.45 ACP Load SPECIFICALLY for The Marlin 45 Camp Carbine

[345 DeSoto]

I have been searching everywhere for info on a good ACCURATE powder/load and bullet/weight for my Marlin 45 Camp Carbine, or for that matter, ANY .45 long barrel loading. I'm not interested in max FPS, Hot loads, great loads for a 5" barrel, etc. or anything like that...unless it will improve accuracy in my longer carbine barrel. All sorts of GREAT stuff on 5" barrel accuracy, but I can't find anything on loading for a longer barrel. I KNOW the longer barrel has to have SOME effect on powder/load and the accompanying bullet type/weight. HELP guys...it would be GREATLY appreciated...

 

[rcmodel]

We must assume the camp carbine was designed to function best with SAAMI spec .45 ACP pistol ammo. And probably 230 grain bullets.

You might gain a little velocity by picking a medium-slow burn powder that will nearly fill the case. You might look at True Blue, Long Shot, HS-6, Unique, etc.

Bottom line is, whatever powder will give you the highest velocity in a 5" handgun will also give the highest velocity in a 16" carbine.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

Load the same as you would for a pistol. Your carbine will tell you which loads it likes.

 

[ReloaderEd]

45 acp carbine

I have a carbine and shoot my regular 45 acp load, 5.1 grains of Bullseye behind a 200 grain lyman swc cast bullet. I use Winchester large pistol primers. It groups ok at 50 yards. I havn't tried jacketed bullets in it but would say a heavier bullet jacketed would probably do better accuracy wise.
This I havn't done but it is on my list of things to do.

 

[ReloaderFred]

It's never going to shoot for you, so just send it to me and I'll work up a load for it. When I'm gone, my widow might return it to you........

No need to thank me, just trying to help..

Fred

 

[345 DeSoto]

RCMODEL - Thank you for the insight. Wouldn't a longer barrel length require a different loading than a short barrel...to take advantage of the longer length for optimum accuracy? I guess this is really the basis of my question...or should I just send it off to RELOADERFRED?

 

[rcmodel]

As I said, a medium burn rate powder will give a little higher velocity then you can get with Bullseye or other fast "target" type powder.
Same as in a handgun.

As for accuracy?

Spending money on better bullets will improve accuracy more then anything else you can do.

I'd try Hornady XTP 230 grain with one of the powders I recommended.
If it won't shoot them accurately, it probably won't shoot anything else any better.

rc

 

[345 DeSoto]

Would a slow burning or medium burning powder be better? How about a lighter grain FMJ? Bullet cost is not a problem (FMJ vs. cast or swagged). If the round doesn't hit where you aim, then what good is it? I've read a lot of good things about the Hornady XTP bullets, and I'm leaning toward them. Now to get the powder situation down. Right now, I'm almost out of Unique, and am wondering about Longshot..

 

[taxiflyr]

any ww data

for the ww 2 Reising Model 50 same animal i wonder what they found out what it liked

 

[jonnyc]

I had the same question when I rebarreled an Enfield to .45 ACP. I got some .45 SUPER brass and worked up some good loads for my carbine. With that said, I don't know how your rifle locks up. A bolt action can handle more than a pistol caliber semi-auto.

 

[345 DeSoto]

TAXIFLYER - From my war time experience with the Thompson, it used standard .45 ACP Ball ammunition...the only exception I ever saw was the steel cased ammo for it...

JONYC - do you remember what any of your loadings were?...

 

[evan price]

It does not matter if pistol or carbine, you can't load it much hotter. A +P load, maybe, if the carbine will handle it.

Longer barrels to me mean slower powder. Something like 800-X or HS6 maybe. Other than that, it's the same as a 1911 in terms of ammo.

 

[zxcvbob]

The thing you can do that will help performance the most in a carbine chambered for automatic pistol cartridges is to use lead bullets instead of jacketed.

The powders that give the highest velocity in a pistol will also give the highest velocity in a carbine, but more so.