what sort of accuracy are you getting with the 500g cast ?

I just ordered some .458 speer 300g and 350g soft points to load

Will let you know when I get the chance to use them

 

[RichardBest]

I've loaded 325gn FTX over 35gn Lovex D060. They shoot very well in my pedersoli 1886... 7 shot group of 1.5 inches at 100yards, with iron sights! I chronographed them at just over 1500fps.

405gn powder coated cast lead bullets over 40gn N130 gave me 1531fps and 3inch groups at 100yds

325 FTX over 40gn N130 were quite accurate at 100yds but the velocities were erratic ~1620 FPS but ES 130. And I had a couple of hang fires so gave up with N130. I dare say with a stouter load they'd do better.

With 350gn cast lead over 35gn N130 I had ignition failure on the first shot. The primer went off, but not the powder. The bullet was jammed into the lands and had to be knocked out from the muzzle. I pulled the rest of the rounds.

In my experience, in my rifle, N130 works fine in full power loads but has been erratic at lighter loads. I got a lot of leading of the barrel shooting .458 cast bullets at velocities much over 1600fps. I've got some gas checked 350gn cast bullets, which don't lead the barrel but accuracy is mediocre. After the accuracy of the FTX's I think I might stick with them, or with jacketed bullets anyway...

I like Lovex D060, a lot. Especially with FTX's.

Vihtavuori N32C is great for light loads. I've shot 405gn powder coated cast bullets with 17gn N32C... which is about max load. It gave me 1181fps, with an ES of just 11. Great fun for targets.
300gn cast bullets shot well with 15gn N32C, 1250fps., ES 21.

Good luck

 

[Steven mclean]

I've loaded 325gn FTX over 35gn Lovex D060. They shoot very well in my pedersoli 1886... 7 shot group of 1.5 inches at 100yards, with iron sights! I chronographed them at just over 1500fps.

405gn powder coated cast lead bullets over 40gn N130 gave me 1531fps and 3inch groups at 100yds

325 FTX over 40gn N130 were quite accurate at 100yds but the velocities were erratic ~1620 FPS but ES 130. And I had a couple of hang fires so gave up with N130. I dare say with a stouter load they'd do better.

With 350gn cast lead over 35gn N130 I had ignition failure on the first shot. The primer went off, but not the powder. The bullet was jammed into the lands and had to be knocked out from the muzzle. I pulled the rest of the rounds.

In my experience, in my rifle, N130 works fine in full power loads but has been erratic at lighter loads. I got a lot of leading of the barrel shooting .458 cast bullets at velocities much over 1600fps. I've got some gas checked 350gn cast bullets, which don't lead the barrel but accuracy is mediocre. After the accuracy of the FTX's I think I might stick with them, or with jacketed bullets anyway...

I like Lovex D060, a lot. Especially with FTX's.

Vihtavuori N32C is great for light loads. I've shot 405gn powder coated cast bullets with 17gn N32C... which is about max load. It gave me 1181fps, with an ES of just 11. Great fun for targets.
300gn cast bullets shot well with 15gn N32C, 1250fps., ES 21.

Good luck

Yeah I use the same 40 grains of n130 for the hornady revolution 325gr projectiles..
Been playing with 500grain powder coated and gas checked projectiles..loaded up to 34grains of n130 and had no issues so far with pressure or with fouling..no checked for accuracy yet or velocity