Best Bullet and load for Marlin 45-70 guide gun

[sixpointfive]

Just picked up a new Marlin 45-70 guide gun and am wanting to start loading and casting ASAP. What would be the best LEE bullet to run and what is a good :lovebooli medium power load with accuracy being the first prioroty.

[454PB]

I have 3 different Lee moulds I use for my GG with Ballard rifling, and they all do well sized to .4585". My barrel slugs .457".

If I had to pick just one, I'd recommend the 405-459-HB.

[sixpointfive]

Did you ever try the 340 grain?

[btroj]

There is not a "best " mould for your rifle. Each bullet has a place and reason for being.
I prefer a 405 plain base for general use. Mine is a custom mould but any 350 to 420 grain bullet should shoot well enough to suit most people.
I like 2400 with around 22 to 24 grains working well in most situations for me. Gives about 1300 to 1400 gps in most cases and good accuracy. And it is easy on the shoulder.
Don't be afraid to experiment. There is no one right answer. Find what works for you then stick with it.
Brad

[jh45gun]

I have 3 different Lee moulds I use for my GG with Ballard rifling, and they all do well sized to .4585". My barrel slugs .457".

If I had to pick just one, I'd recommend the 405-459-HB.


What he said on the recommendation. That is the bullet I use with 24 grains of 2400 and it works great out of my rifle. Well enough I shot a doe at a 193 yards with that load. Is that good enough recommendation?

[two dogs]

i shoot the lee 340 fp,drops from mold at 349-351 with ww.16 gr unique makes one nice cloverleaf at 100 yds

[sixpointfive]

What dia do the 340's fall out of the mould?

[two dogs]

459 i lube with beeswax-oliveoil and shoot as cast

[Gee_Wizz01]

I use the Ranch Dog 350-460 and the Ranch Dog 420-460 in my Guide Gun. These are Lee molds that you can purchase from Ranch Dog Outdoor. Ranch Dog has a link at the top of the page. These boolits were designed especially for the Marlins. I have great success with both molds.

G

[Tazman1602]

Why limit yourself to Lee? If you must, try this one:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=588362

or if you want you could try this one:

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=632708

The one above, RCBS 405 grain flat nose gas check shoots REALLY well in anything from .45-70 to .450 Marlin but it's expensive now.

I think I've got a pretty good supply of both of these sized to .459 for my rifles, if you'd like to try a dozen or so of each feel free to PM me. They are hard lubed with rooster red for the gas checks and lyman orange for the PB bullets. Gas check RCBS bullets have been heat treated and are hard, PB has_not been heat treated on purpose.

Either one of these with about 31 grains of one of the 4198's is a nice, non-punishing load that clocks around 1290fps and is pretty accurate too.

Art

PS -- Here's a pic of a group from my .450 Marlin with that bullet:

http://i525.photobucket.com/albums/cc336/Tazman1602/PA240014.jpg


PPS -- You didn't think I was gonna post any of the 5" groups did ya? <GRIN>

DOH! And don't forget Ranch Dog molds if you are just getting into casting, tumble lube is easiest way to get started, check his site here and prices are right too:

http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5_14&products_id=30

[Shooter6br]

Ranchdog 350g with 10 grains Universal or unique Good mild target load in my Ruger NO 1 out to 100 yrs. 1000FPS

[MtGun44]

RCBS 405GC over 57 gr W748 is very accurate in my GG. Low pressure load, runs
1750 from mine.

Bill

[RobS]

The best bet is to slug your bore first as it will tell you if Lee molds will work without having to modify them by beagling or by lapping the cavities to make a larger diameter bullet. The Lee 340 and 405 cast out at best .458 maybe .459 from recent molds. The 405 HB bullet tends to run a bit larger in diameter so it may be your best route if you have a fat bore. My dad's new marlin 1895 SBL has a .458 bore so the two lee molds he just bought didn't work out so well with the 340 casting right at .458 and the 405 at .4585. He didn't try the HB design, but instead had a me work with Accurate Molds in the design of two bullets. The 46-375B and the 46-375G were the ending results of my thoughts. If you don't mind tumble lube bullet designs then Ranch Dog molds produces 350g and 425g bullet molds that tends to be accurate from many rifles.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
Get any Ranchdog mold. You will not be dissapointed and it will work. They are designed to fill the throat and you MUST do that. Many standard molds cast too small diameter.
But You need to decide what are you wanting to do... If all you want is a shoulder crusher anything over 450 grains and a bench should fill the need.

[WyrTwister]

Good morning
Get any Ranchdog mold. You will not be dissapointed and it will work. They are designed to fill the throat and you MUST do that. Many standard molds cast too small diameter.
But You need to decide what are you wanting to do... If all you want is a shoulder crusher anything over 450 grains and a bench should fill the need.


You are correct , Marlins like BIG bullets .

In the 1970's , bought a Microgroove .45-70 and had a lot of frustration trying to get it to shoot cast , accurately . I blamed it on the Microgroove .

After much reading on the internet , I found out the Lee bullets I had been casting were too small for the Marlin .

Worse , I had purchased the Lee .457" bullet sizing die . This made it worse .

I finally bought the Lee 405 HB mold . It drops the biggest bullet of all my Lee molds . I tried shooting them as cast , but some of the ammo would not chamber .

After lapping the die to .460" , I can size them and they chamber OK .

I can not afford the other brands of molds . But if you can & find one that drops BIG bullets , I am sure they will be fine , also .

I also found , if I only tunn the melting pot , just hot enough to make good bullets , they seem to come out bigger . Too hot and it seems they shrink more ?

God bless
Wyr

[45r]

the most accurate boolit out of a half dozen molds is my 420GC from BRP.

[Lloyd Smale]

if i could have only one mold for the 4570 id choose the 405 rcbs. I actually dont use it much anymore because i have custom molds that work just as well and have more cavitys but the 405 is never a mistake. It has shot real well in every gun ive tried it in.

[Frank]

45r:
the most accurate boolit out of a half dozen molds is my 420GC from BRP.
BRP IN MARLIN 1895. 8-SHOT GROUP AT 100 YDS.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=2828

BRP BOOLIT IN BFR. 5-SHOT GROUP AT 50 YDS (left).
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/picture.php?albumid=123&pictureid=2884

[sixpointfive]

Live in kentucky and plan to target shoot and hunt deer with this rifle. Would like 100 yard accuracy and be able to knock down a deer at 200 yards but still not be too harsh at the range. Do I have to run gas checks?

[Frank]

No, you can use a PB. The group on the right is a PB. A deer is a big animal. Go for it.

[sixpointfive]

I meant 100 yard deer shots not 200.

[d garfield]

405 cast with 25 grns IMR 4759 very nice load and will shoot in about 3in. at 200 with open sights off of the bench.

[hicard]

My favorite (accurate) load is a 420 gr boolit with 28 grs of IMR 4198. Very pleasant and accurate.

[Frank]

Ranch Dog has the 460-350GC. That also shoots sub-moa out of the Marlin Guide Gun.

[Ole]

I have shot nothing but Ranch Dog boolits from my guide gun and have yet to be disappointed with any of the combos i've tried.

20.0 gr 2400 with the 425 (no gas check/.5gr Poly fill) (1250fps)
36.0 gr H4198 with the 425 (1550fps)
42.0 gr H4198 with the 350 (1700fps)

All shot great from my rifle.

I doubt i'll ever go full power with this rifle anymore. It's just no fun to shoot at those levels and I can't get past the tendency to flinch with full power .450 marlin loads.

[Frank]

I had a gunsmith put in a mercury recoil reducer in the stock. It was a worthwhile modification, IMHO. I like to jiggle the rifle and listen to the liquid swishing back and forth. [smilie=l:

[JesterGrin_1]

I had a gunsmith put in a mercury recoil reducer in the stock. It was a worthwhile modification, IMHO. I like to jiggle the rifle and listen to the liquid swishing back and forth. [smilie=l:

Frank at times you kill me lol. :killingpc

[Frank]

Jestergrin_1:
Frank at times you kill me lol. :killingpc
Actually, it's a good modifcation. It makes it more fun off the bench. [smilie=p:

[pls1911]

Make life easy on yourself and stay with gas checked designs, at least at first.

+1 on the Ranch Dog designs... largest Meplat optimized for Marlin chambers & throats, and the price is friendly.
Size at 460, and heat treat 'em Hard... the 350 is good for anything you'll encounter in the lower 48, but the 425 is as good too if you're up to the recoil
Both are accurate with 10-15gr unique, 24-28 gr 2400, or 40-45 grains Reloader 7.
The RCBS 405 is tough to beat, and the RCBS 300 is fine as well.

I have Lymans, Lees, NEI, RCBS and Ranch Dogs.
If forced to have only one, Ranch Dog 350 is the one.

[sixpointfive]

Hey Two dogs, do you let these air cool after they fall from the mould or do you let them air cool?

[Frank]

pls1911:
RCBS 300 is fine as well.

I can't get accuracy with the BFR with the RCBS 300. Usually the BFR and Marlin work the same. So I have to wonder how good the RCBS 300 really is before I try it in the Marlin. I also hear good things about 2400, but how good is it really? Do you use a filler with that low of a charge, 24-28 grns?

[Frank]

sixpointfive:
Hey Two dogs, do you let these air cool after they fall from the mould or do you let them air cool?
With a faster powder like Unique you probably want to water drop.