45-70 Loads for 1895 Marlin?

[XTR]

Yea, I tried getting my highwall to shoot T-Rex loads. Figured out pretty fast I didn't need that. I think my load for that one shoots a 405 Remington bullet at about 1600FPS. Pretty much guaranteed to shoot through anything in North America, from any angle.

My C. Sharps shoots a couple of loads, but always cast and Holy Black in that one.

 

[SierraCJ5]

Can anybody share their 45/70 loads Looking at the manuals looks like H4198 would be a good start. Thanks Kim H

I like Reloder 7 and H4895 in my 1895GBL. Typically with 405g hard cast and occasionally with Rem 405g JSP. I mostly use RL7 & it will go mild to wild depending on your recoil tolerance.

 

[XTR]

Get a Lyman reloading manual. It has three seperate chapters on loading for the 45-70: Springfield, Lever guns, and Ruger #1

 

[hoz53]

Get a Lyman reloading manual. It has three seperate chapters on loading for the 45-70: Springfield, Lever guns, and Ruger #1

thanks alot ive got several of them i will check out.

 

[dewey7271]

My best results are with 4198 and RL7 fwiw.

 

[Shaggy357]

I shot loads in my H&R Buffalo classic last Saturday with 425gr cast over 4064 and Hornady 325FP over AA5744. The 4064 loads were dirtier than the 5744 loads. After reading so many posts on recoil, I loaded mine pretty middle of the road. Recoil was about the same as my 12ga sporting clays gun. I was shooting off hand, not on a bench. Bench shooting may have had a totally different feel. Open sights off hand I was keeping minute of clay pigeon at 50 yards no problem. I will have to try it on the bench now and check velocity. From there I will see if I want to load any hotter.

I liked shooting this gun and rather enjoyed seeing the needles, leaves, and other debris fly off the bank. Quite the impact and surely a deer/hog thumper. Made me think one of the Marlin Lever guns for bear might be closer to the top of my list than I had previously thought. This stuff is addicting.....

 

[wiuprof]

My Marlin 45-70 was used to take this bear (Manitoba, 1996). The load was Reloader 7 and a 400 gr. Speer FP.
I also have two Browning Single Shots in 45-70 and a Ruger #3 in 45-70. They all perform best with either
Reloader 7 or H-4198 or IMR-4198. The single shots can all use heavier loads than the Marlin, as per the Lyman
manual, but I didn't want to hunt bear with a single shot! This cinnamon brown color phase bear squared 78"!

 

[XTR]

There are a number of powders that will work in the range of AA5744, Rx7, IMR3031. I load 405s over 3031 in my highwall.

I did experiment briefly with shooting 350s at about 2400fps. My scoped highwall weighs about 9 lbs±...by the time the bruises healed I decided there was really nothing in North America that needed that much WHOMP!

These days I run Remington 405s over 3031 at a velocity that corresponds to about 25 yards per .5mil drop on the BRX retical on my little Swaro Z3. Gives me a functioning load out to 200 yards that will shoot a big hole all the way through just about anything, and doesn't bruise me up.

 

[hoz53]

There are a number of powders that will work in the range of AA5744, Rx7, IMR3031. I load 405s over 3031 in my highwall.

I did experiment briefly with shooting 350s at about 2400fps. My scoped highwall weighs about 9 lbs±...by the time the bruises healed I decided there was really nothing in North America that needed that much WHOMP!

These days I run Remington 405s over 3031 at a velocity that corresponds to about 25 yards per .5mil drop on the BRX retical on my little Swaro Z3. Gives me a functioning load out to 200 yards that will shoot a big hole all the way through just about anything, and doesn't bruise me up.

I think ill get some 3031-it seems to be a versatile powder--

Bruises Healed I have experience at that to. Thanks. Kim H

 

[hoz53]

You might indicate the performance level you are looking for.
There are about 3 different general smokeless load classifications that could be used in the Marlin.
1. Plinking loads with 300 grain plain base bullets. Be very careful you can double and triple charge with the recommended powders.
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm
2. 300 grain higher velocity for hunting
Use powders from about Alliant 2400 up to 4198 and Reloder 7 as listed in the manuals
3. 400 grain high velocity for hunting
Use 3031 (I used the old 53 grain load. Do not use this load in a Trapdoor. Recoil is too high for anything but hunting)

Yes you are right about that. Just plinkers that are accurate as possible. Should I say accuracy loads for a lever action 45/70 Thanks

 

[hoz53]

Starline brass and 300 JFP with 50 gr. IMR3031 --every deer is either bang-flop or runs no more than 20 or 30 yards -chest shot only/all shots under 100yards .

thanks for that info

 

[hoz53]

Load it for what you can stand. Mild loads were fairly accurate in my Winchester lever gun repro. When I got it, five years ago, I loved the boomers!
I loaded mine as hot as I dared and dreamed of getting a Ruger #1 . The book loads for the Ruger get real close to the 458 Winchester Mag! Oh, did I want to try that!!! A lot can happen in five years. I finally got my #1, this past January. It just seems to get left behind as I take the 6br, ppc's and .223s instead.

Dont you have an 1895 now? " left behind". yes me to i have a rule for myself now i always take another gun to shoot besides the one im concentrating on at the time and i rotate through them so I get some shooting time fairly regularly with all of them. Thanks

 

[XTR]

I went into shooting my highwall like a typical OCD F cass shooter. I eventually got over most of that (less so with my Sharps and paper patching, casting and the Holy Black). What I learned is that loading for these big straight walled cases is very different to modern bottleneck rounds. The problem with smokeless powder is that the case it too darned big. This case was designed to be filled to the brim with black. The challenge lies in finding a powder that will give you a reasonable fill and still burn well.

I tried Varget because well, I always have it. You can't get enough in there to keep the pressure up, there is unburned powder in the barrel after you shoot. Kind of like trying to load Retumbo in a 308.

I tried Rx7, 3031, and several others. When I mounted the Z3 I figured out what I wanted. I minute of deer load with a powder that would give enough velocity that would give me a ballistic curve that would get me to 200 yards from a 100 yard zero in 2 mils, with the 405 that corresponds to 1800FPS MV. It's still carrying plenty of energy out that far to kill deer or hogs or anything else really.

These big bullets fall like a stone, even at 200 yards you are getting a looping trajectory (it drops 15 inches from 100 to 200 yards) I found a setup that works for me.

 

[M-61]

I have found 3031 and Hornady's 325gr FTX to be quite accurate. (and punishing). Loading them required a separate crimp die. I also found the the die dimensions of the die for resizing are quite a bit smaller. (I guess to accommodate the 'tightest' chamber cut in the last 125+ years.)
If there is such a thing as 'neck' sizing a straight wall case I'm there. I run the brass just far enough into the F/L die to hold the bullet. Going all the way into the die re-worked the brass a ridiculous amount. I've had no issues with feeding those bullets but the recoil made me like 3 shot groups.

 

[joshb]

Dont you have an 1895 now? " left behind". yes me to i have a rule for myself now i always take another gun to shoot besides the one im concentrating on at the time and i rotate through them so I get some shooting time fairly regularly with all of them. Thanks

I have a Miroku Winchester 1886. I saw a JM stamped 1895 Marlin at an LGS. I "thought" too long. Went back to get it and it was gone.

 

[hoz53]

I have found 3031 and Hornady's 325gr FTX to be quite accurate. (and punishing). Loading them required a separate crimp die. I also found the the die dimensions of the die for resizing are quite a bit smaller. (I guess to accommodate the 'tightest' chamber cut in the last 125+ years.)
If there is such a thing as 'neck' sizing a straight wall case I'm there. I run the brass just far enough into the F/L die to hold the bullet. Going all the way into the die re-worked the brass a ridiculous amount. I've had no issues with feeding those bullets but the recoil made me like 3 shot groups.

I thought i answered this but anyway thats good info-I will watch the fired case size. I have some rcbs dies now but may have to get some others. LOL on that recoil I bet Ill be there to. Seems many people favor 3031 in this one so Ill try some Thanks

I have a Miroku Winchester 1886. I saw a JM stamped 1895 Marlin at an LGS. I "thought" too long. Went back to get it and it was gone.

What do you think of the Remington 1895s?

 

[JohnKielly]

I picked up a Lyman 250 grain collar button mold years ago & still am to buy a 45/70 to go with it.

 

[hoz53]

I went into shooting my highwall like a typical OCD F cass shooter. I eventually got over most of that (less so with my Sharps and paper patching, casting and the Holy Black). What I learned is that loading for these big straight walled cases is very different to modern bottleneck rounds. The problem with smokeless powder is that the case it too darned big. This case was designed to be filled to the brim with black. The challenge lies in finding a powder that will give you a reasonable fill and still burn well.

I tried Varget because well, I always have it. You can't get enough in there to keep the pressure up, there is unburned powder in the barrel after you shoot. Kind of like trying to load Retumbo in a 308.

I tried Rx7, 3031, and several others. When I mounted the Z3 I figured out what I wanted. I minute of deer load with a powder that would give enough velocity that would give me a ballistic curve that would get me to 200 yards from a 100 yard zero in 2 mils, with the 405 that corresponds to 1800FPS MV. It's still carrying plenty of energy out that far to kill deer or hogs or anything else really.

These big bullets fall like a stone, even at 200 yards you are getting a looping trajectory (it drops 15 inches from 100 to 200 yards) I found a setup that works for me.

What powder have you decided on? Seems many people use those

I picked up a Lyman 250 grain collar button mold years ago & still am to buy a 45/70 to go with it.

Im 60 and recently ive been buying all the ones Ive "Always Wanted". I figure at this point If not now then When? Fortuneately the list isnt to long for me. Ive got them all except a Barrett 82. Be like Nike and "Just Do It"

 

[joshb]

What powder have you decided on? Seems many people use those

Im 60 and recently ive been buying all the ones Ive "Always Wanted". I figure at this point If not now then When? Fortuneately the list isnt to long for me. Ive got them all except a Barrett 82. Be like Nike and "Just Do It"

I don't know about the 1895. It's not on my list. I just turned 60 in March. I've been picking away at my list for the past 7-8 years. Of course, joining this forum has caused me to add a few to my list. I'm still looking for a nice 03A3 and a couple others.

I have a question. What's the barrel life on a 45-70?

 

[XTR]

I use 3031.

I too initially found that the brass was being way over sized. Try backing off the die some, shoot for about .002 neck tension and see if they will still cycle if they are not sized to the bottom. I'm betting they will. This is not a high pressure case. Just make sure you run them in a crimp die if you are putting them in a tubular magazine.

Lots of BP shooters don't resize at all. They slip fit the cast or patched bullets into the fired cases on top of cork, paper or plastic spacers with some compression on the powder.