Bullet choice for Marlin lever 45-70

[dubber123]

I recently picked up a Marlin lever in 45-70. My problem is I only have one mould that casts a 450 gr. GC bullet. I tried quite a few loads last Sunday, and it doesn't seem to care for this slug until it's going over 1,800 fps. This is fine for hunting, but is a bit more than I think necessary for general paper punching. I have 2 of Boomers 420 gr. moulds coming on a group buy, and hope to order one of Ranch Dogs 425 gr. moulds tomorrow. I would like to know if you guys have any favorites that have given you consistantly good accuracy. My best group last Sunday was 1-5/16" at 50 yards with the iron sights. Not great, but shows some promise. Thanks.

[1Shirt]

My son in law is having great sucess with the heavy Ranch Dog in his Marlin 45-70.
Just took a very nice 5x5 in Mo. with it last Sunday. Shoots very well, has nose softened. Good Luck!
1Shirt!

[MtGun44]

I have had excellent results with the RCBS 405 GC mold. I had zero luck with
the Lee 405. Try 57.0 W748 under a cast 405 or Rem or Speer J-bullet 405
with a magnum primer. This is a low pressure load suitable for trapdoors,
according to Brian Pierce, and delivers about 1750 from my GG, and 1.5-2"
for 5 shots at 100.

Bill

[threett1]

Lyman 457122. Gould hollowpoint, casts about 340gr. Love mine in my Guide Gun, Handirifle, and my Contender Super 14 barrel.

[beagle]

Good suggections above. If you have aMarlin .45/70, you need both the 457122 and a RCBS 45-405-FN. Both are excellent in the .45/70./beagle

[crowbeaner]

+1 on the Lyman 457122 330 grainer. Use WW 748 or Reloder7. IMR 3031 will work in a pinch. CB.

[dubber123]

Thanks for the suggestions fellas, I have been looking at the RCBS 405, and did a swap for some reloading components a while back that netted me 9 pounds of W748. I have never tried it in 45-70! It seems to be popular with you guys, so I will definately try it. I just gave my 450 gr. mould a quick lapping, and WOW! what a difference! Bullets jump out now, and measure a lot rounder. I just basically took off the black "finish", but it showed it opened it at least .001". I cast about 100, I will try this weekend, weather permitting.

[Char-Gar]

Like others I have had very good luck with the Lyman Gould 330 HP and the RCBS 405 GC in my Marling 1895 SS.

[Ken O]

I have a few 45-70 molds, and my most accurate is the group buy Ranch Dog 360 GC mold.
Here is a group shot at 75 yards using 60gr of Goex FFFG. I was off the bench with a Williams fire sight front and Williams receiver sight rear. The target is a 50 yard B6 repair center, about a 10" black. If you look closely, you can see the snow/mud line at the bottom of the group. I shot this last week. This is with my Marlin '95 Guide Gun.

http://my.core.com/~keno/Pict1226.JPG

[jack19512]

This is with my Marlin '95 Guide Gun.





If I can get my new Marlin 1895 45/70 Cowboy to shoot that good I will be very happy indeed. :drinks:

[IcerUSA]

I got the RCBS 405 grainer and it is doing about 1 1/2" at 50yds with 5744 , tried some H4198 and it opened up to about 6" or so and kicked like a mule :) . Will be trying other powders after deer season here tho so it's upto the 5744 for now to do the job .

I've only had the rifle a few weeks now so I got aways to go with it but like what I see so far , have to wait till after the first of the year to try another mould (mold) for it .

I do like to have more than 1 choice for loading , a nice light weight boolit for plinking would be nice as the 405 gr. sure eats the lead out of the pot in a hurry ;) .

Keith

[Ranch Dog]

My son in law is having great sucess with the heavy Ranch Dog in his Marlin 45-70.
Just took a very nice 5x5 in Mo. with it last Sunday. Shoots very well, has nose softened. Good Luck!
1Shirt!

Any chance getting a picture for my web site.

[Ranch Dog]

Here is my 1895G hunting load of Benchmark and my TLC460-350-RF, 55.5-grains at 1950 FPS. I have a similar target with the TLC460-425-RF and H335. This is at 50-yards.

[dubber123]

Here is my 1895G hunting load of Benchmark and my TLC460-350-RF, 55.5-grains at 1950 FPS. I have a similar target with the TLC460-425-RF and H335. This is at 50-yards.

Thats what I'm looking for. I tried telling myself Id be happy with 1" 50 yard groups, but I know I won't be. I'm ordering the 425 grain Ranch Dog mould today, I will have to pick up some H335. I only have H-4198, and H-322. Lots of W748 to try too though.

[dubber123]

With only the one mould currently, I was stuck wondering if this rifle just doesn't like this bullet, or just won't shoot. Not a good feeling. I remembered I had a bunch of Lymans heavy Postell bullets cast, and some lubed. Weight is I believe advertised at 535 grains, (scale only goes to 500). I loaded 3 with 28 grains of H-4198, and crimped over the front band. They will chamber easily, but will not eject, so they are a royal P.I.T.A., BUT, the first 3 out of a clean barrel went into .415" at 50 yds. Way low, but who cares! Now I know it will shoot, I just have to find the bullets it likes.

[mooman76]

I got the RCBS 405 grainer and it is doing about 1 1/2" at 50yds with 5744 , tried some H4198 and it opened up to about 6" or so and kicked like a mule :) . Will be trying other powders after deer season here tho so it's upto the 5744 for now to do the job .

I've only had the rifle a few weeks now so I got aways to go with it but like what I see so far , have to wait till after the first of the year to try another mould (mold) for it .

I do like to have more than 1 choice for loading , a nice light weight boolit for plinking would be nice as the 405 gr. sure eats the lead out of the pot in a hurry ;) .

Keith


Might try a RB for plinking. I've been meaning to try but haven't got around to it yet!

[Lloyd Smale]

two of the best are the rcbs 405 and 500.

[dubber123]

That RCBS 405 seems to be mentioned alot. It's moving to the top of the list. I scrounged around and found a few Lyman 405 plain base I had cast years ago. 31.0 grs. of H-4198 made a .733" 50 yard group. I think it will shoot, but it's pretty picky.

[4570guy]

I've had good luck with the Lee 340 gr shot as cast from 100% WW and LLA. I shoot this with a light load of SR-4759 (23 gr) for a MV of 1300 fps out of my 22" Model 1895. About the best group I've shot with it was 3" at 150 yards using a Williams peep. It should do better if I had a scope on the rifle.

I've not tried any other mould with this rifle, but I'm happy with what the Lee gives me.

[Leftoverdj]

There are two Lee 405 grain bullets. The 457-405-RF generally casts too small for Marlins and NEFs. The 459-405-HB shoots very. very well in most rifles in the lower velocity range.

[Dale53]

My Marlin 1895 shoots well with Lee's 340 gr bullet ahead of a moderate load of 4198 (1.5" five shot groups at 100 yards).

I have ordered Ranch Dog's C430-350-RF subscription for a six cavity mould.

Dale53

[dubber123]

I've always leaned toward heavy for caliber bullets, but some of the lighter weights keep coming up too. For general practice, I guess I don't need to send 500 grains downrange each time. I might want to save up and get a selection of moulds, not just one "do it all design".

[Nardoo]

The RCBS 405 GC shot the best in my Marlin with micro groove barrel. I used ww plus 2% sn and it shot fine between 1400 and 1820 fps. Never had much luck with plain base bullets in my gun despite trying a number.
A friend uses a Lyman mould of similar configuration with good results.

Nardoo

[lmcollins]

I am using the RCBS 405 FNGC (casts to about 420 grns) with 47 grns of H322. Seems to work pretty well. Never bothered to clock it. Kicks plenty at the back end.

[Adam10mm]

For a quick guess at your fps, divide actual charge weight by max charge weight and multiply that by the max fps. Will get you close.