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Post by silcott on Feb 22, 2020 16:10:51 GMT -5
Just picked one up for $450 with a Burris 2-7 FF 2
Gotta start gathering 45-70 stuff now. This is my first 45-70, so any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Justin
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Post by jaydubinwi on Feb 22, 2020 17:54:14 GMT -5
I have an 1895 marlin as well. The only load I tried is a cast 405 flat point loaded with H4198/cci 200. IIRC, I used 44 or 45 grains. The accuracy was excellent. Only took a wild hog, 1 shot and down. Good luck
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Post by bigbrowndog on Feb 22, 2020 18:26:23 GMT -5
I’ve owned one since before you could get 18.5” barreled guns, I liked one JT had as an 18.5” and sent mine off to 10 ring Precision for the chop. I’ve shot 405 cast and 300jhp, but after a long tracking job after poor performance from 300jhp, I’ve settled on Speer 350gr SP. Great terminal performance on pigs, deer, and a bison. I’ve always been partial to Reloder 7 powder.
Trapr
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Post by matt56 on Feb 23, 2020 9:52:01 GMT -5
I have a newer 1895GS I bought when Remington was offering $100 mail in rebates. At the time there was a chance my brother and I were going to take a trip on a wild boar hunt and getting that gun sealed the deal. I immediately started casting and reloading for 45-70.
I bought 2 NOE molds, a 405 grain HP and a 350gr RF. Both gas check molds because I wasn't sure how fast I would be pushing them. Both molds dropped a .460" bullet which was much to wide for the throats in the Marlin. I needed to size them down to .458 or better yet .457 for easier chambering.
What I found out fast was the lever action 45-70 loads using 40-50+ grains of powder were no fun to shoot. Yes the gas checked bullet would take it but my shoulder didn't enjoy shooting them. What I settled on was a little beyond trapdoor loads pushing the 350gr bullet 1500fps. I used 36 grains of IMR 4198 to get there and it is a very accurate load. It punched right through the shoulders of a nice russian boar.
I also soft cast some of the 405gr Hollow points and pushing them 1300-1400fps were very explosive on water jugs and watermelons. This load would be nothing short of fantastic on short range groundhogs.
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
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Post by Fowler on Feb 23, 2020 11:36:46 GMT -5
Well the question is what do you want to do with the gun? As is well documented you can take Marlins from round ball gallery loads up to Cape Buffalo capable 435gr Bullets at over 2000fps. Trust me you can make the gun no fun to shoot.
Heck the I got my first one 10 years ago and shot a bunch of mild to middle of the road loads through it and was enjoying the gun a lot. So I cooked up from a Brian Pearce published load of a 435gr at 1950fps or so. The first shot I was thinking I held the gun lose and it just bit me, the second shot was confirmation that it just hurt and was rattling my head! I got home and did some recoil calculations and sorted out the recoil was twice what my 338 win mag loaded to the wall produced!
That said I have a couple Marlin 45/70s and I love them dearly and shoot them more than any of my other rifles. Just at more moderate levels.
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Post by z1r on Feb 23, 2020 11:49:57 GMT -5
To mirror what Matt56 said, I'd suggest shooting a bunch of loads til you determine what your comfort level is. Mine is a 1895 CB with 26" bbl. The 1895 is a pretty light weight rifle and plenty strong. Capable of loads that will quickly tire your shoulder out. Most of my loads launched 405's at about 1200 fps using Unique powder. I shot a lot of cast bullet silhouette at the LASC range with it. Lotsa fun and easy to topple rams with when I did my part.
Advice kinda depends on what you want to do with it? Plink, hunt?
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Post by silcott on Feb 23, 2020 12:33:13 GMT -5
Thanks for all of the excellent information as usual gentlemen.
The rifle will probably be used for mostly plinking. I might use it on deer a time or two. But I don’t see me having the need to grab it over my T/C 357Max. or my Ruger 77/357. And if I ever get the chance to go hog hunting, I’ll most definitely be using my 45 Bisley Hunter.
My thoughts are to pickup a 350gr and 405gr molds. I figured those would be great for plinking, and do any hunting tasks that I’d ever need, if needed.
Thanks Justin
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Fowler
.401 Bobcat
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Post by Fowler on Feb 23, 2020 13:02:31 GMT -5
Matts suggested load for the 350gr bullet is an excellent load and basically the same load I have settled on for most of my 45/70 needs. I got my mold from Mountain Molds and the price and turn around time for a fully custom mold was amazing. I designed and ordered the mold and it was in my hands within a week! For the price I highly advise you try him out, it was my first mold with him but it wont be my last!
For my money all of my rifle molds are gas checked, I dont shoot the numbers of rounds through rifles that I will through handguns so the $45/1000 that the gas checks cost is of little concern and to reduce the odds of needing to clean leading out of the barrel is far with it. Plus the bullets will stand up better if I really want to lean on them again in the future. Just my two cents...
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axman
.30 Stingray
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Post by axman on Feb 23, 2020 19:30:23 GMT -5
I bought a guide gun when they came out in 1998, I got some commercial cast custom bullets that shot under an inch at 100 yds, open sights I got a LBT mould , 400 M made for the Marlins .
Got 7/8” for 3 at 100 with buckhorn sights. Man 30 yr old eyes were great!
Cow elk at Ross Seyfried’s place with Rich Seyfried as guide at 115 yds. Finally checked velocity. 1500 FPS.
They shoot fantastic if fed right.
Thanks for listening .
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Post by bigmuddy on Feb 24, 2020 23:44:01 GMT -5
The more mild loads in the 45-70 can be a lot of fun, and as others have stated much easier on the shoulder. I too tried some of those Brian Pierce loads in a 95 Marlin. Loaded 10 rounds, shot 3 and not sure how I made myself shoot the 3rd one.
I have settled on Accurate 5744 for all of my 45-70 shooting. Extreme spreads with this powder are often as low as BP loads, something hard to do with smokless powders in the big 45-70 case. I can get around 1300-1350 fps depending on bullet weight and it will handle anything I am liable to encounter. I find it humorous at times when someone tells me a 410 gr. bullet at 1350 fps in my 45-70 might work for deer but it is too light for bigger heavier animals. Those same people would never think a 475L handgun with same bullet weight/velocity combination is too light for large game.
Enjoy your Marlin, they are great guns. Is it an older gun or newer model?
Dan
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Post by silcott on Feb 25, 2020 8:17:59 GMT -5
I believe it to be a newer model. It doesn’t have JM on the barrel.
I’m going to start with H4198 as I have an unopened 8lb can.
Thanks for all the great information guys.
Justin
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Post by crazycarl on Feb 25, 2020 18:51:52 GMT -5
Trapdoor .45-70 dang near decimated the American bison population. Pretty sure it'd be enough for anything that walks the lower 48. No reason to beat yourself up unnecessarily.
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Post by patdaddy on Feb 25, 2020 19:33:41 GMT -5
I fired 3 rounds of Leverlution thru my 1895. I really didnt want to fire the 3rd. Didnt enjoy the kick. Ive swapped out the recoil pad, need to try it again.
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Post by leftysixgun on Feb 25, 2020 19:44:49 GMT -5
Im still experimenting with my 45-70 to find where my recoil comfort zone is. But mine is a Ruger No.1. Not sure if theres much of a weight difference between Marlin 1895 and the No.1
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Post by crazycarl on Feb 26, 2020 1:23:28 GMT -5
My 1895GS was unpleasant with the 325gr Leverlution & worse with Federal Fusion 300gr. Remington's 405gr JSPs, however, were like shooting low brass 12ga. Much easier on my shoulder & way more than enough for anything I'm gonna encounter in NC.
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