welcome to MO and the 45-70 forum you have one of the greatest rifles there is i started with a 350 gr cast and still have not shot a 400 gr or heaver that does not mean there not the way to go but there are other options .you will find lots of help on this site with your questions here dont be afraid to ask there is a lot of experience here just ask .I will be going to a 420 gr bullet soon and will be using H322 if i can i will post my results when money and weather permit .again welcome from Oregon .

tom

 

I can't think of any good reason to load the 500 grain bullets in a Marlin. Due the restrictive overall cartridge length of 2.55" the 500 grain bullet will greatly reduce your powder capacity and there is nothing that the 400 grain bullet won't do the job on. You could probably use the same logic on the 300 or 350 grainers but 300 to 400 grain bullets have always done the job for me and many others. The 500 grain bullets will likely be more expensive also. My go to hunting load is a 405gr remington soft flat point in front of 46 grains of Varget moving between 1500 to 1600 fps and groups inside of an inch at 100 yards out of both my Cowboy and my Guide Gun. I shoot alot of 335 and 405 grain lead bullets that I cast from Lee molds and I keep the velocities under 1400fps. Just about everything I've thrown at the lead bullets will stay inside of 3" at 100 yards and some hover right around an inch. Before I forget I only use Remington brass.

Keith

 

I use a Cast Performance 460gr LFN GC. That's about as heavy as I would go with a Marlin.

If I had a Ruger #1 laying around somewhere, I'd try some 500gr bullets too, even if it is just for sh*t and giggles.

 

I have 4 bullets that I load... a 350gr, 405gr, 435gr and a 535gr and each and every one of then shoot great. If I was ever in an area like Alaska I would only have the 535gr's loaded just in case.


Doc

 

This is the only reason I have for the 500+gr, close range on heavy dangerous animals like this one, picture taken a few days ago near my place in Haines AK. Not a great photo but gives a clue as to the size. They stay active a bit later here because of the late runs of salmon, some into Dec.

 

Your photo does not have to be all thet great. It makes its point perfectly clear.

 

405gn lead took a bear for me this year. If you will be hunting in the first or last few minutes of legal shooting light H322 will produce an ENORMUS muzzel flash. It will produce accurate rounds but it is not a good powder for low light.

 

my project load was to shoot a jacketed 500 grain bullet at subsonic speed...

It was a fun project. I love shooting 500 grain bullets.


http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/a...ents/45-70-govt/31195d1340219085-my-suppressed-1895sbl-45-70-45-70-silencer.jpg

 

my project load was to shoot a jacketed 500 grain bullet at subsonic speed...

It was a fun project. I love shooting 500 grain bullets.


http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/a...ents/45-70-govt/31195d1340219085-my-suppressed-1895sbl-45-70-45-70-silencer.jpg

Why would you waste money on a jacketed bullet at slow speed or in a 45-70 at all? A cast bullet will work better and kill anything that needs killing. A 400 gr. cast bullet at around 1500 FPS will take anything on earth so what else do you need :questionmark:

 

I'm pretty well convinced the 405-420 grain loads are the way to go in the 45-70, I just can't see the need for anything heavier unless you are finding bear scat in your back yard. The 400 grainers will handle anything else up to and including elk. Most of them shoot pretty darn well, too.

 

I've used Beartooth Bullets and Cast Performance bullets in the 420/425 grain range. There are other quality bullets available, but those are two I have experience with. I've not loaded any jacketed bullets in that weight range, so I will withhold suggestions regarding them.

In regards to speed, really, 1650 to 1750 fps is sufficient. They can be pushed faster, but it's not really necessary for terminal performance, though it would flatten the trajectory, along with you:biggrin:.

Several powders are capable of generating that speed with comfortable pressures.

 

A good 400gr (woodliegh, hawk, Kodiack, Barnes 0, ) @ 1900fps will hammer anything in NA out to 200yards. If you want to really hunt with 500gr then Id suggest using soft, pure lead for some expasion, penetraion will be there at any velocity but understand your handdicaping yourself by trajecory, 100 yards max. A friend of mine hunts with his 45/70 Sharps with a pure lead 500gr, (535?) kills stuff with authourity, so I know it works well.

 

I use 340gr and 405gr Lee cast bullets.I prefer the 405gr.I've downloaded a bit from where I started to about 1400 fps.Cant see putting up with the recoil when it will pass thru anything I hunt currently.Was also thinking of just using a target load(14.0 Unique)and 405gr for deer hunting as it shoots mild and has the same POI at 50yds as my other loads.

 

levergunz

i don't see why that would not work on deer they usually are not to hard to kill good luck with it and let us know how it worked

 

Ya, pretty much the same, a 420gr hardcast between the eyes. Id crouch to one knee for better support then, if it doesnt drop its shoot shoot shoot!! And hope I dont have to write a Hatchet Jack letter. ie Jerimaiah Johnson ..

 

Sure the 425gr would do the job but take a good look at the size of that bear!! would you want that PO bear that your boolit bounced off his head or would you rather be sure to have more lead (110gr's more) to push through that thick skull? me, I would want to be on the safe side and have my 535grs loaded up to 1500 to 1600fps to take on that bad boy!

Doc

 

Comparing trajectories of the Speer 400gr at 1900fps MV vs. the Hornady 500gr at 1600fps MV with both zeroed at 150 yards, at 200 yards the 500gr is only 1.7" lower and has about the same speed as the 400gr according to the Speer Reloading Manual ballistic tables.

The Hornady 500gr (#4504) is the bullet of choice in my XLR, I load it to a muzzle velocity of 1625fps. I have used this bullet on moose in my .458 Win. mag. at a muzzle velocity of about 1975fps (1700fps impact velocity) with excellent results.

 

I would put a pildriver through his/her right shoulder. that would break it and probably hit some vitals but also give opportunity for a follow-up shot. I've not shot a griz but have several friends who have and they all say break the front shoulder first.

 

Deja vu, I am still jelous of that suppressor you have on your 45-70


Doc

 

RICH45-70GS :biggrin: shoot them if ya got em. my bear load is a 350 JSP :dontknow: kinda mean on both ends. I have the Oregon Lazer cast 500gr and love them.... in time I will shoot anything cast over 430gr up to 570 :biggrin: I figure dead is dead and that is bullet placement.

Fun to shoot, unlike them 350gr.

 

hey me

long time no here

great video did you hunt this year how did you do if you did

 

has anybody tried the 400 gr barnes oringinal, I just ordered some to try I guess, but I olso orderd some hornady 350 interlocks aswell. Any advise

 

Barnes O seems to work pretty good based off the test.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/bullet-tests/51565-premium-bullets-test-45-70-450-now-updated.html

 

Good thing I ordered the 400gr then, they should work for moose up in northern ontario ( I HOPE).
But I am pretty empressed how the hornady holds together aswell, so I might have 2 premium bullets for awhile
Seabass , since your from B.C what kind of factory 45-70 bullets can you order? I can't bring my reloads out west next year on the flight

 

No such thing as overkill, espeaclly on bear.

OP Rich4570gs. Do you mean ammo or just bullets?

 

No such thing as overkill, espeaclly on bear.

I agree! That report you referenced from Reflex264 is a Treasure Trove of info for 45/70 bullet info! I can't over recommend it.

 

I will agree with you. you cant kill a bear to dead .i don't believe in excessive damage but i am ok with exceptable loss .that sounds odd but everyone has different ideas on whats good or bad just my opinion

tom

 

Hey Seabass, sorry about that I was talking about factory ammo. I might have to order some or have some shipped to my friends house out there.
I was hoping to order HSM 420gr Bear Load, concidering I will be in grizz country

 

Any of several Gas Checked BAM bullet designs at around 440-460 grains will slam just about anything you'll encounter, as well as your shoulder with a stout load.
BAM?... Big A$$ Meplat
I cast soft (50-50 WW and pure lead) and then heat treat HARD.
Bullets shoot like lino, hold together like normal "hard cast", never lead, and slap silly out of everything.
Ever seen a 300 pound pig's nostrils through it's anal orface?
Simply inspiring.