Need A Little Help With 465gr cast loads for my 45-70

[Officer29]

I have several 1895 Marlins. The ones I hunt with and shoot the most are the GBL and the SBL. I have been casting bullets for years, mostly pistol. I got into the love affair with the 45-70 and got a 405gr cast mold from Accurate. I have this bullet dialed in and used it in the elk hunt this year and got my elk. These rifles are absolutely unbelievably accurate. The elk I got had one hole in and one hole out with no meat loss. Since then I have gotten another mold from Accurate. A 465gr cast GC. Both of these bullets have large meplats which is great for hunting. I would like to develop a load for this bullet but I have contacted the powder manufacturers with no help and Accurate molds with no help. Even though Tom is great to work with on molds he had no info. I have several powders to work with, IMR4198, H335, Varget, RL7, and 3130. I was given info for the bullet using H335 but it was for a Ruger #1 which is too strong for the Marlin. If anyone has any info that can help me or that you are familiar with it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Bill

[Hickory]

Is it load data you seek for the 465 gr boolit?
There's where working up a load comes into play.
I would use load data for a 500 gr boolit, if you can find it, as your base starting point.
And approach maximum with caution.

[Officer29]

Yeah, it's the load data I seek. I just read that there is quite a difference above and below the 465gr and I just want a safe starting point.
Bill

[Hickory]

I'd start with the starting load of the heavier boolit and keep a close eye on signs of pressure.
Work slow, testing for accuracy. Stop when you are 10% under maximum or when you get a good group that's under maximum.

[Officer29]

Has anyone used H335 for the Marlin loads? If so is there a good starting point with this bullet?

[tinhorn97062]

3031 is pretty bulky and you'll likely not get enough in the case to get much past 1500-1600fps. If that velocity is fine with you, the ~40gr neighborhood should be a good place to work from.

4198 would likely be my choice with that bullet. Off the top of my head, ~35-40 grains should give you something to work with.

Seek your load books, as my thoughts are meant to only put you in the ball park, and are not actual load data.

[tinhorn97062]

Send a PM to Crusty Deary Ol'Coot. I know he hunts with a 465gr wide flat nose boolit.

[Officer29]

Crusty helped me out some but he shoots this bullet in his Ruger #1 and the load he uses I'm not sure will work in my Marlins. Might be a bit much.

[MT Chambers]

H-335 is a top end powder in the 45/70 and does not do as well with reduced loads, it is a ball powder and has given me highest vel. in the 45/70. I like RL-7 for most other loads in the 45/70.

[hickfu]

I agree with starting in the 40gr range of 3031, I use 45gr of 3031 with my 430gr for around 1600fps.
I like using H322 moslty but I try working up 3031 loads as well, just in case I ever run out of H322.


Doc

[JDMANN]

I shoot 45-70 as follows: 460 gr WFNGC Cast Performance over 46.0 gr H322. It's been my Guide Gun load for 14 years and shoots great.