1895 Marlin 45-70 loads

[Knarley]

I have a Marlin I'm working up some loads for, and I could use some info on "starter" loads
I have a LEE mould for a 340 gr. and a mould from Lyman that is a 405 gr. Hard cast.
These will be smokeless loads, LEE Alox, as my brother doesn't want to mess with Black.
I'm not looking to knock any fillings out, just a good middle of the road accurate load. None of the books I have cover this too well, as I don't normally load for levers this big, or with smokeless.

Thanks a bunch,

Knarley

[big bore 99]

I shoot a lot of Unique light loads in my 45-70's. Mostly the Lee 340 gr. is doing real good. Just be vigilant to avoid any double powder charges. I charge a case then pick up the bullet and get it started. Tons of Unique loads on here. Just do a search.

[Wind]

Hey there Knarley -- You might consider checking out http://www.gmdr.com/

Click the Oregon Trail tab in the header and then the drop down menu on the left. Unique has produced some outstanding loads for me. Accurate and fun to shoot.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oas1ApY6qo

Hope this helps. Best regards. Wind

[Tatume]

Use starting loads for the Trapdoor Springfield.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/

The next heavier bullet (jacketed or cast) can be substituted.

Also, with H4895 you can reduce loads considerably.

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/H4895%20Reduced%20Rifle%20Loads.pdf

It is very easy to load your cartridge/bullet combination in the 1200 - 1400 fps range, which is plenty for almost any application.

Take care, Tom

[W.R.Buchanan]

I have settled on 33 gr of 5744 with RCBSD .45-30 FNGC for my pet Cowboy Silhouette load. This is running about 1550 fps which is a little faster than mentioned above but only requires one elevation change from Mechanical Zero at 200M/220yds. I can shoot 40 of them in one sitting but it does require concentration.

50,100 and 150M are done from MZ which is at 150M.

Randy

[Oklahoma Rebel]

W.R, what is the pressure on that load, I would watch for that, I think 5744 is kinda fast. I use imr4198 which is a bit slower, and my favorite load is a noe 458-425-rnfp on top of 30 gr. of imr4198, I don't have a chrono, but I would guess its going 1350-1400, which is the best speed for penetration. I use it for hogs, if I could ever find one! but thorough testing tells me it will work great if I do my part.

[High Desert Hunter]

I have 4 main bullet molds for my 2 45/70s, an RCBS that drops a 345gr RNFP PB, a group buy 420460 that drops a 415gr FN PB, the RCBS 405 RNFPGC, and an Accurate Molds 460gr WFNGC. In the 1895GS I rarely load anything over 1500fps, in the Number One, I have been known to push the RCBS and the Accurate GC bullets to over 1800 fps. My main powders are IMR 4198, H322, AA 2015, 2400, Unique, and Ramshot Xterminator.

[W.R.Buchanan]

OK Kidd: According to Lyman 49, my loads are right at 17,000psi. That's at the top of Trapdoor loads for 5744 ,,, but well under Marlin 1895 loads.

Randy

[Sprue]

Here is my Pet load, its an all day shooter. 1250 fps @40 yrds

16gr Unique 168206

[Iowa Fox]

I use a Lyman 456192 sized with a Buckshot 460 die over 13 grains of Unique in my 1895 CB. That mold is an oldie.

[Norske]

My oldest reloading manual is a 44th Ed. Lyman from 1967. It has "factory equivalent" loads for most calibers in use back then. That load for a 45-70 and 400 gr bullet is 38.5 grains of IMR3031. It groups right in with factory Remington loads. The recoil is mild, accuracy is good.

[wrench man]

My 45-70 Plinker load is a 350grn RNFP pushed by 15.0grns of TrailBoss, accurate and very easy on the shoulder, I swear we shoot more of these out of the 1886 than we shoot 22LR!??

[Gerald]

Sprue - With the 16 gr of Unique what bullet weight is that 405, 350?

[dh2]

my go to powder for the 45/70 with cast or j-words is IMR4198 , I push an NOE460-405 about the max of the trapdoor load data

[Gerald]

Here is my Pet load, its an all day shooter. 1250 fps @40 yrds

16gr Unique 168206

How are these loads at 100 yards?