45/70 load

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Mitchell

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Location
central Alberta
My uncle wants me to load him some cartridges for bear if i can remember and wants to use a bullet around 500 grains. This is to be used in his marlin GG. What would you guys reconmend for a good, poweful load that is still safe with a bullet around 500 grains and what type of bullet would you reconmend?

thanks mitchell
 
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The marlin might not like 500 gr bullets. To prevent long O.A.L in the lever gun, the bullet will have to be seated deep robbing powder space. There are scads of good 45-70 bear loads - I like a Speer 400 gr bullet loaded with IMR 3031. The RCBS 410 gr FNGC cast bullet works great also in my Marlin 1895.
 
I've got some 500 grain hard casts that when crimped at the canelure they will cycle through a Marlin but Karl is right on the money they rob alot of space in the small 45-70 case..but then with a 500 grain HC pill speed isn't really an issue :cool:
Better to stick with the 350's and 405s in the leverguns for best performance though and I can't think of any bear that would argue the lethality of a Hornady 350 grain roundnose at 2000 fps ;) I've pushed them at 2500 fps in the 458 mag and they still stay together surprizingly well, but they really are meant for the 450 mag or 45-70's velocities.
A great accurate load I used in the 45-70 GG was the following.......
55.0 Grains of 3031 (near Max-start at 52 and work up)
Hornady 350 grain RN
CCI 250 primers
WW brass
Very Firm crimp ;)
This load chrono'ed just over 2000 fps in my rifle and I would use it on any Bear without a doubt, it pretty much duplicates Factory 450 Marlin performance :cool:

If you're stuck with a 500.... Hornady's interbond is awesome but again won't cycle when crimped at the cannelure in most leverguns:( You could load em deeper but a good crimp on these Big Heavy bullets in a tube is really a good thing :redface:
Best of Luck to ya :cool:
 
I use H-322 for 350 and under and 3031 for 405s and over up to 500 grain with good results, both lead and jacket.
I always use a filler with the IMR 3031 usualy a Batton filler and lead.
 
I am loading 550gr Jae-Bok Young Crater hard cast bullets for my 1895GS 45-70 with a top load of 44grs H322 for an average velocity of 1600fps.

Extremely accurate load that functions perfectly for the Marlin rifles because the Crater's were designed for the Marlin 1895 rifle.

Cam
 
According to my limited experience with the 45/70, I haven't found any use for 500 gr bullets. The 50 round of cast bullets is still sitting on the shelf. I also have the 405 gr Remington bullets that I haven’t used as yet.

My favorite rounds are:

300 gr Hornady with 52 gr of H4198 up to 2130 fps (range and deer)
350 gr Hornady with 48 gr of H4198 up to 1950 fps (moose)

Danny Boy
 
Camp Cook,

I just had a 525 gr. gas check Mountainman mold made up for the 45 70 GG and I also shoot H322, have got Starline cases and Winchester lg rifle primers. Haven't worked up any loads for it yet. Just wondering if you're getting any pressure signs with 44grs of H322 and what the rest of your components are with that 550gr hard cast.

I designed the MM mould after the "beartooth 525gr pliedriver" which is also designed for the Marlin GG. I can't remember the H3222 loads Marshall Stanton had tested with his piledriver, but I *seem* to recall that 44 grs was pretty hot, and that was with a 525gr bullet.

As for bears.......and moose....that's why I chose this bullet. I figure 99% of my GG hunting shots are going to be less than 100 yards. 550grs hard cast going at 1600 fps WILL penetrate, through bone if necessary to make the kill.

I've never shot game with a 300-350 Hornady or speer, but I've researched info from others that indicates that they can blow-up at close range when pushed to 2000fps and beyond.
 
I am using Winchester cases and Win LR primers in my 550gr Crater loads.

I actually started @ 34grs H322 and slowly worked up to the 44gr load and have not seen any kind of pressure signs. I have fired over 100 of these loads now in my Marlin 1895GS 45-70 rifle. I stopped at 44grs due to basically reaching the same velocities as the Garret 45-70 loads not because I saw pressure signs.

I even have less felt recoil with the 550gr loads compared to my 400gr jacketed and 430gr hard cast loads.

Cam
 
Ah yes, the chrony. Good plan to stop at a tried and tested velocity. I will followsuit and do the same. Thanks.
The reduced recoil is a nice benefit to the heavier bullets, however, the large /dangerous game load I work-up won't be used for deer or plinking.

For a large / dangerous game .458 jacketed bullet, the Bearclaw trophy bonded gets good reviews. Not sure I'd want to shoot a grizz at 10 yards with the Hornady 350gr. though........
 
Bullet: Sierra 300 Grain Flat Nose Hollow Point
Powder: 51.8 grains of IMR-4198
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle
Case: Winchester
Firearm: Ruger Number 3
Optics: Leupold 1x4
Velocity: 2161 FPS @ 15' from muzzle
Accuracy: 5-shots, <1" @ 50 yards

Bullet: Hornady 350 Grain Round Nose
Powder: 47.4 grains of IMR-4198
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle
Case: Winchester
Firearm: Ruger Number 3
Optics: Leupold 1x4
Velocity: 1924 FPS @ 15' from muzzle
Accuracy: 5-shots, <1" @ 50 yards

Bullet: Speer 400 Grain Flat Nose
Powder: 44.3 grains of IMR-4198
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle
Case: Winchester
Firearm: Ruger Number 3
Optics: Leupold 1x4
Velocity: 1788 FPS @ 15' from muzzle
Accuracy: 3-shots, <1" @ 50 yards

Bullet: Hornady 500 Grain Round Nose
Powder: 43.0 grains of IMR-4198
Primer: Winchester Large Rifle
Case: Winchester
Firearm: Ruger Number 3
Optics: Leupold 1x4
Velocity: 1657 FPS @ 15' from muzzle
Accuracy: 3-shots, <1" @ 50 yards
 
Mitchell said:
My uncle wants me to load him some cartridges for bear if i can remember and wants to use a bullet around 500 grains. This is to be used in his marlin GG. What would you guys reconmend for a good, poweful load that is still safe with a bullet around 500 grains and what type of bullet would you reconmend?

thanks mitchell
Click to expand...

A hornady 350 FN or RN tooting along at 2150 will smack em as hard as they need to be smacked...Your just lookin for headaches Bro.
 
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