Marlin 45-70 cast bullet recommendations?

[Whit Spurzon]

Howdy All,
I'm looking for a good cast bullet, commercially purchased or a mould in the 350-405 (ish) gr range that will work well in my 22" Ballard Rifled Marlin 1895. So far my cast Boolit experience has been less than stellar so I'm hoping someone here with a similar gun can point me onto a path to accurate shooting with bullets that don't need jackets.

Also, if you have a powder recommendation I would very much appreciate it.

[6pt-sika]

The first rifle I cast bullets for was my Marlin 1895CB with a 26" barrel in 45-70 caliber.
I started with the two Lee molds the 340 grain and the 405 grain . I did not have a lubrisizer then , I tumble lubed and shot as cast . And believe it or not they both shot pretty well .
Later I bought a Lyman #457122 , this is a 330 grain plain base hollow point mold.And at the present it "IS" my favourite 45 caliber rifle mold .
This bullet shoots well on paper and has done admirably on deer.
I have also acquired one of Ranch Dogs 425grain molds and am waiting on his 350 grain mold as well . So we shall see I may like one or both of these more.

If I were you I would try the Lee 340 PB first . I'd tumble lube and shoot as cast. If you buy there 10 pound bottom pour pot and the mold along with some Lee Liquid Alox you will have about $75 in the whole works . And if you don't care for it you won't be out of so much .
If you go with the Lyman or RCBS molds to start you will have about $50-60 tied up in EACH mould .

Goodluck:drinks:

[Scrounger]

A cheap mold that worked well for me in spite of having so many things working against it, was the Lee 405 grain Hollow base mold. Like most Lees, it dropped undersize, but just lubing it (Lee Liquid Alox) and shooting it, it shot real well. And for a beginning caster, that was important. Finally figured out the magic was in the hollow base. Fifteen to twenty thousand PSI made that base flare out and fit the barrel real good. I don't know why they don't make more molds like that, works great for a lazy man that isn't looking for problem to solve.

[SharpsShooter]

Howdy All,
I'm looking for a good cast bullet, commercially purchased or a mould in the 350-405 (ish) gr range that will work well in my 22" Ballard Rifled Marlin 1895. So far my cast Boolit experience has been less than stellar so I'm hoping someone here with a similar gun can point me onto a path to accurate shooting with bullets that don't need jackets.

Also, if you have a powder recommendation I would very much appreciate it.



The 1895 Marlins are nice guns. I have a 60's vintage 95 with the ballard rifling of course. I've had very good results with the Lyman 457193. It is 418gr plain base flat nose. I run it at 1400fps and it will put 5 shots into a 2" group at 100yds on most days. Just yesterday though, I tried a load with the 457124. It is a 385gr round nose. I loaded it down to just over 1200fps and it is a powder puff to shoot. Turned out to be accurate also. It was very capable of busting clay birds hung out at the hundred yard line on nails for just that purpose.


If you are not sure what you want to try, contact Bullshop and let him fix you up with some of his commercial cast boolits. Click the link at the bottom labeled "The Bullshop".


SS

[Bullshop]

OK
#1 - Bull Shop Boolits
#2 4198, Reloader #7, 3031
Thems for huntin loads. For plinkers about everything faster than 4198
BIC/BS

[Char-Gar]

I have a Marlin 1895 SS 45-70 with the Ballard rifling. I get out standng results with RCBS 405 GC over 25/4759. The bullets is sized .460 which is the "as cast" size. The velocity is about 1,300 fps and the recoil is moderate. This velocity is the same as the old black powder rifle load. It has plenty of thump for any need.

Accuracy is all the rifle has to give. I get five shot one ragged hole groups at 50 yards and two inches or less at 100 yards.

[35remington]

You need to be careful about most of the Lee moulds, in that they cast to the diameter Lee says they will-about .457" with most alloys except linotype, which will barely make .458.

If your gun is typical, this is probably too small. My Marlin .45-70 actually keyholes bullets that cast to these sizes. The Lee moulds really need an upgrade to a larger diameter. For 25 dollars they will supply a mould that casts to a larger diameter, but you have to send the money to Lee in Wisconsin and cannot get this from a distributor.

I would also recommend their hollowbase mould, but the two examples I have cast to .462." This is the only mould for .45 rifle they offer that casts to the larger diameter and is so listed in their catalog-they show it as producing a bullet of .459."

If you use a bottom pour pot, head pressure is needed to get the hollow base to form perfectly. Dribbling lead in with the mould held below the spout doesn't work.

[Dale53]

I have had excellent results with the Lee 340 gr and a proper load of 4198 or RL-7 in my Ballard rifled Marlin. It regularly shoots in 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards (five shot groups with a 4 power widefield scope).

Dale53

[Whit Spurzon]

Thank you all for the EXCELLENT insights. It gives me hope. My first two endevors into cast bullets, one commercial and one a friend cast did not go well. The commercial load would not feed without engraving, but was accurate and the home cooked bullet (.457") wouldn't hit paper at 50 yards but fed well.

It sure is a fun cartridge. I plan to use it on Deer & Elk. I haven't hunted Bears but you never know.

Thanks again!

[NickSS]

I have three marlin 95 rifles (and 89s vintage with microgrooves, 26" Cowboy model and a guide gun) The boolat I use mostly is the RCBS 45-325-F which casts at about 330 gr with the alloy I use. It really likes 29 gr. of AA 5744 and shoots quite well in all my guns.:-D

[6pt-sika]

I failed to mention earlier , but the only powders I've used with cast in the 45-70 are SR4759 and XMP5744 .
I normally keep both on my shelf . As I use both in quite a few different calibers.


:castmine:

[13Echo]

The Lee 405 gr Hollow base bullet that Scrounger and 35remington mention is a reproduction of the original 1873 bullet for the 45-70 Trapdoor Springfield. It was introduced by Lee at the urging of Spence Wolf just for the Springfield. It shoots very well in the Springfields which may have barrels with groove dia of as much as .462. The relatively large as cast diameter and the hollow base all contribute to this desirable end. My mould works surprisingly well and casts a very nice hollow base with no fuss and very few rejects. Made a shooter out of my Springfield.
Jerry

[Whit Spurzon]

I failed to mention earlier , but the only powders I've used with cast in the 45-70 are SR4759 and XMP5744 .
I normally keep both on my shelf . As I use both in quite a few different calibers.


:castmine:

Is XMP5744 the same as AA 5744?

What other calibers do you use it?

[6pt-sika]

Is XMP5744 the same as AA 5744?

What other calibers do you use it?

Sure is the same .

Use it in the 25-36 , 30-30 , 32 Speciel , 32-40 , 38-55 and 40-65 . As well as the 45-70 . Oh yeah and the 35 REM . Plan on using it in a 33 WCF soon and the 38-56 when I acquire one :drinks:

[6pt-sika]

I load for most all of the "typical or vintage" lever action cartridges. And in them I use ; Unique , IMR4227 , SR4759 , SR4756 , SR7625 , XMP5744 , 2400 , and Blue Dot . :coffee:


:castmine:

[felix]

Depends on when they were made. The early issue had 10 percent nitroglycerin, and the latter 20 percent. The burn speeds are the same, so you can disregard the label. The chrono will tell you the difference. More nitro gives more power, assuming the same burn curve, which might or might not be the same between the two versions. In totum, don't worry about it. They are both the same for the obvious intended applications, but don't load close to absolute maximums until experience is gained in the application of choice. ... felix

[charger 1]

An LBT wfn 350 gr mold is what started me into cast cause I got it for 50 smackers canadian,thought what the hey. As accurate as the guns are I cant find a gilded bullet to touch the groups of that little honey...Well their not groups,their 1/2 inch holes..350 .360 frontal 2150 fps

[TedH]

I shoot the RCBS 405 gas check bullets out of my Marlin 1895G. With wheel wight alloy they come out 420 grains with lube and gas check in place. I load them with a heavy dose of Reloder 7 and they shoot better than any jacketed bullet I have tried. 5 shots make a big ragged hole at 50 yards.

[High Desert Hunter]

I'm with Ted, the RCBS is a great shooting bullet, as a bonus, it should be about perfect for anything on this here Continent.

Dave Beeman

[txpete]

in my 1895ss this seems to work out just fine:-D

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/thumper.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/340gr4570001.jpg