I've just now got around to trying a 45-70 Super 16 barrel. I have several loading manuals and there appear to be a conflect between them. (yes, I am looking at the TC Contender data) I have new WW cases, Federal 210M primers, Hornady 300g HP, and H4198 powder. I started at 36g and worked up by 2g increments until I hit 44g. The 44g load was too warm. Approx. 70degF outside so heat was not the issue. All cases ejected without friction. There was notibly more expansion just ahead of the web for the 44g loads. The load of 42g felt about right but still may be a bit warm. So I'm guessing 40g to be about it. The Hornady manual list a 300g bullet loaded with H4198 at 39g maximum while Sierra shows their 300g bullet charged up to 43g. Hard to believe the two bullets are that much different. While browsing the net for loads I recall one example of a 300g jacketed bullet at 2000+fps out of a 16" barrel Contender! Can this be done safetly in a Contender? What is your experience for the best "speed" load shooting a 300g bullet? Also, in a Contender, does the 444Marlin out perform the old 45-70? info@aceballistics.com

holy cow! sitting here looking at the hodgdon annual manual, they list.
win case, 15" barrel, 300gr sierra hp 2.525oal.
h4198 starting load 45.0gr = 1774fps
h4198 max load 55.0gr = 2076fps

i'd be checking more manuals. something sounds funny.

Kyode,are all your listed loads for the Contender?

Jeff

doesn't specify. just "pistol data" 15" barrel.
i guess maybe it could be encore since they list a 15" barrel.

That's one example of "Contender" load data I was referring. Needless to say, that load would be disastrous in my barrel!

shoulda known better than to open my mouth, since it was 45-70. i just noted the differences, and posted, not thinking contender/encore differences. i appologize, but i did have good intentions.

I have 3 different listings. max 39.4,43.4 and 44.7 of 4198. I just baught a 45-70 barrel and this is not making me happy.

Jeff

aceball,what size of groups are you getting?

Jeff

I am unsure about lighter bullets, but I get 1650 fps plus with 400 gr. Speers out of my 14" SSK Contender barrel. Actually, I can get a little more than that but I do not like pushing the envelope on pressures, and the loads are punishing enough on me at that velocity anyway.

I don't think that pressure signs are reliable indicators of appropriate pressures in the Contender. Look to the Hodgdon manual for the pressures obtained by the specific load and bullets you are using, and see what they are. Then make your judgment. I use Starline brass and that stuff is hard enough that it isn't going to expand at the base at safe operating pressures.

H4895 has very low pressure for the velocities obtained with 400 gr. bullets. I haven't looked at the data for H4198 and 300 gr. bullets, but 28,000 is about max for the .45-70 in the Contender from what I understand.

Velocity is somewhat proportional to pressure (although some powders may peak at higher pressures than others withthe identical bullet). If you are changing from one bullet to another of the same weight, you can use a chrono to get a basic idea where you are pressurewise. Handloading the .45-70 in the Contender can be a little nerve racking.

I picked up a 15" Encore barrel in 45-70 late last summer and experimented quite a bit with it.....three powders, two primers and different crimp tensions.

The load below (scoped and off bags at 100yds) will group one very large jagged hole with five rounds.....the load has not been run across a chrony.


Winch. brass....Rem. 300gr JHP....CCI BR-2 primer....58.5grs of Varget....OAL 2.529 with a firm crimp.

Ike

The contender is ok to 28000 psi. There are loads with RE 7 that at the max level that will push 300 grain soft ponts to 2000 fps with a 16" contender. I have shot these loads many times in my ssk 14" at 1900+ without problems. Allthough I prefer the new barnes 250 X for the 45-70, and the sperr 400 sp is great too.

I have the Contender 12" w/break, The Hunter Model. I worked with several different manuals and some info I got on the net. I'm loading 39 grns of IMR 4198 w/300 grn Sierra Jacketed flat point and shoots 1450 fps. This is a very good load and shoots approx 1.5" at 100yds. It shows no sign of pressure problems. I don't know if I would want to shoot any higher powder charges than this. It will do what I want and has taken two whitetail with authority.
Mike

I too like about 40gr of IMR4198 with a 300gr bullet...I use the Hornady HP though. Shoot well at fifty yards with irons from a Super 16...usually three shots groups will have all holes touching or very close together. Would really like to have a non-braked 14" barrel though.

Hawkeye is that estimated fps or chronographed, cause I have the same 12" barrel and my load of 48.3gr of IMR 4198 and sierra 300gr hp, listed as max on sierra handgun manual 3rd edition, over a chrony my load averages 1750fps. no pressure signs by the way.

LFN, I stand corrected. I read off of the wrong line in my notes. My .375JDJ is 1950fps. I'm getting an avg. of 1450fps on my 45-70. This is from my Chrono. The barrel is a 14" but the gas vents are in the last 2" of the barrel so I'm calling a 12".
Man, 48.3 of IMR4198 would be a handful I think. I like the barrel as I'm shooting it now with this load and maybe if I was to go hunt bigger game than whitetails or hogs I might stoke it a little more.
Thanks for the correction.
Mike

My barrel is 12" including the muzzle brake, the recoil is pretty strong but the pachmyer grips are great. Since I'm chasing elk I want the most I can get out of this round. A legal elk has not yet found itself in my self imposed range limit of 100yrds, but I keep trying.