45-70 Kelbly's Atlas

[SQ54]

Bought this last year from a fellow member and finally found time to start working on some loads. I am sure most people think this is a crazy way to spend $, but it sure makes a nice rig for some of the straight wall states. Built on an Atlas action with a 1 in 18" Douglas barrel, this gun is shooting 1/2" groups. I am shooting the Barnes 450 gr TSX, seated into the lands, at an average of 1857 fps. H4198 is the only powder that I have tried. Something different, for sure......

Try a 350 gr. cast bullet with Unique. It will kill just as well without putting you in traction after the shot.

 

[RussellJ]

Bought this last year from a fellow member and finally found time to start working on some loads. I am sure most people think this is a crazy way to spend $, but it sure makes a nice rig for some of the straight wall states. Built on an Atlas action with a 1 in 18" Douglas barrel, this gun is shooting 1/2" groups. I am shooting the Barnes 450 gr TSX, seated into the lands, at an average of 1857 fps. H4198 is the only powder that I have tried. Something different, for sure......

I almost purchased that rifle when it was for sale on this forum. For myself, that rifle is sat up perfectly....

 

[wboggs]

The 450 Marlin provides a significant increase in safety for a build of a 500 grain dangerous game rifle.

The 500 grain cartridge is loaded to a COAL longer then can be chambered by any means in a lever gun and the belt is a proprietary size preventing it from be chambered in other magnum calibers.

Do you think a 500gr jacketed bullet loaded to max .45-70 velocities has any advantage over a cast one? I wonder if the jacketed one would act essentially like a solid, making the cast one just as good or better since it can be shorter and cast to your bore size.

 

[David Milisock]

Do you think a 500gr jacketed bullet loaded to max .45-70 velocities has any advantage over a cast one? I wonder if the jacketed one would act essentially like a solid, making the cast one just as good or better since it can be shorter and cast to your bore size.

I've used hard cast in my 444 Marlin and it worked well. I've not used the Hornady solids nor the soft points on game yet in my 450. I'm not concerned with bullet diameter and bore diameter as the barrel is a Shilen air guage and my loads shoot very well in terms of velocity and grouping.

I've seen and handled Hornady solids recovered from cape buffaloes, elephant and Kodiak bear from a hunter I know. Two looked nearly undamaged and the one from the buffalo was bent a bit. I've seen plenty of photos of solids at work, I live in farm country so I've see lots of BS too.

It would depend on the quality of the hard cast and the game but the solids are a tougher metal. My choice was the solids, I've lived a good while, looking to stay old.

 

[choprzrul]

After deer season, I'm planning on doing load development for my 1885 in 45-70 using Barnes 300gr TTSX (SOCOM). Per Barnes' tech support, that projectile is designed to expand down to 1100 fps.

50gr of H4198 should get me about 2200fps at the muzzle. Rifle + scope should be right at 10lbs, so JBM's recoil calculators shows 25.4 lbs of recoil, which is manageable. It will also leave me with 1557 fps at 400 yards and over 1600 foot pounds of energy while being less than 10 MOA drop.....which is nice since I use Leupold's CDS dials.

Now....if I could find a muzzle brake for an octagon barrel....

.

 

[DGP4]

If you're looking for a long bearing surface, I'd suspect you want to look at copper solids like the Barnes TSX or the even longer Woodleigh solids

oops! I see you are already shooting the Barnes.

 

[wboggs]

After deer season, I'm planning on doing load development for my 1885 in 45-70 using Barnes 300gr TTSX (SOCOM). Per Barnes' tech support, that projectile is designed to expand down to 1100 fps.

50gr of H4198 should get me about 2200fps at the muzzle. Rifle + scope should be right at 10lbs, so JBM's recoil calculators shows 25.4 lbs of recoil, which is manageable. It will also leave me with 1557 fps at 400 yards and over 1600 foot pounds of energy while being less than 10 MOA drop.....which is nice since I use Leupold's CDS dials.

Now....if I could find a muzzle brake for an octagon barrel....

.

25 lbs of recoil without muzzle is very optmistic. I would think closer to twice that even using light 300gr bullets

 

[wboggs]

25 lbs of recoil without muzzle is very optmistic. I would think closer to twice that even using light 300gr bullets

My mistake, I see you are correct. The light weight bullet makes a lot of difference. I used to shoot a 1885 in .45-70 but used much heavier 530gr bullets.

 

[Orr89rocz]

i had once loaded down 300 gr hollow pts in my 458 win mag with h4198, it was in the 2000 ish fps range i think? No filler so had pretty bad velocity spreads and grouped so so but even in the 9-10 lb rifle it still seemed to kick a bit harder than i would have expected. 25 ftlbs seems light for a 2200 Fps load even if thats what the calcs show. Mine loaded to 2400 for better accuracy was def a lot sharper in the recoil department but i dont mind it.

 

[wboggs]

i had once loaded down 300 gr hollow pts in my 458 win mag with h4198, it was in the 2000 ish fps range i think? No filler so had pretty bad velocity spreads and grouped so so but even in the 9-10 lb rifle it still seemed to kick a bit harder than i would have expected. 25 ftlbs seems light for a 2200 Fps load even if thats what the calcs show. Mine loaded to 2400 for better accuracy was def a lot sharper in the recoil department but i dont mind it.

I loaded 350 Hornadys to 2400-2500 for practice loads in my .458. Used them for 50-100 yd practice off shooting sticks. They kicked a lot, about like a .375. They were accurate and the recoil was tolerable from a standing position.

 

[Orr89rocz]

I shoot all from the bench lol i learned the manage it over time, lots of slug gun abuse over the years lol
I like 45 cal big bores, always wanted a guide gun but built the 458 on a savage action for cheappp. 300 grain hornady at 2400 is one load, but i got a 400 gr speer at 2025 with reloder 7 in the cold air, 2060 in warm air,that shoots more accurately and recoil about the same. Same with 400 gr barnes X i found, same charge of reloder goes 2129 and shoots same hole as 500 gr barnes solid at 1800 fps lol fun.

all of these were about same as my 376 steyr as far as recoil. More than 338 win mag in a light gun imo

 

[David Milisock]

I shoot all from the bench lol i learned the manage it over time, lots of slug gun abuse over the years lol
I like 45 cal big bores, always wanted a guide gun but built the 458 on a savage action for cheappp. 300 grain hornady at 2400 is one load, but i got a 400 gr speer at 2025 with reloder 7 in the cold air, 2060 in warm air,that shoots more accurately and recoil about the same. Same with 400 gr barnes X i found, same charge of reloder goes 2129 and shoots same hole as 500 gr barnes solid at 1800 fps lol fun.

all of these were about same as my 376 steyr as far as recoil. More than 338 win mag in a light gun imo

My 450 Marlin bolt gun was built specifically as a guide gun/dangerous game hunting rifle.

I'm not ever attempting taking bear at 200 yards, I prefer well inside 100 and placing a good 1st shot.

 

[Orr89rocz]

I would agree there are better rounds for 200 yard work and on those animals being a bit closer for follow up shots would be a good idea.

 

[Mark W]

I almost purchased that rifle when it was for sale on this forum. For myself, that rifle is sat up perfectly....

This rifle also piqued my interest when it was listed for sale here on the forum. I just had too many irons in the fire at the time and couldn’t justify the expense.

 

[JohnW...ski]

This is my 45-70, using 535 gr. Brooks Original Postell bullets from Brooks Molds and IMR 3031 powder. I have only used it for target shooting up to 300 yards but it will stay under minute of angle.

John

 

[JohnW...ski]

This is my 45-70, using 535 gr. Brooks Original Postell bullets from Brooks Molds and IMR 3031 powder. I have only used it for target shooting up to 300 yards but it will stay under minute of angle.

John

I am surprised no one asked, it is an action I made myself using plans from Frank DeHaas. He called it an FDH#2.

John

 

[Orr89rocz]

At quick glance i thought it was a ruger no. 1

 

[wboggs]

I am surprised no one asked, it is an action I made myself using plans from Frank DeHaas. He called it an FDH#2.

John

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Very nice rifle. I used to use 535 postells out the 500 meters. As you mention, very accurate. I also used mine only on paper and metallic targets.