[wayneo73]

i posted this in a current 45-70 thread
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,83617.0.html
but also wanted to start a new thread here in reloading because the other thread is an older one that has kinda died down... i'm hoping reposting here will generate some discussion on the topic. i've seen some info in MO saying this can be done but i haven't found any load data. i also emailed speer but haven't gotten a response yet.

here goes:

i'm very new to reloading and wanted to try a few different loads so i bought 50 round boxes of hornady 300 hp's, hornady 350 fp's and the speer 350 fp's. i actually bought the speer 350's by mistake. i was actually trying for the speer 400 fp's to give me 3 different bullet weights to try in my gun. i have the speer reloading manual it states that the speer 350 fp isn't designed for 45-70 levers... but there's info on here that says otherwise. i compared the speer 350's side by side with the hornady 350's and they are definitely different dimensions. the speers are a bit longer.

i have the lee factory crimp so it sounds like i'll be ok. i'll just have to seat it with the cannelure deeper into the neck to give the correct COAL?? if so, then my question is how do i find load data if this bullet isn't listed for this gun/caliber??

i have win, rem, and hornady LR brass and IMR 3031 and IMR 4198 powder. i'm also using CCI 200 large rifle primers.

thanks in advance -wayne

 

[wayneo73]

here's the response from speer:

the bullet is for the 458 Win Mag and you'll not be able to get
sufficient velocity to make it expand properly. To use it, you may have
to trim your cases back to allow crimping in the cannelure or load and
feed singly. All-in-all it's an exercise with less than satisfactory
results when completed, no matter how you tackle the problem.

not exactly what i was looking for... so can i use the load out of the book for the 458 win mag as long as it's under the CUP of the marlin?

458 Winchester Magnum
Load Type: Rifle
Starting Loads

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Loads

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

350 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon H4895 .458" 3.105" 77.0 2419 34,600 CUP 80.0C 2496 38,700 CUP
350 GR. SPR SP IMR IMR 8208 XBR .458" 3.105" 74.0 2365 35,800 CUP 77.0C 2452 37,700 CUP
350 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon Benchmark .458" 3.105" 71.0 2250 33,500 CUP 79.0C 2468 42,400 CUP
350 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon H322 .458" 3.105" 75.0 2469 40,900 CUP 80.0C 2589 49,400 CUP
350 GR. SPR SP Hodgdon H4198 .458" 3.105" 67.0 2426 44,700 CUP 72.0 2548 51,600 CUP

realizing that the COAL is too long... but just trying to get a general idea??

 

[gunlaker]

I imagine that the case capacity of the .458 is quite different. I wouldn't fool with those loads.

Brian Pierce published loads for the Marlin 1895 with the Speer 350gr bullet in Handloader magazine a few years ago. If you can dig that up you should find what you are looking for.

Chris.

 

[m.wun]

Set up properly they my shoot well but for the price of a box of bullets it my not be worth
the effort to develop the load.There are so many great bullets designed for 45-70 and many for
a better price.Dont rule out cast loads they are real sleepers...