44mag vs 45 70 advice please...

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ruger22

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I want to buy a marlin lever gun in either 44 or 45 70.
I do handload.

The gun will be for fun shooting gongs etc. and short range hunting.
I am no big fan of recoil.

But if the gun kicks like my light weight 30 06 it will for hunting only and I lose the fun to shoot part.

So my question is can I download lighter that the minimum levels in my lyman 48th book?

If so where can I get data on this?
 
45-70 at black powder levels (std factory loads) is a pussycat, and you will always have the ability to lay down the law should the need arise, or your requirements change.
That big case is a mega conversation piece at the range too.
It is however, a powder burner compared to the 44 mag, and no way will you crank a 45-70 at speed to match the handgun cartridge set.
If you want loads for the 44 mag that are much softer than those listed, the loads given for the 44-40 of the same bullet weight, will work safely in the 44 mag case albiet they will give somewhat greater velocity in the mag case, than they do in the 44-40 case, as the magnum does not have the volume of the 44-40 case.
 
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Both carts. can be loaded down from some of the old info. with the new Trail Boss powder...in the 45/70 it is not position sensitive and does not need fillers.
 
wow, thanks ben...

With the recoil calculator and the trail boss powder the 45 70 can really be loaded down.

Why not other powers too?

Does the trail boss have more volume per grain and therefore have positive ignition with smaller load weights?
 
For plinking the 44 will be a LOT more economical. Less powder, and it uses widely available and cheap .430 handgun bullets, sold in 1,000 unit lots, instead of .458 rifle bullets, usually sold 100 at a time
 
or both,I have a 44mag it's great for short range hunting and fun to play with at the range and I have a 45-70 it's great for hunting and fun to play with at the range and generally people go wow when they see the cartridges the first time.
 
I have Marlins in both calibers. If I had to pick I'd go with the 45-70. My 1895GS is about as perfect a hunting rifle as I can imagine. Accurate, easy to reload and bigger grin factor.

For soft shooting loads check out www.gmdr.com. I've had very good luck with 405gr bullets over Red Dot (11gr gets me 1030fps). Soft shooting, fairly quiet and would work just fine on deer. Sub 3" groups at 100 yards, enlarged holes at 50 yards.

My most used load is 28gr of SR4759. Gets me 1460 fps in the Guide Gun and is scary accurate. Target picture: http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1206746

The 1894 in 44 Rem Mag is fun and pretty easy shooting even at Magnum levels. I'm not very recoil sensitive though and some who have shot it complained. It's more finicky but it shoots its prefered load very well. 240gr JSP or JHP over a max charge of 2400. picture at:
http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=1066975
 
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I have been playing with a 45LC Win 94 Trapper for a few years now and simply love it. With 200gr 45ACP lead bullets and light Titegroup loads, it just goes pop and is very accurate. Still going 1100fps so not a whimpy load at all. Certainly a treestand type (40yds) super light recoiling deer load.

When loaded with hard cast GC 325gr FN monsters over a stiff load of H110, I go 1550fps which equals a 454 Casull which is no slouch for short range boo boo stopping (this same load has been used to hunt Cape Buffalo) or for hunting deer out as far as you are accurate (inside 200yds for me).

A fully loaded 45-70 in a strong action will get you similar performance to a 450 Marlin or 85% of a 458Win mag. That is BIG boom but your shoulders is not going to enjoy shooting that at all. Light loads also work very well but will consume more powder then a HG case.

44 Mag cases are also alot cheaper then 45-70 brass. Personally, I would go 45LC instead of the 44Mag. My trapper is a 9+1 mag. I think most 45-70's are 4rds. For fast plinking, the HG case is just so much more fun and way faster to cycle.

Look for Cowboy Action loads. These are safe, super low recoil yet offer surprising accuracy.

Jerry
 
Owned both ... for what you described, I'd go with the 44 ... and keep your hunting to deer-sized game or less at under 100 yards.

The 45-70 has lots of capability ... but it doesn't sound like you want
or need it !
 
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