Marlin 1895 45-70

[stillhunter]

Ran out of Zoloft and sold my H&R 38-55 and picked up a cherry (Ballard) Marlin 1895 in 45-70. I have tried several weights of cast bullets and found that it likes 350 gr best. Loaded some 405s and had to remove the bolt to get them out, my goof! Forgot to read the OAL! Will shoot them in my trapdoor. Anyway, am using 4227 at 23 grains and getting 3 1/2 groups at 100 yds. I can guestimate that this is a 1250 fps load. I have tried 3031 and could not do better. Should this gun shoot tighter, or am I at best expectation?
We shoot most of our deer in Pennsylvania at under 100 yds, so I would prefer accuracy to volocity. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank you.

[twotrees]

How much 3031 were you trying??

My loads may be a bit stout for you, but they shoot well in my Ballard rifled Marlin.

48 gr of 3031 behind the Lee 405 (casts 388 gr with my hard alloy) Doesn't lead (lubed with Alox RCBS orange stick) sized to .458.

I have a Scope on my rifle and If it will not keep all of them under 2" at 100 yards, I'll look for another load.

Yes it's stout, no it's in the range for 1895 Marlin loads.

I have a 330 gr mold that I have tried and tried to find a good load for this gun and can't find one. Tried from 1200 to 1800 FPS with 4 dif powders, NO Joy.

Good Shooting,

TwoTrees

[stillhunter]

Thanks Two Trees.... Tried work up to 50 gr 3031 as it was in load book, 45 grains was almost as accurate as the 4227 load. But no fun, as scope needs more eye releaf!! or a MUCH thicker recoil pad. Which 405 Lee are you using? My Lyman is 457193 which shoots beautifully in the trapdoors. My 300 gr is Precision Cast Bullets FP1GG BB. I shoot mostly 100 yd target, so I don't really want the punishment of a hunting load.

[Jon K]

stillhunter,

Saeco #015 300 gr(310 gr my alloy) & RCBS 325U both shoot well in my 1895 CB. The Saeco boolit w/28 gr 5744 = 1409 fps av, sd- 9fps. Very comfortable to shoot, can shoot all day no recoil pad. The RCBS shoots similar results, can't find the data right now.
This is a pic of the gun's first trip to the range, load is above Saeco #015, first 4 shot top of the back fifth shot after sight adjustment /200m.

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l101/Jon_K_2006/1895.jpg

The gun also shoots well w/BP. It shot equally well w/PJ 45011 410 gr RN/ 62 gr Swiss 1.5 FG/ .060 poly wad/ Win WLRM primer/2.575 oal.
Haven't chronographed this load yet. Shoots clean & accurate........

Jon

[6pt-sika]

You might want to give the Ranch Dog Moulds a shot .

He makes both e 350 and 425 grain offering for the 45-70 .

I shoot both of these in my 1895CB and my old 1895 of 1978 vintage !

Granted the 425 does kick a bit , but they both shoot well in my rifles !

[6pt-sika]

FWIW , my powder of choice with the Ranch Dog bullets in the 45-70 is XMP5744 [smilie=1:

[WyrTwister]

Ran out of Zoloft and sold my H&R 38-55 and picked up a cherry (Ballard) Marlin 1895 in 45-70. I have tried several weights of cast bullets and found that it likes 350 gr best. Loaded some 405s and had to remove the bolt to get them out, my goof! Forgot to read the OAL! Will shoot them in my trapdoor. Anyway, am using 4227 at 23 grains and getting 3 1/2 groups at 100 yds. I can guestimate that this is a 1250 fps load. I have tried 3031 and could not do better. Should this gun shoot tighter, or am I at best expectation?
We shoot most of our deer in Pennsylvania at under 100 yds, so I would prefer accuracy to volocity. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thank you.


For a light , accurate load , try 13.5 - 13.6 grains of Unique for about 1150 fps w/ 405 grain bullet . You can also load any lighter bullet with the same powder charge .

Many Marlins like large bullets . I am shooting the Lee 405 grain Hollow Base sized to .460" . We honed out a Lee .457" sizer .

It is almost SOP to use cast bullets at least .002" over groove size .

God bless
Wyr

[NickSS]

My favorit load for the Marlin is an RCBS 325 gr flat point over 29 gr of 5744. I size the bullet to .459. My rifle is an old microgroove one but it shoots into 2 inches and smaller at 100 yards with this load. It also has plenty of power for deer as well.

[twotrees]

I'll have to go dig up the mold. I cast a coffee can (3 Lb'er) full a while back and have not had the mold out for a while.

I'll check tomorrow and get you the #.

TwoTrees

[T-Bird]

I shoot 29gr IMR 4198, dacron filler, Ly 330gr gould hollowpoint sized .459 at 1350fps. I get around 2" at 100yds (big holes make it look tighter).Can shoot this load all day.Not into the "full power" stuff in 45/70.This load shoots straight and flat enuf to hunt at 100yds. Shoot straight, T-Bird

[Ranch Dog]

Geeze guys! Put your purse down and pull the lever on your powder drop!

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1895G/61.6 Benchmark PB&R Load Record.gif
61.6-grains of Benchmark for 1995+ from the 18.5" barrel of my Guide Gun

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1895G/61.6 Benchmark PB&R Target Analysis.gif
Normally I expect about 1.3" at 100-yards (5-shots) but I had a flier on this date that effected the group.

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/TLC460350RF/ranchdoghog1895G2007.jpg
It smoked this big fellow! Shot him at about 85-yards through the heart (off-hand). It lifted him off of all four feet. He ended up serving in Iraq. Smoked him and sent him to my son a flat-rate box at a time!

[PatMarlin]

I'm in awe of you RD.. :mrgreen:

[PatMarlin]

Jon k -you're target pic comes out like a luna landscape on my computer. Can't make out the shots, but I don't have a full cup of coffee down yet either... :coffee:

[PatMarlin]

Oh now I see. It's a critter of some sort with gray lead wash. My mind works in mysterious ways. I'm one of those guys that sees faces in tree bark.. :mrgreen:

[Ranch Dog]

I'm one of those guys that sees faces in tree bark...

What are you talking about, those are faces... aren't they? :???:

[stillhunter]

I'am going to pick up some H335 and 5744 this weekend, and stick with the 320 slug. Thanks gentlemen. Will report back with hopefully a good target. Ranch dog, you sure have big groundhogs out there!!

[218bee]

Anybody try shooting black powder in their 1895Cowboy?? I've been tempted but as yet have not

[Jon K]

218,

You must have missed it in my post, scroll up, it is at the end of my post.
BTW- sized .459"

Jon

[twotrees]

With J-word bullets with 60 gr of H335. Just in case a T-Rex invaded the neighborhood.

I have run up to 51 gr of 3031 in my Marlin but it didn't do anything but nick me with the scope (off the bench).

48 gr of 3031 seems to be a good balanced load and kills right well. I shot a small meat buck at 70 yards, in the neck. It took 4 vertebrae and threw them out into the woods. He went exactly 3 Ft , straight down.

We have pigs on our lease and most that we shoot, are in the 80-150 lb range, but some 300 to 400+ bigins are down there. One that a friend shot went 330 dressed and stunk when he shot it. Stunk even worse when he cooked it.

Not into trophys just trying to keep them from eating all the food for the deer.

After next weekend, I'll start stocking up the feeders as I have 2 friends coming from Scotland to try for one.


Good shooting and glad you are into that big boomer load. I'll wimp out with mine thank you.

Good Shooting,

TwoTrees

[twotrees]

The Lee Mold that is working so well in my 1895 Marlin (Ballard rifling) isn't the 405 its the 340 gr Lee.:confused:

I tried the 405 but this 340 out shot it, so I put the 405 up and cast with this one.

Lee 457-340-F

Casts 338 gr with 20-1 lead tin.

nose size .442

First drive band .452

Base .457

I am lubing these with RCBS Orange lube (alox beeswax).

Sorry for the confusion, but getting old is a B!tch, nothing works right anymore:-D

TwoTrees (With the Red Face)

[stillhunter]

Was up to the range today. Got a pair of two inch three shot clusters at a hundred with 23 gr 4227 and the 320 grain bullet. Not a bad bump either. Swapped out the Bushnell banner variable for the old tried and true Leupold M8 4X, an inch longer eye releaf makes me a bit more comfortable. Am still going to pick up the 5744. Thanks again guys