size of bullet for Henry 45-70

THERAVEN · April 17, 2023, 02:51 PM

I want to reload 45-70. I know that cartridges can only be so long to fit a lever action. What bullet is the right length. I have a store bought cartridge that matches length of what Lee reloading book states at 2.550.".

**44 AMP** · April 19, 2023, 02:59 AM

Industry standard max over all loaded length (with bullet) for the .45-70 is 2.550"

Any round that length or somewhat shorter should feed fine. Extremely short rounds MAY not.

MarkCO · April 19, 2023, 08:36 AM

I load 300 grain to 405 grain in my Henry .45-70. They are 2.500" OAL. Load recipes need to be followed, and worked up. My Lee manual has loads from 2.475 up to 2.825

2.550" is the max OAL that will function 100% in lever actions. Some have used 500 grain bullets and stretched the OAL out, but they won't feed well (if at all) through the magazine and need to be single loaded.

April 17, 2023, 02:51 PM	#1
THERAVEN Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Posts: 31	size of bullet for Henry 45-70 I want to reload 45-70. I know that cartridges can only be so long to fit a lever action. What bullet is the right length. I have a store bought cartridge that matches length of what Lee reloading book states at 2.550.".

April 19, 2023, 02:59 AM	#2
44 AMP Staff Join Date: March 11, 2006 Location: Upper US Posts: 29,000	Industry standard max over all loaded length (with bullet) for the .45-70 is 2.550" Any round that length or somewhat shorter should feed fine. Extremely short rounds MAY not. __________________ All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.

April 19, 2023, 08:36 AM	#3
MarkCO Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 1998 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 4,316	I load 300 grain to 405 grain in my Henry .45-70. They are 2.500" OAL. Load recipes need to be followed, and worked up. My Lee manual has loads from 2.475 up to 2.825 2.550" is the max OAL that will function 100% in lever actions. Some have used 500 grain bullets and stretched the OAL out, but they won't feed well (if at all) through the magazine and need to be single loaded. __________________ Good Shooting, MarkCO www.CarbonArms.us