45-70 loads

[trader steve]

hello,how many of you guys shoot 45-70s,mine is a marlin 1895.looking for load advice on 300to450gr bullets and favorite powders.and imr 3031 thanks steve.

 

[SHootSTraight22]

hello,how many of you guys shoot 45-70s,mine is a marlin 1895.looking for load advice on 300to450gr bullets and favorite powders.and imr 3031 thanks steve.

I shoot a Thomson Center pistol 45/70...

 

[gary0529]

50 gr. 3031 with a 300 gr Hornady XTP !!!

ALL the deer shot(heart/lung) go bang flop.

I played around using heavier bullets-405 lead cast flat nose and 465 lead flat nose and I tried bumping up the speed on the 300's but in all instances I go back to the 3031 @ 50.0 gr- the other loads beat me up too much (and I had the bruised shoulder to prove it) and I cannot hope to see any improvement in the results on whitetail deer.
They cannot end up any more dead than they are.

 

[SWRichmond]

70 gr Dupont FFg.

 

[XTR]

50 gr. 3031 with a 300 gr Hornady XTP !!!

ALL the deer shot(heart/lung) go bang flop.

I played around using heavier bullets-405 lead cast flat nose and 465 lead flat nose and I tried bumping up the speed on the 300's but in all instances I go back to the 3031 @ 50.0 gr- the other loads beat me up too much (and I had the bruised shoulder to prove it) and I cannot hope to see any improvement in the results on whitetail deer.
They cannot end up any more dead than they are.

Get a Lyman manual, it has smokeless loads for 45-70 in all 3 types of rifles (trapdoor loads, lever gun loads, and Ruger#1 T-Rex loads). I tried a lot of powders, 3031 worked well for me too. Stick to the loads for the lever guns. There is a HUGE volume in that case for smokeless, so there is huge capacity for foolishness. I too have had the bruises to show for pushing heavy bullets hard.

At least for me shooting my 45-70s whether it's black powder in my C.Sharps '74 or my modern highwall with smokeless it is not like shooting any of my other rifles. These are big recoiling, heavy troqueing rifles.

I will point out one more thing about them. Your drop from a 100 yard zero to 200 yards is going to be on the order of 20 inches give or take depending on how hard you push your bullets. In hunting applications these are typically short range guns.

SW Richmond, I prefer 1.5Fg Swiss or FFg Schutzen.

 

[oldhoward]

Hi,
Check out the Marlin forums online. Lots of information available from light loads to very heavy loads. Lots of info on your rifle.

Oldhowarfd

 

[trader steve]

oldhoward,thank you i am a member there not alot of imr 3031 loads there.

 

[M-61]

Same rifle..1895..I have had the best accuracy with 325 Hornady FTX using 2400.
Does require a special die from Redding to 'crimp' the bullet.
To me it was as if Hornady wanted to make you use their loaded ammo with that cannelure where it is. However the accuracy was so surprisingly good
I stayed with it and feel it is worth it. My F/L die (no choice) really is on the way too tight side...really would work the brass but then again I assume it is made to fit a wide variety of chamber sizes that were made over the last 125+ years. I only run the case into the die enough to tighten the mouth to hold the bullet securely.

 

[Gabe22BR]

I use IMR 4198 with 350 gr FNHP in my 45-70. I load for the old actions, hence the soft recoil......

 

[JamesnTN]

I use N133 with a 300 grain bullet

 

[navyrad8r]

325gr FTX hornady, on top of 55gr of IMR 4320. load worked safe in my rifle (modern marlin guide gun). all brass trimmed down t the "hornady length" this is a nice mild load.
cheers,
Doc

 

[Rpbump]

+1 on getting the Lyman Black Powder Manual. Your lever gun probably has a slow twist (1 in 22 or 1 in 24) so a cast bullet at or less than 400gr should be just the ticket. 2ff Goex or 1 1/2 Swiss for powder. I use LDPE plastic wads and WLR primers. Do not leave air space between the wads and the base of the bullet. I believe the GOULD cast bullet mold can be purchased from Buffalo Arms. Trail Boss powder can be used for lighter loads if smokeless powder is preferred.

Rpbump

 

[cmillard]

I have an 1895 marlin and am shooting 430 grain Oregon trails tru shots with imr 4320.

 

[SierraCJ5]

I'm surprised Reloader 7 hasn't been mentioned. It works great with a 405g hard cast bullet in my Marlin 1895.

 

[DogBuster]

Lots of info on the ole 45-70 everywhere...+1 on 'Marlinowners forum'

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/49

http://oregontrailbullet.com/shop/

http://missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=5&category=6