How heavy a boolit will cycle through a Marlin 1895?

[Lonegun1894]

A friend of mine just called me asking about a Marlin 1895 .45-70 he just bought and boolit selection. I didn't know what to tell him as my .45-70 is a HR Buffalo Classic and I dont have to worry about cycling issues with it. He is finally starting to consider casting his own, and the only mold I have for mine is a Lee 450 grain plain base (457-450-F). He lives a couple hours away so I have not had a chance to attempt to cycle my loads through his gun. Has anyone tried this, or any other heavy boolit and if so, what were the weight or lenght limits we need to keep in mind? Thank you all.

[Calamity Jake]

Boolit weight really doesn't make that much difference, it's the loaded over all length that counts.
The heavy boolits will have to be seated deeper for proper function in a LG.

[Naphtali]

One more thing that might require attention is the shape of bullet's nose. Marlin 45-70s appear to have a chamber-leade shape where LFNs with tangential ogive whose meplat is large for bore size may feed poorly (think LBT WFN revolver bullets with 80 percent meplat). Were the shooter to strongly prefer a poorly feeding bullet of this type, feed issues are easily correctable.

Hope this helps.

[thx997303]

Ranch dog has a mold for the 45-70 marlins that would work well.

425 gr. http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_5_14&products_id=30

I use the 350 gr version of that boolit with some pretty impressive accuracy.

I have some 500 gr round nose boolits that I will be trying, but I don't know if it will feed yet. We will see.

The Lee 500 gr boolit has a very long pointy nose profile, and I doubt that it will feed.

[Lonegun1894]

Thanks y'all. I knew the nose length and over all length would be determining issues, but never thought about the nose shape. I should have since i load for semi's also, but somehow it completely slipped my mind. Think I'll just send him some or have him bring the rifle next time he visits. That Ranchdog bullet seems to have a much shorter nose than my 450, so may have to tell him to get a mold with a shorter nose if this doesnt feed--which he'll have to do when he starts casting anyway so not an issue there. Definitely some food for thought in your responses. Thanks again.

[bhn22]

RCBS makes a 500 gr mould suitable for Marlins

[hornsurgeon]

there are mods that you can do to the marlin to allow longer OAL as well.

[454PB]

The Lee C457-500-F 500 grain GC design feeds through the 1895.

[beagle]

All of the RCBS big .45s cycle through mine and so far, all of the Lyman's I've tested....even the 462560 Thor's Hammer 500 grain plus.

As has been previously mentioned, seating depth is the key and some cycle smoother than other designs./beagle

[bigted]

there are mods that you can do to the marlin to allow longer OAL as well.


expound on these mod's please. if needed pm me with them.

[BABore]

Here's the link

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=291649


I currently carry 300 to 465 grain designs that are intended for the Marlin 1895 45-70. I'm in the process of finishing a 525 grain design. Should be testing it in a couple weeks, Right after deer season.

[9.3X62AL]

All of the RCBS big .45s cycle through mine and so far, all of the Lyman's I've tested....even the 462560 Thor's Hammer 500 grain plus.

That's interesting to read. The boolit base doesn't start interfering with internal case taper at 2.550" OAL?

[Naphtali]

expound on these mod's please. if needed pm me with them.If you are serious about longer cartridge overall length, I have an unused chamber reamer to alter a SAAMI 45-70 chamber to 45-80. I was intending to have my gunsmith alter my 1895s as part of the customizing process. After shooting my hunting partner's heavy 45-70 425-grain loads, the reamer remains unused.

[6pt-sika]

Here's the link

http://www.castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?p=291649


I currently carry 300 to 465 grain designs that are intended for the Marlin 1895 45-70. I'm in the process of finishing a 525 grain design. Should be testing it in a couple weeks, Right after deer season.

The 465 grainer BA speaks of is a good one as I have one of his molds !

I also shoot the BallistiCast 462-550GC which also cycles quite nicely thru my pair of Marlin 45-70's !

I think it's probably a sure thing I'll get one of your 525 grainers long about February or March !

[JJC]

Naphtali, that's no kidding "After shooting my hunting partner's heavy 45-70 425-grain loads, the reamer remains unused". Handloader magazine issue #248 has data for 405 gr cast at 2,096fps.