Is this unburnt powder

[Kelsey Cooter]

Wouldn't it be a bit dicey getting 2205 down to 1200 fps where Trail Boss could do it easily. With a bit of experimentation you might even get those 500 grain bullet going faster than 1500 fps. How fast you you want to shoot?

Yeah I haven't loaded any trailboss rounds yet but do plan to.

This rifle is purely for fun mate, I don't have a speed I'm trying to achieve or anything. Just looking to achieve a reasonably stout loading for having fun, shooting gongs and targets, and learn more along the way.

What is the general speed limit for hard cast lead projectiles without gas checks?

[in2anity]

What is the general speed limit for hard cast lead projectiles without gas checks?

Depends on how hard they are, and what kind of coating they have. As a general rule I try to stay under 1500fps for alloyed lead, which won't be a problem for you. If you're just looking for a plinking load, I second the Trail Boss recomendation. Fun and easy powder that one.

[SCJ429]

Shooting a 400 grain bullet at 1200 fps from my 45/70 is fun, enjoyable and hits reasonably hard at 100 metres. It is much easier to shoot than a 300 WM in regards to recoil.

[straightshooter]

A 500 grain projectile at 1500 to 1600 fps out of a 45-70 is getting pretty close to a full power load for that cartridge.
At 1600 fps you are looking at 2843 foot/pounds of muzzle energy, somewhat more than I would consider a plinking load

[Gamerancher]

"A 1886 action is nowhere near as strong as a 444 Marlin action."........WRONG!

The 1886 action is actually the stronger action of the two. ( The .444 Marlin being chambered in the 336 action.)
The 1886 was originally built to take the .45/70 round and other big bore "buffalo" rounds of the day. It was chambered up to .50/110 and the Model 71 Winchester, which utilised the same action, was chambered in .348 Win, which was the same basic .50 cal case necked down to .348 and loaded with smokeless powder and up to 250gr bullets.

500gr bullets are too heavy for your application, more suited to single shot rifles, they're not really meant for lever guns.
You'll have better success with bullets in the 300 - 405 grain range.
For accurate "plinking" or target loads out to 200m, try a 360 gr cast bullet with 16 grains of Trailboss, or 20 grains of 2205.

[straightshooter]

"A 1886 action is nowhere near as strong as a 444 Marlin action."........WRONG!

The 1886 action is actually the stronger action of the two. ( The .444 Marlin being chambered in the 336 action.)
The 1886 was originally built to take the .45/70 round and other big bore "buffalo" rounds of the day. It was chambered up to .50/110 and the Model 71 Winchester, which utilised the same action, was chambered in .348 Win, which was the same basic .50 cal case necked down to .348 and loaded with smokeless powder and up to 250gr bullets..

Let me get this straight.
The 1886 is stronger than a Marlin because the somewhat similar model 71 is chambered for a 348.
Now let's look at the maximum pressures of commercial loadings:
45-70 - 28000 CUP
348 - 40000 CUP
444 - 44000 CUP
So go figger

[Kelsey Cooter]

To be honest it really doesn't bother me either way which is stronger, but I've always understood the 1886 to be the superior action.

I'm wondering if your thinking of the 1894 action being weaker compared to a marlin 336

[straightshooter]

I have never seen an 1886 in the flesh, let alone handled one so I can't speak with any sort of authority.
But one thing to bear in mind is that any rifle action 'designed' by JM Browning is deified by US writers so sometimes you have to sift through a lot of hype to arrive at facts.
The upshot of what I was on about is caution in handloading for lever actions particularly for those that to some degree seem to be a little cavalier with front locking bolt actions and not to argue the merits of particular actions.
In your particular case you should expect to have plenty of shoulder fun, and power, with a sensible conservative reloading recipe.

[SCJ429]

In your particular case you should expect to have plenty of shoulder fun, and power, with a sensible conservative reloading recipe.

Would this be a good case for trying Trail Boss where you could easily start off with a subsonic load and work up from there rather than stuff around with pistol powders and filling only a fraction of the case.

[sungazer]

In your particular case you should expect to have plenty of shoulder fun, and power, with a sensible conservative reloading recipe.

Would this be a good case for trying Trail Boss where you could easily start off with a subsonic load and work up from there rather than stuff around with pistol powders and filling only a fraction of the case.

Absolutely. The other path is a very dangerous one. If you are going to try and use loads at low case capacity AR2206H is the one recommend. But Trailboss would still be the place to start for what the OP wants.

[straightshooter]

In your particular case you should expect to have plenty of shoulder fun, and power, with a sensible conservative reloading recipe.

Would this be a good case for trying Trail Boss where you could easily start off with a subsonic load and work up from there rather than stuff around with pistol powders and filling only a fraction of the case.

Probably
I don't have any experience with Trail Boss so it's not for me to comment any further.
But handloaders have been loading cast bullets successfully for a very long time.
Rather than sifting through informed but mostly uninformed internet comment, perhaps possession of even a second hand copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Reloading book would be advantageous.
As would the exercise of a few grey cells.

[SCJ429]

Because ADI saw that reloaders have wanted to replicate black powders speeds or just wanted to run a reduced load they made a powder with a high bulk density so you do not have to use pistol powders and a filler. Try some, you might enjoy it.

[Gamerancher]

by straightshooter » 20 Oct 2019, 7:41 am
I have never seen an 1886 in the flesh, let alone handled one so I can't speak with any sort of authority.

Basically says enough.

[Kelsey Cooter]

Because ADI saw that reloaders have wanted to replicate black powders speeds or just wanted to run a reduced load they made a powder with a high bulk density so you do not have to use pistol powders and a filler. Try some, you might enjoy it.

Yeah trailboss is the main powder I use. Just looking at some alternatives for more velosity