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45-70 contender loads

P

PeterK

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Haey guys,
I just started loading for the 45-70 contender and have had quite good luck with the hornady 300 grain bullets with alliant 2400. Can't find anymore of the Hornadys, but found some 300 grain Sierras, but now can't find any load data with 2400 and these bullets. Anyone have any help some data, or can I use the data from the hornadys and work up slow? Thanks in advance.

Peter
 
Hi PeterK, Until my contender was stolen :( used to handload 45-70 for years, still have the dies and over a 100 rounds loaded. I use to shoot 350gr bullets but used 30grs of imr 4198. I would think that 300 sierras should be ok with the same load as 300 Hornadys as long as the OAL was the same for both. You did not mention type of bullet but I would guess that they are both flat points. It is always a good Idea to work up a new load. I'd start where you started with the 300gr Hornadys and go up from there.

edited to change 4178 to 4198 powder
 
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I'm sorry, yeah they are both flat points, with the cannelure crimp ring in the same place from the bottom of the bullet up to the cannelures, if that makes any since. Thanks for the help.

Peter
 
A lot of guys shoot that load out here in northern Nevada.

Some use Black Powder some use Smokeless but you better get your powder in 8 lb jugs......those cases suck up a
Lot of powder !!

Good loading.

30grs of 4178 .... or 4198 ?
There are pistol & two types of rifle loadings, pick the correct one !
 
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45-70 & 300gr.

Sierra's manual lists only one 300gr. HP/FN, #8900, for the 45-70 in the single shot pistol section. Is this the one you're looking for data? How much 2400 were you loading with the Hornady's?
 
The aforementioned manual lists start load for the #8900 bullet
as 25.7 grains of 2400 and do not exceed 29.2 grains. This comes
from the SSP section of the manual.
The test firearm was a 16" T/C Contender with Fed 210M primers in Fed cases.
2400 is the fastest powder they used.

4198 (IMR or H) is a much more "standard" powder for the big
cylindrical cases. If you want more performance and possibly
better accuracy with a load that fills the case, check this powder out.
It is considered THE powder for the 444 Marlin (which I shoot).

The Hodgdon web site has a comprehensive load data section.

---
Nemo
 
I used to load a 330 cast hollowpoint Gould bullet above 24 grs. of 2400 in my Contender and Magnum Research BFR. I also shot many rounds loaded with a Hoch 550 gr. Creedmoor above 70 grs. of Swiss 1 1/2 in the BFR for the "hand cannon" experience. Had surgery on my dominant shooting hand about 9 months ago and have since traded both guns off. Have fun.
 
Thanks guys, I appreciate the help. For the hornady bullets I was using the Lyman 49th manual data for t/C's of 24 to 30 grains of 2400. I only got up to 29 grains with very good results, 4 inch group at 50 yards with red dot sight. I checked the hodgden sight and the load data they list for the pistols is the data foe the sharps rifles,which I figure will probably leave me with some UN burned powder out of my 14 in barrel which I can live with. Does the sierra manual list any info in the ssr section for h335, which I have, or h or imr 4198 which I am going to try and find. Thanks for the help.
 
Nevada Ed said:
A lot of guys shoot that load out here in northern Nevada.

Some use Black Powder some use Smokeless but you better get your powder in 8 lb jugs......those cases suck up a
Lot of powder !!

Good loading.

30grs of 4178 .... or 4198 ?
There are pistol & two types of rifle loadings, pick the correct one !
Click to expand...

Ed You are correct it was 4198 I used a rifle powder and a reduced load but shot well in the T/C.
 
4198

PeterK said:
Does the sierra manual list any info in the ssp section for h335, which I have, or h or imr 4198 which I am going to try and find. Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

No H335 data.

IMR4198: start 38.8gr/1450fps & max 43.2gr/1650fps

H4198: start 39.4gr/1450fps & max 43.4gr/1650fps
 
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