marlin guide gun load(45-70)

[CSA 357]

just picked up a marlin guide gun in 4570 im gona use it with iron sights, what load are you shooting in you marlin? im thinking of a 350 or 400 jsp as i shoot 300 gr jhp out of my single shot 4570, plan to use this one as a brush gun. i just love the 4570 have been hunting with one for a good many years and its just hard to beat! csa

 

[jgiehl]

I shoot a 425 grain Pile Driver Junior Beartooth bullet, diameter of bullet is .460 not .459.
Starline brass is used with a CCI Large Rifle primer. All put together with 44 1/2 grains of IMR-4198.
It's a VERY stout load but it works really well.
The data they gave me for IMR-4198 is MIN...40 grains
MAX...44 1/2 grains
He said that they are not primer specific so any will do.
And I use Starline because they make good brass and I wanted to use them.

 

[flashhole]

I like the Hornady 350 grain RN or FN bullets. Of the many powders I have tried I like either Varget or H-4895 the best. Some claim IMR 3031 is THE powder for the 45-70 but I found it to be very dirty and not near as accurate as the two I prefer. H-4895 kicks it up a notch over Varget, both are accurate in my Guide Gun. FWIW - Mine has the ported barrel.

 

[Gatofeo]

Been shooting and reloading my Marlin 1895 since 1977.
I learned early on that the Elmer Keith recommended load of 53.0 grains of IMR3031 under the 405 gr. jacketed bullet was too much.
I experienced flattened primers and swollen cases with that load.
I worked up to a maximum of 50 grs. years ago. This gives about 1,800 fps from my Marlin's 22-inch barrel. I'd suggest you start at 45 grains and work up, with your rifle.
Frankly, you don't need to shoot maximum loads. It's a heavy, .45-caliber bullet, for heck's sake! The old-timers took every kind of game in North America with heavy lead bullets, black powder and velocities no more than 1,300 fps.
For more than 30 years I've witnessed endless reloaders pushing their luck with the action of the 1895. It's a strong action, but won't suffer fools for long. High-intensity or maximum loads will accelerate wear, if not destroy it.
A 400 gr. jacketed bullet at 1,600 fps is fine for hunting all but the biggest bear. The .45-70 is, at best, a 200 yard hunting cartridge, and that's with a scope.
Hunting demands very precise placement of the bullet. It's one thing to hit a 30-inch circle at 500 yards, quite another to put a bullet into a fist-sized area at 200 yards or less.

One word of warning about .45-70 reloads.
You'll see all kinds of loads offered on the internet by individuals. Check their recommendation against the websites or recent reloading manuals offered by powder, bullet or reloading equipment manufacturers. They're the ones with the ballistics labs that can measure pressure.
Using someone else's load because, "It shot sweet in my rifle and I dun real good with it" is asking for trouble.
Don't exceeed recent data offered by manufacturers.
And if someone calls them, "Lawyer Loads," then ask that person which ballistics lab they used to measure pressure.

The 1895 Marlin is a good gun but, like any gun, can experience an "instant disassembly" with excessive reloads.

 

[cheygriz]

385 cast (Lyman mold) gas check, from wheelweights, over a charge of IMR 3031 that gives about 1500 FPS. (H322, 4895 and 4064 are also excellent.) Remington 9 1/2 primer and Winchester cases.

A lot easier on the shoulder than the 1900 FPS loads, but still powerful enough for anything in North America.

I used this for my "deep woods" elk hunting until I was about 60. Then I finally realized that I didn't need the punishment, and a light recoiling semi-auto .30-06 (Browning BAR Mk11) would kill anything on the planet with proper buller placement and selection.

 

[CSA 357]

thanks guys! i have a b 78 to shoot the hot loads in im gona use the guide gun for up close brush gun but i dont want the wimpy factory type load. csa