43 Spanish

Ah!  A man after my own heart!  I currently have 2 43 RBs, and one RB custom in 45-70 (also Marlin 45-70).  One 43 RB has a fat bore (I slugged it) and .439s keyhole.  Needing to try .442s.  Other 43 RB shoots the std .439 great (and haven't slugged it).

Not done much yet with either of the 43s yet - just getting started.   As above, the one with fat bore is going to take more work with proper fitting slugs.  The other one shot very well in initial test with a .439 slug (~400 grn as cast) and 30 grn of IMR 3031.  It had almost no recoil.  I am going to go to 32 grn of 3031 and see what it does.  May work up to 34-35 grn. 

My 45-70 load is 38.5 grn of IMR 3031 pushing a 405 HB 1350 fps mv - Waters Pet Load for TD - what I started with/WORKS on paper AND deer - and done!  Lot of guidance I have seen for the 43 is 90% of a 45-70 TD load (and basically what Lee publishes). That would be 34.5 based off my 45-70 pet load.  But they also say the RB is stronger than the TD... Who knows for sure?!?...

I have no intent or plan to hot rod anything - ESPECIALLY an old RB (don't have a TD)!  In the 43s I intend to load somewhere b/n 30-35 grns of IMR 3031, safely worked up/whatever load shoots best out to 200 yds.  Ringing a 6" gong at 200 is the basic goal.  And I will also hunt deer with it out to my woods 100 yds - shoulder shots with the RN bullets.  A deer with a 43 would just hammer the kool factor for me!