45-70 TC Contender pistol reloads?

ZX10Aviator · April 25, 2013, 02:12 PM

Anyone have a nice 300grn pet load?

Ive tried IMR4198, no matter how much powder I put in there it wont go any faster than 1250FPS (book says it should be doing closer to 1500), and leaves alot unburnt. So looking to see what others recommend?

14" Contender Pistol

oldmanFCSA · April 25, 2013, 06:36 PM

To go faster, don't use more powder, especially if it leaves un-burnt powder in bore. Go with a faster burning powder like IMR4227. Start at 29.0 grains and work up. Warning: A faster powder will develop more felt recoil in the hand, but trade-offs must be made to get you velocity up where you want it. When you get up to 350 grain bullets, then use your IMR4198.

ZX10Aviator · April 25, 2013, 07:22 PM

Thanks, Im just trying to reproduce the factory 300gr 1500fps ammo Ive been shooting, dont want more buck than that, as its still enough to let you know its serious, but still tame enough its a blast one handed.

Ill see if I can find the 4227

Thanks!

oldmanFCSA · April 27, 2013, 04:59 AM

I rechambered a 14" 44Mag to 444Marlin back in 1980 timeframe.
I use Sierra, Nosler, Hornady, or cast 300 grain projectiles with full rifle loads of IMR4198 as I have a Marlin 444S also.

If I loaded only for Contender, I would use IMR4227 myself.
Powders are hard to find, good luck. If you lived anywhere near me, I would give you a pound to try.

Let us know your results.

I had a 6-port Magna-Port job on my barrel to control muzzle rise.

Magnum Wheel Man · April 29, 2013, 07:46 AM

yep... I also use 4227 in my 47-70 Contender loads

ZX10Aviator · January 5, 2014, 11:48 AM

bumping an older thread here for info for future people looking. Finally found a powder that works right, Hodgdon H322! with a 300gr bullet, 54grains was pushing it 16xx, Ill probably back it down to 52gr which was mid 1500fps range, but we will see how it does for accuracy.

One handed with 56 grains of H322

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1wo0cQahsc

Hammerhead · January 5, 2014, 02:32 PM

Looks kinda' snappy!
Doesn't look like much muzzle rise though.
Ported?
My recoil tolerance stops at .44 Rem mag in Contender pistols.

ZX10Aviator · January 5, 2014, 06:13 PM

Yep, ported, fun to shoot, I like it.

**44 AMP** · January 6, 2014, 01:46 AM

I kind of take the opposite approach. I shoot the 400gr cast with the old Lyman manual "factory duplication load" 38.5gr IMR 3031.

I don't know just what speed I'm getting from a 14" but that load goes 1300from a rifle, so a bit less, I would expect...

But its still a 400gr slug, and goes through about everything less dense than 2 feet of oak. Recoil is ..stout, but I can manage, even one handed.

On the other hand, I know what I'm doing. A friend, after watching me shoot several rounds, including a couple one handed, tried, and hit himself in the nose with the gun. Bled a mite, too...

He hit the target though. And a bit later, after we got the bleeding stopped, and the laughter under control, he gave me his best Oliver Twist "Please sir, may I have another?"

And it let him.

Hit that target and not himself that time. Good lad.

April 25, 2013, 02:12 PM	#1
ZX10Aviator Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: NW. Washington Posts: 345	45-70 TC Contender pistol reloads? Anyone have a nice 300grn pet load? Ive tried IMR4198, no matter how much powder I put in there it wont go any faster than 1250FPS (book says it should be doing closer to 1500), and leaves alot unburnt. So looking to see what others recommend? 14" Contender Pistol

April 25, 2013, 06:36 PM	#2
oldmanFCSA Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2010 Location: WISCONSIN Posts: 283	To go faster, don't use more powder, especially if it leaves un-burnt powder in bore. Go with a faster burning powder like IMR4227. Start at 29.0 grains and work up. Warning: A faster powder will develop more felt recoil in the hand, but trade-offs must be made to get you velocity up where you want it. When you get up to 350 grain bullets, then use your IMR4198. __________________ OldmanFCSA = "Oldman" at www.fcsa.org FCSA Member, SCSA Member, NRA Member, & AMA Member "Oldage & Treachery will overcome Youth & Skill"

April 27, 2013, 04:59 AM	#4
oldmanFCSA Senior Member Join Date: November 8, 2010 Location: WISCONSIN Posts: 283	I rechambered a 14" 44Mag to 444Marlin back in 1980 timeframe. I use Sierra, Nosler, Hornady, or cast 300 grain projectiles with full rifle loads of IMR4198 as I have a Marlin 444S also. If I loaded only for Contender, I would use IMR4227 myself. Powders are hard to find, good luck. If you lived anywhere near me, I would give you a pound to try. Let us know your results. I had a 6-port Magna-Port job on my barrel to control muzzle rise. __________________ OldmanFCSA = "Oldman" at www.fcsa.org FCSA Member, SCSA Member, NRA Member, & AMA Member "Oldage & Treachery will overcome Youth & Skill"

April 29, 2013, 07:46 AM	#5
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	yep... I also use 4227 in my 47-70 Contender loads __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

January 6, 2014, 01:46 AM	#9
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 28,817	I kind of take the opposite approach. I shoot the 400gr cast with the old Lyman manual "factory duplication load" 38.5gr IMR 3031. I don't know just what speed I'm getting from a 14" but that load goes 1300from a rifle, so a bit less, I would expect... But its still a 400gr slug, and goes through about everything less dense than 2 feet of oak. Recoil is ..stout, but I can manage, even one handed. On the other hand, I know what I'm doing. A friend, after watching me shoot several rounds, including a couple one handed, tried, and hit himself in the nose with the gun. Bled a mite, too... He hit the target though. And a bit later, after we got the bleeding stopped, and the laughter under control, he gave me his best Oliver Twist "Please sir, may I have another?" And it let him. Hit that target and not himself that time. Good lad. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 25, 2013, 07:22 PM	#3
ZX10Aviator Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: NW. Washington Posts: 345	Thanks, Im just trying to reproduce the factory 300gr 1500fps ammo Ive been shooting, dont want more buck than that, as its still enough to let you know its serious, but still tame enough its a blast one handed. Ill see if I can find the 4227 Thanks!

January 5, 2014, 11:48 AM	#6
ZX10Aviator Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: NW. Washington Posts: 345	bumping an older thread here for info for future people looking. Finally found a powder that works right, Hodgdon H322! with a 300gr bullet, 54grains was pushing it 16xx, Ill probably back it down to 52gr which was mid 1500fps range, but we will see how it does for accuracy. One handed with 56 grains of H322 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1wo0cQahsc

January 5, 2014, 02:32 PM	#7
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Looks kinda' snappy! Doesn't look like much muzzle rise though. Ported? My recoil tolerance stops at .44 Rem mag in Contender pistols.

January 5, 2014, 06:13 PM	#8
ZX10Aviator Senior Member Join Date: November 10, 2008 Location: NW. Washington Posts: 345	Yep, ported, fun to shoot, I like it.