45-70 load

[josper]

I'm going to be trying 405 gr plain base boolits in my marlin.I was wondering if I could use IMR 4895 for this. I realize their are better choices to be made with the powder.The thing is I have a quanity of 4895 and would like to use it if possible. Just thought I'd through this out there to see what responce I get.If this is a really bad idea what would be a good powder? I would like to stay around 1600fps.

[Tom-ADC]

From IMR website not cast boolits listed for lever action this is for trapdoor.
405 GR. CAST LFP IMR IMR 4895 .458" 2.540" 45.6 1496 18,900 CUP 48.5 1598 23,000 CUP

[btroj]

For 1600 you have a good powder. Not the ideal in my opinion but it will certainly work.

Brad

[45-70 Ranger]

Hope you have a good recoil pad in place. This might just thump a wee bit I think...But then again I keep all my loads in the BP velocity range with my little Guide Gun. Took some 405's up to the 1550 to 1600 speed once. Almost lost a couple of fillings after a day's run at paper...The stock Marlin pad is kinda like a brick and the weapon is about 7 pounds...

Wade

[Larry Gibson]

I've found that PB'd cast bullets in the 45-70 will lose accuracy between 1550 and 1650 fps. Casting them hard helps as does having a solid flat base but a good BB hard cast bullet can shoot well at 1550 - 1600 fps. I suggest starting at 39 gr 4895 and work up in 1 gr increments to 45 gr. Use a 1 gr dacron filler.

I've some very hard commercial cast 413 gr bullets that shoot 2" ten shot groups at 100 yards using 43 gr milsurp 4895 with the dacron filler. Velocity is 1550 fps. With 44 gr 4895 the accuracy goses to 4" at 1575 fps. With 45 gr accuracy is going south rapidly with 6" groups at 1600 fps. With hard cast 458124s I can get right at 1575 fps before accuracy starts south. Your rifle will tell you how much you can push your bullet before accuracy goes.

Larry Gibson

[josper]

The first thing I did with the marlin is put a good recoil pad on it as the stock one that came with it didn't get the job done.I'v been shooting an RCBS 405gr GC boolit with 40.5gr IMR4198 and that load "thumps" a bit. I will take the advice and start lower on the velosity.Thanks to all for the info.

[josper]

not to change the subject but a word about the recoil pad.First I sent for a pachmayr pre fit for a[1895gg] I used it but it did not fit, a little on the small side. Just looking at it was an irratation. So I did what I should have in the first place and measured the butt with a caliper to get the exact size. Looking at their chart it was plane to see that the recoil pad for the marlin 336 was a better chioce. I had to take a sanding block and finish fit it but it looks alot better.I just put a strip of duct tape on the stock so I wouldn't ding the stock with my sanding.One other thing .The holes didn't quite line up but were close to the old one so redrilling would have been tough.So I drilled out the exsisting holes and glued in hardwood doweles,then redrilled my holes .worked better than I thought it would.

[MtGun44]

I expect that you will find excellent results. I use Win 748 which is similar burning rate and
often thought to be "too slow" for .45-70 with excellent results in my Marlin GG. I get
1750 fps (chronoed) with a 405 gr jbullet, and sub 2" groups, often one ragged hole at
100 yds. Quite a thumper and excellent hunting load.

Bill

[josper]

MtGun44: I like shooting the rem 405 bulk bullet with 43gr of IMR4198 with the same results you have. You must be loading something around 52gr of 748 to get the same,how close am I in my quess??

[tacklebury]

Reloader7 is another excellent powder for the .45-70 and I've loaded it from trap door level 31.2 gr. to 52 gr. with varying degrees of arch and kick. Really versatile powder in this caliber and very consistent. ;) Here at least it's about 7 dollars less a pound. 8)

[MtGun44]

IIRC, 57 gr of W748. The best news is that it is trapdoor pressure level, has been
pressure checked and verified by Brian Pierce of Handloader.

Bill