lee 500gr semi pointed round nose

[Dogg]

Just wondering if the Lee 500gr pointed round nose bullet would be safe in the 1895 magazine or is there enough of a 'point' to set off the primer in front of it! I was looking at the molds I have for .458 (all Lee's) and am wondering if they will work in the 1895. I have a 450gr flat nose a 500gr flat nose and the 500gr pointed round nose. Got all of them to try in my .458 win mag but would like to use them in the 1895 that I am getting but it looks like there in no crimp groove which would be appropriate to keep the completed round within the cartridge spec for length.
Am I going to have to get new molds just for the 45/70?:confused:

[Grapeshot]

I use the .45-70 405 grain Lee in my .45-70 Marlin and my 1876 .45 - 60 Winchester. I used to own the 500 grain RNFP/GC that had the same length nose so one could seat the bullet deeper in the case and have the same overall case length. The pointed nose of the Lee bullet may not set off a primer, but I don't know if I'd risk it.

Anyhow, a 500 grain bullet is a bit much in that light weight Marlin 1895. You haven't indicated if you are going to shoot light smokeless or full charge Black Powder.

My stock load for my Marlin was 50 grains of IMR-3031behind a 405 grain JSP. That round would kill on one end and cripple on the other.

Besides my practice loads of 13 grains of Unique and the Lee 405 grin RNFP, I also fired paper patched 375 grain RN's I swaged with my Corbin set-up. The paper patched bullets were great in my Marlin's micro groove Barrel.

[Dogg]

I will be using smokeless powder. Is this to say the 450 grain Lee won't work either since no cannelur to crimp into? Wonder if I could get one of the lee special 360gr (RD rejects) and open it up enought to work in the Marlin 45/70. Anyone tried that? One way or another guess I have a bunch of .458 molds for the win mag that don't work for the 45/70

[Grapeshot]

I will be using smokeless powder. Is this to say the 450 grain Lee won't work either since no cannelur to crimp into? Wonder if I could get one of the lee special 360gr (RD rejects) and open it up enought to work in the Marlin 45/70. Anyone tried that? One way or another guess I have a bunch of .458 molds for the win mag that don't work for the 45/70


After looking at the 450 grain .457-450F in Midway's catalog, Id say that if you seat the bullet deep, to the correct OAL, and use the Factory Crimp Die on it, you should be fine as long as you don't compress the smokeless load you will be using.

You might want to back off the charge by 10% and work up until you reach your comfort level with the powder weight you decide to use.

[Lutzy48]

I think you will find that those bullets would be too long to cycle in the Marlin. The 405 & 340 grain bullets would be more to the '95s liking. I would never stuff anything sharper than a RF bullet in a tubular magazine. (Unless it's a Leverevolution cartridge, of course).