500gr Hornady RN in .45-70?

Gewehr98 · December 9, 2008, 02:05 PM

A friend of mine gave me a box of those beautiful Hornady 500gr FMJRN jacketed bullets, saying they were just junking up his reloading bench. I checked the prices on them, and they're $38.00/50, so it was a nice gift to say the least.

I've got a Ruger #1S in .45-70, and have been known to load some serious 405gr Level III thumpers in that rifle. So I'm rooting around all my loading manuals, looking for the load that lets me run those 500gr monsters in .45-70.

I don't have the Hornady book yet, but I'm sure somebody here has probably loaded them up for their .45-70 Mauser or Ruger, right?

mkl · December 9, 2008, 02:33 PM

Fourth edition of Hornady gives quite a bit of info on the 500 grain RN (#4504) and the FMJ-RN (#4507).

For the Ruger #1 ONLY:

IMR 3031 -- 44.1 gr. start; 53.1 gr. max
IMR 4895 -- 45.1 gr. start; 53.2 gr. max
IMR 4064 -- 46.3 gr. start; 55.0 gr. max

Velocity for above around 1400 fps start, and 1700 to 1800 fps for max.

Do not use the above loads in anything other than the Ruger #1; they are too hot for the Marlin, and will probably blow up the trap door rifles.

kraigwy · December 9, 2008, 02:46 PM

I have a browning 1895, when I first got it I got a box of those hornadys before I fired up my casting pot. I like to load my 45-70s to the Old Springfield levels. Being lazy, (dont like to clean BP loads) I found a load for 4198 that duplicates the 405 45-70 load. 29 grns pushes my 405s right at 1100 fps. Just for kicks I tried the 500 grn hornady's using the same load. They shot pretty dern good.

I dont need hot loads for a 45-70, I want to shoot BPCR matches so have my sight setting for the black powder loads.

Gewehr98 · December 13, 2008, 03:35 PM

The load info I'm asking for is destined only for my .45-70 Ruger #1S and Siamese Mauser conversion.

For my .45-70 BPCR Sharps and Rolling Block rifles, I stay with my own Postell 535gr cast boolits and a full compressed case of good old Goex Cartridge BP.

I was born at night, but not last night.

Gewehr98 · December 14, 2008, 12:00 AM

Big bullets, for sure.

Setting up to make a small batch:

5 extra rounds at the ready in the Ruger's sling:

The calculator says nearly 3600ft/lbs of muzzle energy. These are getting fired offhand, no way am I riding these from the bench!

steamroller · January 20, 2009, 08:34 PM

I have loaded 300 or more rounds of .45-70 with the Hornady 500 grain FMJRN bullet using 49.5 grains IMR 3031 and BR primers and crimped at an overall length of 2 15/16" for 1650fps. These were very accurate in a custom Bolt action 98 Mauser with Douglas 22in heavy barrel. This gun weighed 9.5 pounds. These would shoot 4 shot groups of 2.5 inches at 100 yards with a Weaver 4X after I got used to the 90 pound recoil. I haven't seen any around for awhile. I tried 4064 and 4198 but the 3031 was better. They are surely a fine combo and I would not ever bad-mouth the 45-70.

A politician is a broker of pillaged goods, and an election is merely an advance payment on a share of the theft. H.L. Mencken

December 9, 2008, 02:46 PM	#3
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I have a browning 1895, when I first got it I got a box of those hornadys before I fired up my casting pot. I like to load my 45-70s to the Old Springfield levels. Being lazy, (dont like to clean BP loads) I found a load for 4198 that duplicates the 405 45-70 load. 29 grns pushes my 405s right at 1100 fps. Just for kicks I tried the 500 grn hornady's using the same load. They shot pretty dern good. I dont need hot loads for a 45-70, I want to shoot BPCR matches so have my sight setting for the black powder loads. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

December 14, 2008, 12:00 AM	#5
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	Loaded. Big bullets, for sure. Setting up to make a small batch: 5 extra rounds at the ready in the Ruger's sling: The calculator says nearly 3600ft/lbs of muzzle energy. These are getting fired offhand, no way am I riding these from the bench! __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

January 20, 2009, 08:34 PM	#6
steamroller Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 18	.45-70 500gr Hornady I have loaded 300 or more rounds of .45-70 with the Hornady 500 grain FMJRN bullet using 49.5 grains IMR 3031 and BR primers and crimped at an overall length of 2 15/16" for 1650fps. These were very accurate in a custom Bolt action 98 Mauser with Douglas 22in heavy barrel. This gun weighed 9.5 pounds. These would shoot 4 shot groups of 2.5 inches at 100 yards with a Weaver 4X after I got used to the 90 pound recoil. I haven't seen any around for awhile. I tried 4064 and 4198 but the 3031 was better. They are surely a fine combo and I would not ever bad-mouth the 45-70. A politician is a broker of pillaged goods, and an election is merely an advance payment on a share of the theft. H.L. Mencken

December 9, 2008, 02:05 PM	#1
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	500gr Hornady RN in .45-70? A friend of mine gave me a box of those beautiful Hornady 500gr FMJRN jacketed bullets, saying they were just junking up his reloading bench. I checked the prices on them, and they're $38.00/50, so it was a nice gift to say the least. I've got a Ruger #1S in .45-70, and have been known to load some serious 405gr Level III thumpers in that rifle. So I'm rooting around all my loading manuals, looking for the load that lets me run those 500gr monsters in .45-70. I don't have the Hornady book yet, but I'm sure somebody here has probably loaded them up for their .45-70 Mauser or Ruger, right? __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires

December 9, 2008, 02:33 PM	#2
mkl Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2008 Location: DFW area, Texas Posts: 494	Fourth edition of Hornady gives quite a bit of info on the 500 grain RN (#4504) and the FMJ-RN (#4507). For the Ruger #1 ONLY: IMR 3031 -- 44.1 gr. start; 53.1 gr. max IMR 4895 -- 45.1 gr. start; 53.2 gr. max IMR 4064 -- 46.3 gr. start; 55.0 gr. max Velocity for above around 1400 fps start, and 1700 to 1800 fps for max. Do not use the above loads in anything other than the Ruger #1; they are too hot for the Marlin, and will probably blow up the trap door rifles.

December 13, 2008, 03:35 PM	#4
Gewehr98 Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2000 Location: Token Creek, WI Posts: 4,067	Kraigwy, I appreciate your concerns. The load info I'm asking for is destined only for my .45-70 Ruger #1S and Siamese Mauser conversion. For my .45-70 BPCR Sharps and Rolling Block rifles, I stay with my own Postell 535gr cast boolits and a full compressed case of good old Goex Cartridge BP. I was born at night, but not last night. __________________ "Bother", said Pooh, as he chambered another round... Neural Misfires Last edited by Gewehr98; December 14, 2008 at 03:32 AM.