45/70 2400 plinker load OK?

[JB White]

Loading up for the 45/70 and I noticed I have a small surplus of 300gr. 458 dia bullets and a couple extra pounds of 2400 powder..

Using a 300 gr cast FP and around 22 to 25 grains of 2400 sounds as though it would work...safely?
Thinking I need to 'position' the powder in the case?

I'm unable to find published data but some 'cowboy' shooters claim similar loads have been working well for years.
I had been using APP to simulate BPC's but I prefer to hold back on that powder for something else.

What are your thoughts on that particular 300/2400 loading? It's the only one I'm concerned with for now. I already have plenty of other 45/70 recipes.

[clintonhater]

Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook shows a max of 28 g. for a 322 g. bullet, 30 g. for a 293 g. bullet.

[JB White]

Thank you. I'm in the ballpark then.

[jon_norstog]

When we were young and stupid we used to load our .43 Spanish rolling blocks with 15 gr. of Unique and fill the case with cornmeal over the powder. Worked pretty well. We may have used 2400 as well. Kind of a surprise that a fast-burning powder gives you good accuracy and consistent results in such a big case and behind such a big slug. We sometimes substituted black powder for the cornmeal .. no stupid kids were harmed in making that film. Fortunately.

jn

[clintonhater]

Kind of a surprise that a fast-burning powder gives you good accuracy and consistent results in such a big case and behind such a big slug.
jn

That's very often true, but the constant danger is double charging the case without knowing it, so some procedure should be worked out for checking the charge in every case.

[JB White]

I went with 24 grains of 2400, a .460 vegetable fiber wad, and set that using the bullet. There is still a little "breathing space" between the wad and the charge but the powder is positioned close enough to the primer. There shouldn't be much concern regarding detonation with faster powder in a large case. At least I hope not.

[Major Tom]

That's very often true, but the constant danger is double charging the case without knowing it, so some procedure should be worked out for checking the charge in every case.

To check for double charges in a large case, I first load the case with powder, then take a wood dowel and put it in the case and mark the dowel with a pencil.

[clintonhater]

To check for double charges in a large case, I first load the case with powder, then take a wood dowel and put it in the case and mark the dowel with a pencil.

Exactly what I do! Can actually be done quite rapidly with the cases in a loading block.