reloading 45/70

soldier506

soldier506

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Hi, I have just purchased a marlin 45/70 guide gun. I was told that to get the max performance from the rifle, I should use reloaded ammo . I have desided to try to reload my own ammo for it. I desided to get a starters reloading kit [ lee aniversary kit] along with the reloading book.

I would like to know what you recommend to use for powder, primers and bullet types? I wish to have ammo that would stop a bear if needed. Also,any preferance to the type of dies,etc.? I assume that some brands and types are better than others including for the brass.

Any info would be helpfull and apreciated.
 
I use 405 grain Remington jacketed bullets. 52-53 grains of IMR 3031 and winchester large rifle primers.

The 53 grain load is around 1850fps from my 22" barreled version and not all that much less from my GG, and seems to work very well so far. I have used others, but mainly stick with this combo as it seems to work best in both my Marlins and my intended use.

You will get plenty of answers on a question like this one. Maybe try a search there are quite a few posts on this topic that can help you out.

Good luck! :D

405g Remington before and after
2006_0522Image0011.JPG
 
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Barnes 300grs XFN atop a "healthy" dose of H4198. Win LR primer. 2190 ft/sec.

I'll leave it to you to define what "healthy" is.
 
I load my Guide Gun with the rem 405gr and 52gr of 3031 as well. Nice accurate load.

crazy_davey,

What was that bullet recovered from?
 
Firstly, make sure you know what maximum pressure your gun can handle and then increase loads slowly. I personally have no need for the 400 and 500 grain bullets, and have had good success on elk with 300 to 350 bullets from Swift and Barnes, loading over H4198. Get the MV above 2100 fps. As to primers, I tried magnum rifle, but no great help there - just use large rifle primers, I prefer Federal.
 
Crazy Dave, you are bang on with that load.... I too use this data. The only other choice I will suggest is using 350 Hornaday and 55 grains of IMR 3031. Nice and accurate and in most strong action 45-70s almost the same point of aim as the Remington 405s......
By the way the 405/53 grains is also the load that Elmer Keith used.
 
soldier506 said:
Hi, I have just purchased a marlin 45/70 guide gun. I was told that to get the max performance from the rifle, I should use reloaded ammo . I have desided to try to reload my own ammo for it. I desided to get a starters reloading kit [ lee aniversary kit] along with the reloading book.

I would like to know what you recommend to use for powder, primers and bullet types? I wish to have ammo that would stop a bear if needed. Also,any preferance to the type of dies,etc.? I assume that some brands and types are better than others including for the brass.

Any info would be helpfull and apreciated.
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The Marlin Guide Gun, good choice. A while back I picked up an 1895GS in 45-70 and I am pleased with it. One small criticism, with the straight stock and using the hotter heavier loads, it can be a little hard on the fingers.
To start reloading, I would first suggest getting a couple reloading manuals and then doing a bit of reading. If possible, get someone who's into reloading to give a little instruction and possibly a hands on walk through.
I see others have posted some excellant load info for you. Here are a few loads I've had good results with;
Speer 400gr Flat-SP, 53grs of IMR 3031, CCI 200 primer - 1700 f/sec
Cast 325gr GC, 53grs IMR 3031, CCI 200 primer - 1850 f/sec
Cast 420gr GC, 46grs IMR 3031, CCI 200 primer - 1650 f/sec
Good luck
 
I use 47 grains of RL-7 under Hornady's 350 grain flat nose soft point. Some chaps will go as high as 50 grains, but it's not too fun to shoot.

I've shot a few deer with the above load, 3" high at 100 yds sight in, and dead on, on a deer I shot at a lasered 168 yds.

www.marlinowners.com is a great place to go, head for the forums, and then to the big bore area, for all thing 45-70

Ricky
 
I have one of the first 3 or 4 Guide Guns that came into the country, and it has been incredibly well-behaved on 53 gr of WCC844 (H335 equivalent) with either the Remington 405 gr SP or the RCBC 405-FNGC which falls out of my mold at 415 gr (water-dropped - one pound of pure lead added to 19 pounds of wheelweights). The load runs right at 1710 with the cast bullet and about 1670 with the Remington...


blake
 
A lot more weight being thrown around here than I like to..I like a decent recovery time tween shots. Thats why I bought a repeater..350 hornady flats on 50 grs of H4198 is 2000 fps out of my 22". All I've needed.I tried loading the 400+ grainers on the slower powders, and found that the amount of time I spent with the muzzle in the air basically made the gun a single shot.
 
blindside said:
A lot more weight being thrown around here than I like to..I like a decent recovery time tween shots. Thats why I bought a repeater..350 hornady flats on 50 grs of H4198 is 2000 fps out of my 22". All I've needed.I tried loading the 400+ grainers on the slower powders, and found that the amount of time I spent with the muzzle in the air basically made the gun a single shot.
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Perhaps another thing to consider if recovery time is a major concern. Very bascially the smaller the calibre, the lighter the bullet weight, the quicker the recovery time.
 
Here's what has been working for me...

350gr Hornandy Flat Point InterLock over 54gr of IMR 3031 @ 1800 FPS
300gr Rem Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point over 55gr of IMR 3031 @1750 FPS
380gr Lead Round Nose Gas Checked over 48gr of IMR 3031 @1480 FPS

All loads clocked with my PACT Chrono at 20 degrees Celsius.
All three loads will shoot MOA or better out of my 1895 Marlin with Burris 1.75-5 scope.....
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Perhaps another thing to consider if recovery time is a major concern. Very bascially the smaller the calibre, the lighter the bullet weight, the quicker the recovery time.
Click to expand...

I've found that in the 45's where a fella gets abused in recoil and recovery is trying to get that extra 50-100 grs or that extra 100-200 fps for a given projectile. If he stays toward the medium he can have lots of steam and good recovery..I started noticing that when the 400 grain 2335 fps 455 win mag load I used was giving a nicer/quicker shooting gun than my 45/70 with the 405's.Just something wrong with that pic
 
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