new to contenders, wondering about 45-70 data

[supertodd]

Hello, I'm new to contenders and was wondering what level I can load the 45-70 to in a regular contender.  I know data for the 45-70 usually comes in three levels and was wondering if data for the marlin 95 was safe for the contender or if I need to stick to the trapdoor levels.

[Keith L]

I have always heard trapdoor level for Contenders.  Encores can handle more.

[supertodd]

thanks thats what I wanted to know

[Lone Star]

Since there are two levels of "Trapdoorloads" - be careful.  Some manuals consider 28,000 cup to be safe, others limit it to 21,000 or 18,000 cup.  Personally the latter is usually plenty from a recoil perspective in the Contender, even a rifle is pretty lightweight.  My .45-70 ported carbine has laminated stocks so is about as heavy as you'd normally carry, but top Hodgdon Trapdoor loads are more than I want to shoot off the bench.  I'm no pansy when it comes to recoil, but a 400-grain bullet at 1650 fps in a very light carbine is more fun than I want as a standard load.


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[Camp Cook]

In most reloading manuals in the handgun section they have T/C specific data.

I have been reloading 300gr to 430gr jacketed/cast bullets for my 22" T/C Contender carbine in 45-70 for years now.

The 45-70 is a very easy round to load for my max load for any 300gr bullet is 54grs H322, Win LR primers and usually Win brass.

With a 1-4X Leupold Vari-X 11 scope mounted I can group 3 - 4" @ 200 yards.

I hear that Hornady has just released their Leverlution bullets as reloading components they have a .458" 325gr one that would be perfect.

I just need to get my hands on some of them now.

The load I listed is safe in my rifles so reduce by at least 15% before using my data.