470 Reduced Practice Loads

[Huvius]

The first step, I’d suppose, is to source the correct bullets which in the 470 isn’t as easy as it is for a 450 but a 475 Linebaugh or 480 Ruger bullet should work just fine.
Try a standard charge of powder which regulates in your rifle with the 500gr bullet and as close to a 375gr bullet as you can and see what happens.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

IMR3031 is very close to stranded cordite in pressure and burn rate. Has anyone tried to decipher the cordite load data for the lighter bullets and tried that spec in their double rifles? I would assume that the velocity would be so high they would cross horribly, but "I want to believe".

If there is a starting load we can deduce, I'd love to see how it reacts in our doubles. Heck, I'd hunt deer with my 470NE if I could toss a 300gr bullet at 1950fps with accuracy.

I was thinking about the same, kind of anyway. I’d like to have a starting load for CEB bullets that are typically a bit lighter. In this case the 460gr Raptor.

 

[MexicoMike]

I'm new here and plan on buying a double rifle in .470 and am VERY HAPPY to see the IMR3031 loading information. I've used 3031 for MANY years, loading calibers from 220 Swift, up to very hot 45-70-405 loads (I carried a 45-70 lever gun for all my bush work in AK for 8 years) and I have a cabinet full of it!!

 

[Huvius]

In Wright’s “Shooting the British Double Rifle” he has only two reduced loads for the 470 and both are using Trail Boss and 375gr cast bullets.
He does, however, list seven loads for the 500/465 with 365gr and 390gr cast, 400gr jacketed, and a couple paper patched bullet loads using both Varget and H4198 with fillers.
I see no reason that one couldn’t build off or even just use the 500/465 loads as a guide in working up loads for the 470.

 

[ftrovato]

I have not loaded any reduced loads for the 470 or 500 NE.

But, I have loaded minimum (reloading manual listed) powder charges with faster burning powder (IMR 3031) and find that shooting them is very tolerable.

Some worry about group size. I don't. I simply learn point of impact and judge my practice shooting against where a given load hits the target.

Personally I do all off hand practice at 25 yards and find what I can do at that range rewarding.
(Maybe this is my old body and failing eyes talking.)

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I'm new here and plan on buying a double rifle in .470 and am VERY HAPPY to see the IMR3031 loading information. I've used 3031 for MANY years, loading calibers from 220 Swift, up to very hot 45-70-405 loads (I carried a 45-70 lever gun for all my bush work in AK for 8 years) and I have a cabinet full of it!!

Welcome to AH. Just be sure you remember you need a wad of some sort to take up empty space, plenty of info in this thread on that.

I just got home a few minutes ago after another session with 3031 loads in my 470. While there just for giggles I touched off another one of my leftover H4831 loads.....ouch from the bench.

You'll love shooting your 470 with 3031. It's not quite down to a .375HH, but it's not a whole lot more. I'm having a lot of fun shooting these,

 

[petander]

Heck, I'd hunt deer with my 470NE if I could toss a 300gr bullet at 1950fps with accuracy.

That's what I do,hunt deer too.

A Mihec 400 grn PB cast bullet @ 75 meters as of today. Right barrel. Left barrel shoots 3-4" to the right @ 75 m. A 325 Lee interestingly shoots about the same.

I practise 470 with timer quite a bit. Shoulderings,doubles... Two frying pans last for a week , I have separate plates for other guns.

I like to hit these pans from 10 to 100 meters, left barrel spread only matters past 50 meters. Most of my practise is closer.

We had moving moose practise yesterday. 75 m being a standard, 100 m for most competition. Everyone uses a 308 -and not full power moose loads, mild range loads are the norm. 470 "milds" I like to have the velocity around 2100 fps so the leade is the same as with full 500's.

I have a variety of loads for all my guns, starting from subsonics. During the summer I shoot almost every day.

 

[petander]

I went to verify 400 grn regulation with iron sights yesterday.

400 grainers start to cross at 50 m, trajectory happens to be pretty good with the 50 m blade there. Also 75 m plates can be hit with the 50 m blade. Both barrels here, a 50 m target.

(The high group is a 75 m blade test, fired at the same 50 m.)

40 m and closer this shoots low, 75 m blade can be used. Here is a 30 m target , both barrels shot with 25 m blade.

Here is a 40 meters target,shot with the 75 m blade. Both barrels twice. HP version is actually 375 grains.

 

[petander]

And another,fun alternative is a S&S shotgun with slugs.

I shoot lots of Round Balls out of a 20 gauge Merkel. I convert trap ammo by substituting shot with a RB. Light, fun, easy and economical. Hits plates @ 25 m.