.45-70 Loads for Marlin 1895SS
Question:
>I just purchased a Marlin 1895SS in .45-70 and was wondering if anyone >has any loads to recommend for elk and/or bear up to, maybe, 150 >yards. Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I would probably >like to use 400-405gr flat point jacketed hollowpoint bullets at about >1850-1900(+???) fps. I have the information in Ken Water’s Pet Loads >book, but there are new bullets (Barnes, for example) and powders >available, so I was hoping someone else has gone down this road before >me. Thanks in advance.
I’ve used Hornady’s 350 gr RN bullet successfully on a couple of elk. The bullet is soft and mushrooms well. The nose is flat enough to be safe in the tubular magazine. Use a heavy crimp. I load IMR 3031 to about 2,050 fps which is not max, but kicks me all I want. My load is about 57 grs, but I’m shooting a Browning lever, Model 1886, with a 26" barrel. People I know that shoot the Marlin use comparable loads. This level of loading is HIGHER than that recommended by Matunas in Lyman’s 47th Reloading Manual, but I believe it is safe in the Marlin 1895SS. Obviously, you need to work up carefully in your rifle to know what’s safe. I’ve got some 405 gr FP hard cast bullets from Liberty that I’m going to try, but I haven’t worked up any loads yet. The cast bullets should attain higher velocities than comparable weight gilded bullets–at least at these relatively low velocities. These bullets won’t expand, but .458" is big already and penetration should be great. Cast bullets are cheaper to shoot, even if I decide not to hunt with them. Open sights require frequent practice to remember how fine to draw the bead (or just to see if my failing eyes can still see the bead). The 45-70 is fun to shoot off-hand, not so much fun from other positions. author of the CD-ROM "Tim Calvin’s Hunting the West" Get it from Cabela’s, or call me to order with VISA/MC 1-800-215-9045. Price: $59.95 plus $1.24 postage. CA residents must add $4.35 tax.
Response:
>I’ve used Hornady’s 350 gr RN bullet successfully on a couple of elk. The >bullet is soft and mushrooms well. The nose is flat enough to be safe in >the tubular magazine. Use a heavy crimp. I load IMR 3031 to about 2,050 fps >which is not max, but kicks me all I want. My load is about 57 grs, but I’m >shooting a Browning lever, Model 1886, with a 26" barrel. People I know >that shoot the Marlin use comparable loads. This level of loading is HIGHER >than that recommended by Matunas in Lyman’s 47th Reloading Manual, but I >believe it is safe in the Marlin 1895SS. Obviously, you need to work up >carefully in your rifle to know what’s safe.
I shoot a 405g Remington JSP over 56g of H335. This one isn’t quite max according to the current Hodgdon manual. It goes about 1750 fps in my old pre micro groove 1895. The best part is that it shoots into 1 1/2 inches for three shots at 100 yards, and is very consistent. >I’ve got some 405 gr FP hard cast bullets from Liberty that I’m going to >try, but I haven’t worked up any loads yet. The cast bullets should attain >higher velocities than comparable weight gilded bullets–at least at these >relatively low velocities. These bullets won’t expand, but .458" is big >already and penetration should be great. Cast bullets are cheaper to shoot, >even if I decide not to hunt with them. Open sights require frequent >practice to remember how fine to draw the bead (or just to see if my >failing eyes can still see the bead). The 45-70 is fun to shoot off-hand, >not so much fun from other positions.
I loaded some 405g cast bullets to about 1200 fps and by chance decided to try them on some sweetgum crosstie scrap. About 12"x12" and extremely dense wood. A heavy .44 Mag revolver load would knock the block over. My heavy 405g JSP load would tumble the block but not penetrate completely. A .35 Remington was about the same as the .44 Mag. .357 Mag just rocked the block a little. But the 405g cast 45/70 slug at 1200 fps zipped right thru while barely wobbling the block! Penetration is no problem, but I question how disruptive this bullet is. Good Shootin’…
