Dumb question 70. How to determine max length

[warren5421]

I have a .45-70 1894 Marlin worked on by Keth DeHeart out of Texas. It has a 32" full octagon barrel with a Parsons 6X scope. I want to load some postal 525 gr bullets that my sharps and trapdoor like real well. I have been told the limiting OAL is how long the lifter will hold. Is the lifter the limiting factor on the Marlin? Anyone know what the limited OAL is on the Marlin. I have hand loaded the chamber with the Sharps rounds and they fit without a problem. It is fun to reach out to 700-800 yards with the Marlin with that first shoot. I do load black most in the .45-70, it smells so good. :veryconfu

[Hick]

First off-- the limiting OAL is only determined by the lifter if you use the lifter. If you do single shot you may be able to do longer if you can insert them and chamber them (I do this regularly when I shoot very long pointy bullets in my 30-30-- intentionally seating long so I won't get crazy and load them in the magazine). I take a split case and intentionally cut a vertical slot in the neck so that it will not hold a bullet tightly. Then I slide the bullet in with a very long COL and gently chamber until the bullet hits the lands and gets pushed deeper into the case, and then gently extract and measure how long the OAL is-- this tells me my real limit.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I have worked with Marlins for other shooters and the limitation in cartridge length is determined by the lenght of actiuon. Some shooters are trimming 0.020" of the case length to get them to feed.

I personally own a Pedersoli 1886 which will feed 500+gn boolits through the action

https://i.imgur.com/chnKiwxm.jpg

[BigEyeBob]

Wasnt aware that the 1894 marlin was chambered in 45-70 .learnt someting today.

[M-Tecs]

Wasnt aware that the 1894 marlin was chambered in 45-70 .learnt someting today.

It isn't. That would be the 1895.

[pietro]

Wasnt aware that the 1894 marlin was chambered in 45-70 .learnt something today.



Like me - fat fingers, no coffee...…… :bigsmyl2:

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[Drm50]

If you are loading into the magazine you will find out real quick the OAL when you get classic Marlin jam. I never got one in my 1895 but had a couple in 1894s in 44mg. I have a Marlin Marauder that I shot a lot to make 30/30 haters look bad. I single load spitzer bullets in it, OAL determined by marking bullet a pushing in case.

[warren5421]

Pietro so true.
Drm50 The Marlin jam is what I am trying to not get asking for the max OAL. I do want to load the magazine and not single load.

[rintinglen]

The problem is, there is a little slop or variance between guns that means that the 2.60" long cartridge that feeds in my CB maybe too long for yours. Or conversely, yours might feed 2.65" cartridges like butter that will bind in mine. The 1895 is designed with SAAMI spec 2.55" cartridges in mind. An individual Marlin may function with a shade longer cartridge, but not all will.

My personal opinion is that the Postell boolit is not suited for use in Marlin 1895's. It shines in single shots, but the long, tapering nose just doesn't cut the mustard in a Marlin. If you
load them short enough to fit the action, they may not properly crimp, creating a possibility for set-back in the magazine and resultant problems of high pressure. Load them out to get a good crimp and then mumble and curse as you disassemble the rifle to clear the resulting jam. You are far better served in my view to go with a boolit designed for service in magazine rifles.

I use a lyman 457-192, a 350 grain solid nose version of the Gould 322 grain hollow point bullet. The RCBS 45-325U also has done good work for me. But there are many others, ranging in weight from 145 grains up to 480+ designed to work in lever guns. For not much money, you can buy a Lee 457-340-F that ought to work just fine.