Question for 45 70 shooters

[papaboomboom]

So I'm a proud MLC member, shooting rio grande 45 70. My question revolves around some reloaded ammo I recently picked up, im going to pull the bullets and load myself with my powder. The few I have pulled have all had 28.0 grs of small stick powder in them, any ideas what these might be for? Seems like really lite charge. Got them from grandson of deceased gentleman, grandson says he shot lever guns? All bullets are cast 405 btw. Any ideas from the experts here?

[bigbossman]

No way to tell, really. I would guess 4198 because it is popular with 38-55. IMR lists a "Trapdoor" load in this caliber for a 405gr bullet at 30 -32gr.... so, maybe?

For reference, IMR lists 3 loads for 45-70 and 4198 https://shop.hodgdon.com/imr/imr-4198

1)Trapdoor
2) Lever Gun
3) Modern Rifle

Only #1 lists the 405gr bullet for a recipe. Hodgdon also lists a 45-70 "trapdoor" load for a 405gr bullet, at 27 - 31gr. So..... Maybe?

[papaboomboom]

Not familiar with 4198, is it a dark black short stick powder?

[bigbossman]

Not familiar with 4198, is it a dark black short stick powder?

I don't have any on-hand, so I don't know. What I do know is that many different powders are a "dark black short stick powder". I'm just making a wild guess, throwing a dart. The truth is, you'll never know what that powder is.

[870classic]

IMR (I4198) and Hodgdon (H4198) both made the 4198 powder. It is an extruded powder and has changed a little bit in length over time. But your description sounds about right for this powder. However, there is no Safe way to telling which powder it is.

Pull the bullets, pour the powder out into the flower beds and reload with your own load. It is the safest (and best) way to use these cartridges.

For the 45-70, please pay attention to the type of load and rifle you are going to use it in. The 45-70 can be used in rifles from trapdoors to Ruger #1's. The loading for the Rugers can approach the 458 Win Mag lever of energy, so be careful.

Best regards,
870classic.
(Also a member of MLC)

[golfish]

I've have some H4198 that I use for 7.62x39. It looks light brown to me, but then my hair looks golden blonde under the same light.

[maynardjr]

Good chance it is Accurate 5744. It is a short stick powder very popular for 45-70.

[papaboomboom]

Thanx for input. Does the 28.0 grs sound low?

[200Apples]

^ ^ ^ Vaguely. I think I was using 30-32ish grains for my lighter loads. I don't have my notes in front of me but I did go out and look through my powders before I read your latest query.



IMR 3031 is an extruded powder, as is AA 5744 and IMR 4227... the first two I've used in Trapdoor loads for my .45-70.

Glad I looked. I did not remember buying that pound of 4227. I can use that for some .45 Colt which is a new chambering in my armory.

[200Apples]

...but then my hair looks golden blonde under the same light.

lmao.

Grey: the new blonde.

[200Apples]

papa... these Search Results may interest you. Take note of the second item.

AA 5744 for light .45-70 loads

[Imageview]

[heavyhaulin818]

BUNNY BUSTERS

[Calif Hunter]

^ ^ ^ Vaguely. I think I was using 30-32ish grains for my lighter loads. I don't have my notes in front of me but I did go out and look through my powders before I read your latest query.



IMR 3031 is an extruded powder, as is AA 5744 and IMR 4227... the first two I've used in Trapdoor loads for my .45-70.

Glad I looked. I did not remember buying that pound of 4227. I can use that for some .45 Colt which is a new chambering in my armory.

I have never had good luck with 4227 as far as getting a complete burn. There seems to always be left over grains of powder in the barrel. I have been meaning to try it in a rifle or carbine to see if it works better there. I have even tried a very heavy crimp to prevent this.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Yeah pull the boolits and dump the powder in the garden or use it to make a pipe bomb or something for the upcoming July 4th, maybe a Gender Reveal event, they seem to be popular..

When you are trying to figure out exactly what a powder is by just looking at it you are diving into dangerous terrain. I know lots of people who use lots of powder and the only powders they can definitively identify are Red Dot Green Dot and Blue Dot and that is because they all have colored dots mixed in with the power so you can identify it!

I was given about 300 rounds of reloaded .30-06 ammo, nice bullets, good cases, and clean loading done by someone who appears to have known what he was doing,,, except,,, He didn't write what he used on the boxes!!!

And even after trying to identify the powder I still have no idea what it is, so on my wife's rose bushes it goes.

As far as making a pipe bomb, if you drill a hole in the end cap for the fuse you'll probably end up with a rocket of some type instead of a bomb. Better to fertilize instead.

Randy