jwhite
10-21-2007, 05:46 PM
Spent some time doing some load testing with my Browning .348 and a marlin 45 colt cowboy rifle. All the loads listed were safe in my gun, use these loads at your own risk.
With the .348 I wanted to try some of the Data 85 powder I bought cheap a while back. I ended up trying 56grs of Data-85 with a 220gr LBT bullet. Bullet was cast out of plain W-W air cooled and gas checked. Had a average speed of 2169fps and a SD of 18, which is the lowest deviation of any of my .348 loads. The best part is how accurate it was, put 2 in one hole and pulled one a bit high. Shot a couple more groups and they all were real tight, needless to say I was real pleased.
Been wanting to try some heavy boolits in the marlin .45 so I sized some 330gr Gould Boolit, actually 340gr, down to .452 and loaded them up with Reloader 7. The 23-25gr loads had the lowest deviation. They all grouped about the same 1.5" - 2" at 50 yards. There were no pressure signs but the recoil was getting a bit stiff at 25 grains, also with 25 grains this is an extremely compressed load and any more powder and the bullet would be really deformed during seating. The following is the results.
45 Colt in Marlin 94 Cowboy Rifle
330 grain Gould bullet with Reloader 7 5 shot groups
20gr RL-7 average 961fps
21gr RL-7 average 1039fps
22gr RL-7 average 1127fps
23gr RL-7 average 1160fps
24gr RL-7 average 1249fps
25gr RL-7 average 1286fps
With the .348 I wanted to try some of the Data 85 powder I bought cheap a while back. I ended up trying 56grs of Data-85 with a 220gr LBT bullet. Bullet was cast out of plain W-W air cooled and gas checked. Had a average speed of 2169fps and a SD of 18, which is the lowest deviation of any of my .348 loads. The best part is how accurate it was, put 2 in one hole and pulled one a bit high. Shot a couple more groups and they all were real tight, needless to say I was real pleased.
Been wanting to try some heavy boolits in the marlin .45 so I sized some 330gr Gould Boolit, actually 340gr, down to .452 and loaded them up with Reloader 7. The 23-25gr loads had the lowest deviation. They all grouped about the same 1.5" - 2" at 50 yards. There were no pressure signs but the recoil was getting a bit stiff at 25 grains, also with 25 grains this is an extremely compressed load and any more powder and the bullet would be really deformed during seating. The following is the results.
45 Colt in Marlin 94 Cowboy Rifle
330 grain Gould bullet with Reloader 7 5 shot groups
20gr RL-7 average 961fps
21gr RL-7 average 1039fps
22gr RL-7 average 1127fps
23gr RL-7 average 1160fps
24gr RL-7 average 1249fps
25gr RL-7 average 1286fps