Need .45-70 loads for Guide Gun

[Johnny Guest]

Just received a beautiful birthday gift--
Marlin 1995 GS .45-70, and I won't long be satisfied with factory ammo.

I'd appreciate tips on pet loads. I intend to run the whole gamut, from around 350 to whatever. JSP 405 are easiest to locate around here, but I'll certainly order some others, or pick 'em up at gun show.

Thanks in advance - - -
Johnny

 

[EchoSixMike]

My plinking load is 40.0 of IMR 3031 and a commercial cast 405gn bullet. Any flavor usually works the same with regards to leading, which they do, slightly, because they're too hard. Any how, they clock 1540fps from my 1886 and about 1440fps from the guidegun. Accuracy is about 2" at 100 yds with receiver sights.

You can step this load up as much as you can bear, but this does everything I need it to do. It'll punch clean through deer and it went through IIIA plexiglass that stopped a 2&3/4" Brenneke slug from 10yds. S/F...Ken M

 

[bpisler]

Try www.hodgdon.com or do a search for the alliant website, both have reloading tables for all calibers.With this much info i did not have to buy their manuals.

 

[popbang]

I haven loaded for and shot a MArlin 1895SS for years. In jacketed bullets you can get good results from alot of them, but i believe you just can't beat the 400 grain Speer bullets. I never was quite satisfied with the performance of the 300 grain hollow points, but some have good luck. I notice you mention the 405 JSP, if you are talking about the Remington bullets just be aware you may not be able to crimp in the groove and get a short enough OAL to function through the action.

As far as powder IMR 3031 works for me, but I have used many other powders with good results. Additionally, I use only magnum primers as this gives consistant velocities across the temperature range.

If you like cast bullets give them a try.

 

[Northwest Cajun]

I have a guide gun also and I love it!!
My load is a case full of Varget( but not compressed)
I get 1650fps with Rem 405's .My targets at 200 yds with ghost ring sights are 3"x5" cards and I can usually keep 3/4 of my shots on it at that distance.
I have used RE#7 to push the 405's as fast as 1950fps but they are too hard to hold on to

Good luck

Cajun

 

[Wildalaska]

For big game (or heck even deer) use heavy jacket 350 grain Kodiak bullets. A hot 350 grain Kodiak bullet load is the ultimate lever gun load.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Sure appreciate the input - - -

Please keep 'em coming.

Wild - - I'll look for the Kodiac bullets. What powder and suggested grains do you use?

popbang - - - I'll surely try the 400 Speers.

One thing about the .458 bullets - - - All I've ever seen have been round nosed or flat point- - -No worries about use in tubular magazine.

Also - -glad to see that 3031 is so well thought-of for this ctg - - - I usually have some on hand for my .30-30.

Thanks again.
Johnny

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

45/70 loads

I have sold hundreds of California Saeco 45/70 bullet molds and my advice to my customers was that a 350 grain bullet according to my #3 Hornaday manual will take any North American animal including moose and bear with up to 53 grains of IMR 3031 but my customers reported that the load they used to win in competition was 48 grains. I did not like the larger bullet weights as I said there was a "500 grain Bullet Flinch" and a "Sore Shoulder Syndrome" with the larger bullets in a day of competitive shooting.

Johnny, you will enjoy your new gun so much more with the 350 weight range of bullets and that is what our weapons are for "to enjoy"!!

Regards John Paul

 

[jem375]

I reload for my son-in-laws 2 Marlin guide guns and I use 60 gr. of H322 with a 300 gr. JHP and it is very accurate and a perfect deer load...........I haven't chrono'd it yet, will in the near future...

 

[Johnny Guest]

Project update

Finally got my ducks lined up - - Kinda.

Couldn't locate a set of .45-70 dies locally but borrowed some from a pal. New can of IMR 3031. Box of Speer 400 gr. JSPs, WOW! The price, $19.99 plus tax for fifty seems a bit steep. Also a box of "405 grain" cast LFP. I use the quotes because the majority of the box are under 396 gr., and NONE weigh over 401. Oh, well, maybe they're so hard they won't lead badly.

I've loaded 10 of the lead bullets with 38.5 gr. of 3031, and am putting up 10 of the 400 JSP with 50 gr and 10 with 52 gr.

While I believe the Guide Gun will accomplish all I need with the Ashley Outdoors ghost ring aperture sights already installed, I'm gonna use the AO Lever Scout mount and use my Leupold Scout Scope from my Savage for load development. If all goes well, I'll shoot up this batch of ammo on Saturday and report my progress.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Keep the input coming, please. I may be a while in finding my ideal load. My working requirements are:
Heavy bullet at high velocity, capable of stopping a cape buff in a full charge, with a flat trajectory out to, say, 250 yards. Oh, and the recoil of a .30-06.




I, uh, realize I MAY have to settle for a somewhat lesser load.

Best,
Johnny

 

[cpileri]

400gr barnes solids

i realize that these are more for the Ruger no 1, or at least loaded singly in the marlin but...
does anyone have the info on loading the .458 400gr barnes' solids in the 45-70?
barnes does have some nfo, but I forget what manual or supplement it is in!
Thanks!
C-

 

[jem375]

Johnny guest....You sure will, or opt for a different rifle..........