Marlin 45/70

The Suisider

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Hello i have just purchased a marlin 45/70 lever action in stainless steel and am looking for some bulk ammo with a hot load for bear defence and possibly big game hunting. Anyone know where to look? I would like a batch of 100 or better. Up to 500. Thanks in advance!
 
Short of buying a case of regular retail packages, there are no bulk packages of 45-70.

If you're looking for toasty factory loads there aren't many options available in Canada. HSM produces some hotter loads with hard cast bullets that would be suitable for dangerous game that I've seen on the Cabela's site and they're $50-60 for a box of 20. Search Cabela's for "HSM" and the first result is the "Bear Load" in 45-70.
There is also Buffalo Bore being offered some places now but that'll be closer to $80-100 per box of 20.
Unlikely to get more than 5-10% savings if you buy by the case (and you likely can't because the stuff is so rare).

Hornady Leverevolution loads are a little warmer than some other factory loads but aren't elephant killers or anything. They are also a tipped expanding bullet so I don't know how effective they'd be against bigger bears like grizzles.

The .45-70 is a perfect candidate for reloading since it can use such a wide range of powders. Get some level 2 load data (level 1 replicate black powder loads, level 2 are for modern levers, level 3 are for dropping block singles like a Ruger No.1), a pound of a suitable powder (there are many that will work in a .45-70), some large rifle primers, order some hard cast bullets from the Bullet Barn or elsewhere (these don't expand much at all even going through heavy bones), pickup a $30-40 Lee Loader kit, get a rubber/plastic mallet from your tool box, and you can (literally) hammer out some handloads of the desired power level for $1.50/round. The Lee Loader will pay for itself after 10 rounds.

The Lee Loader is so simple you can do it on a tree stump in your backyard:
 
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The HSM Bear Loads are $54.99/20 from Cabela's. Plus shipping and tax of course. Even the anemic Rem/Win/Fed factory 45-70 loads will cost you $45-50/20 so it's pretty good for what it is.
 
You need to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your new rifle shoots best before you buy anything in bulk. Your local dealer will sell you anything you want in whatever quantity you want. Just be prepared to pay up front.
And the Classic Lee Loader works well. Used one for my BP cartridge experiment. Slow and you need a scale as opposed to the silly scoops, but they work.
 
It's not a .22, the idea of trying as many different brands as you can find is ludicrous. If it will shoot, it will shoot most everything, and for bear defense (or anything really) the Remington 405gr SP will do the trick if you really must have factory - it's an ounce of lead (+/-) at 1300 or so and was sufficient to eradicate millions of buffalo, I don't think it's gotten weaker, or game tougher, in the interim.

If you reload (and know what you're doing) the sky is the limit. Well actually the condition of your shoulder is the limit, but you get the idea...

Skip the Lee Loader and buy a Lee Hand Press and a set of dies - thank me later.
 
I bought small and large Lyman 310 tongs and dies for cartridges I have for when I am away and want to pack light. I haven't tried them out yet though so can't comment in that department.
 
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