45-70 Loads?

[Partyguy816]

I have a Marlin 45-70 in a guide stainless, but I can't remember what the exact number is. Anyways it's only about 1 year old or so and I'm tired of shooting these little loads from Remington that don't have much kick. I did buy some PMC's that had a warning on the box that said something about not using it in a trapdoor or something like that. How hot are these rounds? I think they are 300g. Now I have bought some reloading equipment and looking to make hotter loads than you can buy at a local shop. Is this Marlin able to handle the hotter loads that some people say Ruger #1 only?


Thanks.

 

[Northwest Cajun]

Partyguy816,

My guide gun load is Win brass, CCI200 Primers, 50.5 gr Reloader #7 and a 405 rem traveling at 1700 fps
It's not top end but will definatly get your attention.
I've gone as fast as 1900fps but that aint fun to hang on too

It's been used on 1 elk so far. It flipped him at about 50 yds.

Cajun

 

[dodgestdshift]

Most manuals give 3 sets of loads for the 45/70. Light for the trapdoor, and other older guns. Medium for modern lever actions like your Marlin. Hot for the single shots and some bolt guns.

When they say only for Ruger #1, believe it. The Marlin has a shorter limit for length over all, than the Ruger. Any hot load for the Ruger would be a proof test for the Marlin, especially if you had to shorten the Cartridge length overall to feed in the Marlin. Stick with Marlin loads and shoot safely. Don't turn your gun into a bomb. At the high end of loads pressures go up much faster than velocity. When you fire the gun, remember, the chamber is awfully close to your face.

 

[cheygriz]

You need the Speer, Lyman and/or Hornady reloading manuals. They will answer all of your questions.

Your Marlin will withstand any loads safe in the 1884 Winchester. 1750 FPS with a 350 GR Hornady bullet is adequate for almost anything on earth. It's not a maximum for the gun, but is absolute max for my shoulder. :banghead:

 

[mete]

The Marlin will take the PMC load which is 350 @ 2100 and the pressure IIRC is 37,000.From all I hear very accurate and effective.Garret, Grizzly, and Buffalo Bore all make good loads. The standard 300 loads are about 18,000 psi, SAAMI max is 27,000, Garret is 35,000, PMC 37,000, Buffalo Bore is 40,000. Some crazys load to 50,000 for single shot Ruger or Browning !! If yours is an exercise in macho , I can't help you but any of the factory loads listed above will do a very good job on whatever you want to hunt.From personal experience the 300s do fine on deer.

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

My standard hunting load for my guidegun is 53 grains of IMR-3031 under a hornady 350 grain flat point.

 

[JNewell]

There was an interesting discussion in The Accurate Rifle a couple of years ago musing about why Marlin doesn't offer a stainless 1895 in .450 Marlin. The basic point, IIRC, was that the yield strength of SS is less than carbon steel and that Marlin might have been concerned about the stainless barrel and .450 Marlin-level pressures. That might suggest that you don't want to push a stainless Guide Gun as hard as you might push a carbon GG.

Having said that, don't Garrett and Buffalo Bore say their .45-70 loads are safe in all factory new model (i.e., since 1971 or so) Marlin 1895s?

 

[mparris71]

The basic point, IIRC, was that the yield strength of SS is less than carbon steel and that Marlin might have been concerned about the stainless barrel and .450 Marlin-level pressures.

I could be wrong, but I think it's more likely a marketing thing. My 1895gs don't seem to mind them loaded up to 450 pressure levels. Wild West dose not mind chambering SS Marlins in hot calibers either.

 

[Clark]

http://www.realguns.com/loads/4570.htm