Just got a Ruger #1 and was going to load some Lyman Postell 535gr bullets. Anyone have any pet loads for this bullets. The best I can find on reloadersnest is 1,500fps with Varget for a rolling block. Is this the upper limits of this bullet. I was hoping with the Ruger #1 I could get a bit faster. Any comments appreciated.

Bill C.

Current Lyman manual (#48) has a section marked as "for Ruger #1 and #3 only". They'll bring that bullet up to the middle 1700's with Varget, N135, and XMR 2015....reportedly at just short of 38,000CUP.

The RB data will usually be limited to about 26,000CUP (and many manualks are using PSI in place of CUP today) which is about that 1500fps level. Talkes a bit more than 10,000cup to get that 250FPS increase...may not be all that great a trade.

I have some Varget, so I'll likely use it. Ribbonstone would you be so polite as to tell me the starting and Mx load for this bullet?

Bill C.

I have some Varget, so I'll likely use it. Ribbonstone would you be so polite as to tell me the starting and Mx load for this bullet?

Bill C.

Lyman #457132 535gr. Ruger #1 and #3 data from Lyman #48
Varget: start: 49.0gr. 1552fps 25,900cup
max: 54.0gr. 1760fps 37,800cup
Seating: 2.930"OAL

(the 1886/1895 Marlin section doesn't list this long nosed bullet)

The "trapddoor" section does list it:
Varget: start:41.5gr. 1308fps 10,100CUP
max.: 46.5gr. 1520fps 18,000cup
Seating: 2.930" OAL


To be honest, I DO NOT like the way the data lines up. All of this is test barrel data, the test barrels are of different lengths...still seems that moving from a "trapdoor max" at 18,000cup to the "#1 start" load should have givien a bit more than 32fps for the 7,900CUP.

That does seem quite odd. Perhaps the start load for the Ruger #1 is so low because people want a plinker. ???? I'll likely start at 51grs anyway. Thanks for the info.

Bill C.

That does seem quite odd. Perhaps the start load for the Ruger #1 is so low because people want a plinker. ???? I'll likely start at 51grs anyway. Thanks for the info.

Bill C.

What's odd is that they moved up 2.5gr. of powder, earned 7,900CUP more pressure, but got only 32FPS for the effort. Probably a different pressure barrel, which just goes to show that even under lab. conditions, each barrel has its own personality (and that judging pressure by velcoity achieved is about as reliable as reading the entrails of a chicken).

BB86 ! The problem in loading the 45/70 isn't the strength of your rifle , but the strength of the 45/70 case ! The cases wasn't designed to take 50,000 psi's ! JAGG

Well I finally decided on a good load. I went with RL-7 rather than Varget. With RL-7 I can use less powder to get the same velocity. I used 43grs as the charge. Should be pushing the 535grainer at 1650fps and I believe ~38,000cup. The max load was 45gr but my shoulder could not handle any more than the 43gr.


Bill

Just got a Ruger #1 and was going to load some Lyman Postell 535gr bullets. Anyone have any pet loads for this bullets. The best I can find on reloadersnest is 1,500fps with Varget for a rolling block. Is this the upper limits of this bullet. I was hoping with the Ruger #1 I could get a bit faster. Any comments appreciated.

Bill C.
Check out Hornady's handbook. They have a special section for the Ruger #1 in .45-70 which lists half a dozen different powders in loads up to 1800 fps with a 500 grain jacketed. The 535 cast would work fine with these loads, but it may lead up if this is not a gas checked bullet.