XLR 1895 45/70 bullet diameter

[acsteve]

Just got home with my new 1895 xlr stainless. It was a bit of an impulse buy, but it balances great and cant wait to shoot it. I was wondering if anyone has determined the best size of ranch dog or other cast bullets I should start with? And to my brother....eat your heart out.

[Dale53]

Write Ranch Dog direct. I can't think of anyone who would have better information for you about his bullets.

I've just signed up for the TL 350 bullet from him myself - I will be sizing it .460" for my early modern (Ballard Rifling) Marlin 1895

Dale53

[Swede44mag]

I bought a1985 XLR at the Gun Show a couple of weeks ago if you find out what size cast bullet to use be sure to post it.

Thanks Swede44mag

[swingpress]

I bought my 1985XLR on the second as well. It must have been a good day for them. :Fire:

I got some 300g Laredo LRN bullets at the same time. No leading over 15g of Trail Boss the other day (cowboy load). I'm happy with them so far. I'll mich' them tomorrow night and let you know what size they are.

Nice gun.

[swingpress]

As promised, my 300 grain bullets are .458. They are are fp though, not rn. Also tested them at BNH of 15. Note that I have not driven them hard.

[NickSS]

I shoot .459 sized bullets in all my 45-70 and 45-90s both lever and single shots and it works well in all of them. I get really good results with a 300 gr truncated cone boolit in my Marlin lever actions. I buy the boolit from my local caster guy and that saves me the trouble of casting for plinking bullets. 29 gr of AA 5744 and that boolit gives me nice groups of less than two inches when I do my part at 100 yards.

[acsteve]

slugged the bore of my xlr 45/70 with a 50cal round ball. It measures 457". So would a 460 sizer be two larger?

[6pt-sika]

I shoot .459" sized bullets in my 1895CB with excellent results .

And yes I shoot both weights of the Ranch Dog bullet !!!!!!!!!!

I might add I also really really like the Lyman 330 grain plain base hollow point mould as well .

The Ranch Dog bullets can be sized larger then .459 if one has the need . And also the Ranch Dog sells Lee sizing die kits that are push thru and tumble lubed . With his setup you can size at .462" I believe !!!!!!!!!!!

Look on his webpage at ;

www.ranchdogmolds.com

If you look around on there a bit you can find all kinds of information :-D

[6pt-sika]

slugged the bore of my xlr 45/70 with a 50cal round ball. It measures 457". So would a 460 sizer be two larger?


In my own personal experience I only cast straight wheel weights , so they are fairly soft .

But when I size bullets for my 30-30's I run them thru a .312" die and many of them measure above .311" . Since starting this I have had an increase in accuracy !

In my 32-40 and 32 Specials I size in a .323" die and again have excellent results .

As far as the 45-70 or 450 Marlin is concerned "if" I had a die to fit in my Lyman 4500 that was .462" I would size with it instead of the .459" .

With straight wheel weights I do not think any problems will present themselves provided you can get the round in the chamber ! Now however should you want to put linotype in the mix , well thats another story and I for one have never used lino so far (even though I have about 50 pounds of it ) [smilie=1:

[acsteve]

just loaded and tried some light loads. 35 gr R-7 behind a 360 g gc DOG Bullet. Pretty low pressure, smoked the Hornady Leverution brass. Quite pleasant. Also installed the wild west happy trigger and extractor. The trigger really did lighten the trigger pull. And though it ruins the lines of the gun, a 2-7x32mm shotgun scope on low talley mounts.

[outsidebear]

Ya might touch base with Dan, Bull shop at this web site, about the Marlin XLR in .45-70.
He's mighty fond of his, having harvested a moose with it in 2006 season...

[IcerUSA]

I run mine at .460 and they shoot good at 50 yds , I have the RCBS 405 and the Lyman .330 HP moulds at the present time , going to get the RD's as soon as I can , have the one for the 32 cal ordered at this time . When I sluged my barrel it came out to .458 so the .460 seals her up good . I use straight WW in my boolits also .

FWIW

Keith