Anybody have any good recipes for 405 grain hard cast 45-70 ? I’m looking to push them to around 1500-1600 out of a marlin lever action so shouldn’t be too hard on the bullet and a mild load. Having said that, should I use gas checks ? I have not reloaded 45-70 before so I’m looking for others guidance on powders. Thanks in advance.

There's many good powders for the 45-70. 4198 and R7 have always done well for me. Hodgdon has some good data online for the 405 cast bullets also.

Currently load gas checked 405's in my brothers marlin 4570. Think the current load is 56 grains of H-Benchmark. Its a pretty full case and suppose to be around 1850 fps. It kills on both ends, when the current batch is gone we are going to back it down a little. Shoots really well as long as you care to pull the trigger... which isnt much.

Thanks for the info. I’m looking for a relatively mild load for the most part. I already have some heavy hitters and they are unpleasant but useful. I’m looking to keep it between 1500-1600 as i don’t want to Lead the barrel by pushing them too fast.

Trap Door loads give the velocity you are looking for.
I use as Chad suggested 4198

Been shooting Cast Precision 405 gr. WLNGC over 41 gr. Of IMR 4198 and its almost pleasant.

I have no recommendations for 45-70 but Cast Precision makes great bullets.

Thanks texastom, that’s what I was looking for. I picked up 4198 and RL7 so I will give the 4198 a try. I ordered Meister bullets, hoping they work well.

I have 1895 Marlin I use 350 or 405 25.5 to 29.0 of 5744 powder works Great

Look on hodgdon. com. Look in the trapdoor load section of their data, lots of choices there that will make the velocity you are after. I would go with a starting load in one of the powders listed that you have on hand, if possible. Remember a 45-70 killed a lot of buffalo with black powder that was only going 1400 fps or so. What i am saying is you don't need to load it hot to shoot through deer end to end. Also the general recommendation is that anything over 1200 fps would do better with a gas check, but that is not written in stone.

22-25 gr. Alliant 2400 with the 405 gr. 24 gr will get you around 1,350 fps.

I’ve loaded a lot of 45-70 with Varget it makes for a nice trapdoor safe pressure and has been very accurate out of a marlin 1895