45-70

[tdoyka]

what bullet should i use for a marlin 1895 45-70? i handload, so thats not a problem. this is for my younger brother, wants at least a 400gr bullet, hunts deer in west virginia, and i can do cast bullets( gas checked or no gas checked)(well, whoever makes them!) or jacketed bullets.

thanks!!!

 

[eldon519]

I don't think you need a 400gr bullet for deer, especially if you are going cast. It is just gonna punch right thru with ease. A 300gr cast bullet would do the same as the 400 with less recoil. Or you could push it faster for a flatter trajectory with similar recoil levels.

 

[browningguy]

I handload both the 300 gr. Speer HP and 400 gr. Speer FP, both will work a treat on deer. To be honest though I agree with the previous poster, 300 grains is plenty enough for any deer that ever walked. The only time I shoot the 400's anymore is when doing some long range shooting with my Browning 1885.

 

[dagger dog]

Lyman 457193 was made for lever action 45-70 they drop from 412-415 grs or so from clip on wheel weights at about 12-13 BHN, if you water quench they will harden to 15 or so, with a good lube you can push them pretty fast, but for deer at 100 yds or so a 400 gr FP bullet punches hard , deep and leaves a big hole even at moderate velocity.

 

[Limey46]

I use the Missouri Bullet Company's 405 grain lead RNFP (round-nose flat point) "buffalo bullet", Brinell 18, without a gas check in all my 45-70s -- nice and slow in the Trapdoor and the 1885, a little faster and nastier in the 1886 and the Marlin, but never outright speedy. They're great bullets and the Missouri folks give great service. No critter I've hit at any range with a 405 has gone more than a few yards.

 

[james layman]

My 47th Lyman Handbook(1992 edition} has loads designed for the Marlin. The 400 Gr bullet was designed for lever rifles. They recommend filler wads on most loads. I think this may be helpful. Maybe the newer books are more helpful. James

 

[dprice3844444]

try different heads to see what shoots best

 

[Redlg155]

My Marlin 1895 Guide gun shoots factory loaded Hornady 300 Gr Leverevolutiom ammo with excellent accuracy. I can get 1.5" at 100 yards when I do my part.

 

[Rick R]

+1 WV deer aren't hard to kill.

I'd find out what shoots in his rifle and load him up a bunch. We can shoot several deer a year down here.

FWIW I'm shooting an NOE copy of Ranch Dog's 360gr bullet at about 1,800fps and it works just fine.

 

[MCMXI]

My Marlin shoots the Barnes 300gr TSX FB bullet really well (see below) and also the Remington 405gr JSP. I've had good success with lead bullets from Oregon Trail too.

 

[tdoyka]

he shoots 405gr remingtons and has killed a few. i agree with the 300gr bullets, but what are you gonna do?
keep them coming....thanks

 

[MCMXI]

Barnes has some .458 bullets 400gr and heavier. The 400gr FNSP for example.

 

[eastbank]

when i use the 300gr hornady at 1600-1700fps out of a ruger#3 it shoots 1-1.5 inch groups at a hundred yds., and this is what i get at the end of a very short blood trail. eastbank.

 

[jgiehl]

For lead I've used beartooth bullets.
Great company lots of selection.

 

[Reloadron]

My first choice would be something like a Sierra 300 grain HP. However, if the customer wants 400 grains then I would consider something like a Speer 400 grain flat soft point using IMR 4064 or H4895. The deer in West Virginia really won't care.

I have hunted West Virginia in the mountainous areas using a Marlin 444 with 240 grain soft points and done just fine.

Ron

 

[MEHavey]

The 45-70 in an `95 Marlin just screeeeeams for cast bullets with a flatnose profile.

Run with any Lyman 45193 plain base at BP speeds (12-1,300fps) using AA5744;
and/or the gas-checked versions at 40% higher speeds using 3031.

Personally, I'd run the 405 plainbase at 1,250-ish for about anything/anywhere in West Virginia.
It's already "pre-expanded" for the deer, ranges anything out 100-125 yds, and MUCH more
fun in that light rifle for the shooter

 

[peacemaker45]

405 LRNFP. I don't know if anyone's ever tried loading something that obscure into a .45-70, but I suspect it might give decent results, if pushed to 1300, or so.

 

[Zeke/PA]

I used my Bud's Model 1886, .45-70 Winchester wih a cast .405 bullet over Black Powder to take a couple of PA whitetails a few years back. The range was about 35 or 40 yards, and the animals went right down with shoulder shots.

 

[MEHavey]

405 LRNFP. I don't know if anyone's ever tried loading something
that obscure into a .45-70, but I suspect it might give decent
results, if pushed to 1300, or so.

You can take your tongue out of your cheek now....

 

[Kurt S.]

I don't load 45/70, but a 405 grain lead flat point at 1200 knocks down east Texas deer and 200 lb pigs like the hammer of God.

 

[limpingbear]

Normaly I use 300 grain HP's out of my guide gun but if I need to go heavier I have some lazercast 430gr. slugs from Oregon trail bullets. one nice thing about a 45/70 on deer is that they don't go very far....

 

[cpt-t]

tdoyka: I shoot a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 and so does my Son. We use a hard cast LRNFP 405 gr bullet and 35grs of IMR 3031 95 percent of the time. I think it gives us about 1250 FPS don`t have a cronagraft. This is a very comfortable load to shoot, but still gives full peneration on any thing we have shot. And it is very accurate in all of our 45-70`s. I just turned 70 yrs old and getting more recoil shy all the time. And this is the load I used to Cowboy shoot and Hunt with, and I can still shoot it very comfortably as often as I want or need to.
ken

 

[Riomouse911]

I also shoot the 405 LFP using 3031 with a similar charge weight in a Guide Gun. A great load!

 

[rodinal220]

405 LRNFP (Lee#90374)out of my Marlin 1895 GG at reasonable velocities(1100-1200).No need for magnum loads on whitetails,the bullet is already pre-expanded.

 

[BigBore44]

My 1895 loves 405 Missouri Bullet #1 Buffalos, and LaserCasts, IMR 30301, Starline Brass and LRP's. and there isn't any animal I would be afraid to hunt with that combo. While it's true the 300 is plenty for deer, the 400+ grainers are NOT hard on the shoulder as long as you don't try to load for max velocities which you DON'T need to take any deer. That includes moose. What you need is an accurate load and to put said load on target. The rest will take care of itself.