45-70 loads

Hawkman · May 10, 2000, 07:46 AM

Just bought a Marlin Guide gun in 45-70, wondered if anyone had any favorite loads they might share?

Thanks,

Hawkman

mtnbkr · May 10, 2000, 08:39 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hawkman:
Just bought a Marlin Guide gun in 45-70, wondered if anyone had any favorite loads they might share?

Thanks,

Hawkman[/quote]

I don't have a fav load, but you may be interested in this article on http://www.sixgunner.com.
http://www.sixgunner.com/paco/marlindl.htm

Chris

Coinneach · May 10, 2000, 09:55 AM

400gr Speer JSP over 55gr Hodgdon 4895, new Federal brass, Winchester primers. 'Tis a wee bit stout.

Hawkman · May 10, 2000, 10:01 AM

Thanks for the links, and for the load. What I want to do is get the best performance out of (IMHO) a great cartridge, and commercial loads and the reloading manuals suggestions are pretty wimpy. I'll start slow and work up to 55gr, but the Marlin should have no problems with it.

Thanks again!

Hawkman

Unkel Gilbey · May 10, 2000, 10:13 AM

Just a comment...

I am continuously tickled to see all these posts about the 45-70. I don't have one (YET) but I see more and more mention of it with every passing day. I guess that it just goes to show that it has proven the test of time as one of the premier American Cartridges.

About loads, about the only thing that I can think to pass would be some offering from Randy Garrett. See what he has to say.

Unkel Gilbey

Paul B. · May 10, 2000, 03:19 PM

Hawkman. Try and find a copy of FORTY YEARS WITH THE 45-70 by Paul Matthews. It's a good read, and he has updated it to include his work with Marlin 45-70's. My copy has the blue cover. My understanding is that the update has an orange cover.
If you are interested you can call 1-800-899-7810 (Wolfe Publishing Co.) The catalog # is 567.1, and the price is $14.50.
He gives a load for the Lyman #457122 hollow point 330 gr. bullet that shoots like a champ in my 1895 Marlin. Give the book a try. I highly recommend it.
Paul B.

Coinneach · May 10, 2000, 04:15 PM

Gilbey, I *love* my .45-70. That's one bad mutha of a cartridge. I gotta get some of Randy's 500gr loads for elk season.

Hawkman, if your Marlin is in good shape, it should handle that load with no problems, but you're spot-on about working up. If you go with 4859, start at 52gr. Hell, you may find that works just fine for you. I just wanted to see how far I could push mine. At 55.5 (56 is listed as max in my Lee and Speer manuals) I started to get nervous about pressure, so I backed off to 55.0.
Click here to see what this load does out of my gun, accuracy-wise. Group was shot at 100 yards from my calibrated-elbow rest.

Hawkman · May 11, 2000, 07:31 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul B.:
Hawkman. Try and find a copy of FORTY YEARS WITH THE 45-70 by Paul Matthews. It's a good read, and he has updated it to include his work with Marlin 45-70's. My copy has the blue cover. My understanding is that the update has an orange cover.
If you are interested you can call 1-800-899-7810 (Wolfe Publishing Co.) The catalog # is 567.1, and the price is $14.50.
He gives a load for the Lyman #457122 hollow point 330 gr. bullet that shoots like a champ in my 1895 Marlin. Give the book a try. I highly recommend it.
Paul B.[/quote]

Thanks! Never heard of it before, but I will find a copy.

Hawkman

Hawkman · May 11, 2000, 07:34 AM

[QUOTE]
Hawkman, if your Marlin is in good shape, it should handle that load with no problems, but you're spot-on about working up. If you go with 4859, start at 52gr.

The gun is brand new, but I always like to see how an individual rifle handles a particular load. Comes from the old days, I guess, when manufacturing techniques were not so precise...

Hawkman

Paul B. · May 11, 2000, 01:36 PM

Coinneach. I don't mean to sound like a wiseguy, but shouldn't that powder be IMR-4759?
Paul B.

May 10, 2000, 07:46 AM	#1
Hawkman Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 445	Just bought a Marlin Guide gun in 45-70, wondered if anyone had any favorite loads they might share? Thanks, Hawkman

May 10, 2000, 08:39 AM	#2
mtnbkr Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2000 Location: Manassas, Virginia Posts: 914	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Hawkman: Just bought a Marlin Guide gun in 45-70, wondered if anyone had any favorite loads they might share? Thanks, Hawkman[/quote] I don't have a fav load, but you may be interested in this article on http://www.sixgunner.com. http://www.sixgunner.com/paco/marlindl.htm Chris

May 10, 2000, 09:55 AM	#3
Coinneach Staff Alumnus Join Date: February 23, 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,272	400gr Speer JSP over 55gr Hodgdon 4895, new Federal brass, Winchester primers. 'Tis a wee bit stout.

May 10, 2000, 10:01 AM	#4
Hawkman Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 445	Thanks for the links, and for the load. What I want to do is get the best performance out of (IMHO) a great cartridge, and commercial loads and the reloading manuals suggestions are pretty wimpy. I'll start slow and work up to 55gr, but the Marlin should have no problems with it. Thanks again! Hawkman

May 10, 2000, 10:13 AM	#5
Unkel Gilbey Senior Member Join Date: February 26, 1999 Location: Danby, Vermont Posts: 349	Just a comment... I am continuously tickled to see all these posts about the 45-70. I don't have one (YET) but I see more and more mention of it with every passing day. I guess that it just goes to show that it has proven the test of time as one of the premier American Cartridges. About loads, about the only thing that I can think to pass would be some offering from Randy Garrett. See what he has to say. Unkel Gilbey

May 10, 2000, 03:19 PM	#6
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	Hawkman. Try and find a copy of FORTY YEARS WITH THE 45-70 by Paul Matthews. It's a good read, and he has updated it to include his work with Marlin 45-70's. My copy has the blue cover. My understanding is that the update has an orange cover. If you are interested you can call 1-800-899-7810 (Wolfe Publishing Co.) The catalog # is 567.1, and the price is $14.50. He gives a load for the Lyman #457122 hollow point 330 gr. bullet that shoots like a champ in my 1895 Marlin. Give the book a try. I highly recommend it. Paul B.

May 10, 2000, 04:15 PM	#7
Coinneach Staff Alumnus Join Date: February 23, 1999 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 4,272	Gilbey, I love my .45-70. That's one bad mutha of a cartridge. I gotta get some of Randy's 500gr loads for elk season. Hawkman, if your Marlin is in good shape, it should handle that load with no problems, but you're spot-on about working up. If you go with 4859, start at 52gr. Hell, you may find that works just fine for you. I just wanted to see how far I could push mine. At 55.5 (56 is listed as max in my Lee and Speer manuals) I started to get nervous about pressure, so I backed off to 55.0. Click here to see what this load does out of my gun, accuracy-wise. Group was shot at 100 yards from my calibrated-elbow rest.

May 11, 2000, 07:31 AM	#8
Hawkman Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 445	<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Paul B.: Hawkman. Try and find a copy of FORTY YEARS WITH THE 45-70 by Paul Matthews. It's a good read, and he has updated it to include his work with Marlin 45-70's. My copy has the blue cover. My understanding is that the update has an orange cover. If you are interested you can call 1-800-899-7810 (Wolfe Publishing Co.) The catalog # is 567.1, and the price is $14.50. He gives a load for the Lyman #457122 hollow point 330 gr. bullet that shoots like a champ in my 1895 Marlin. Give the book a try. I highly recommend it. Paul B.[/quote] Thanks! Never heard of it before, but I will find a copy. Hawkman

May 11, 2000, 07:34 AM	#9
Hawkman Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2000 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 445	[QUOTE] Hawkman, if your Marlin is in good shape, it should handle that load with no problems, but you're spot-on about working up. If you go with 4859, start at 52gr. The gun is brand new, but I always like to see how an individual rifle handles a particular load. Comes from the old days, I guess, when manufacturing techniques were not so precise... Hawkman

May 11, 2000, 01:36 PM	#10
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,802	Coinneach. I don't mean to sound like a wiseguy, but shouldn't that powder be IMR-4759? Paul B.