looking for 45-70 load

[BwanaDave]

I have a Marlin 1895ss and I am looking for a load for 405 gr gas checked cast bulltets using Reloader 7 or 3031.

Thanks

Dave

[Blaine]

WellSir, how fast would you like to fling that 405 grainer? I would really suggest getting The Load Book for that caliber. It will have most of the published loads in it from bullet and powder makers. I find it real comfortable to have my load book on hand, even if I've loaded a particular load many times.

[TedH]

I've had great luck with 48.0 gr. of RL7 and a 405 cast bullet. It's a stout load, NOT for trapdoors and the like. I shoot it in my Marlin and it is suitable for them and stronger guns. It runs about 1850 fps from my Guide Gun, and makes one big ragged hole at 50 yards. Just make sure your bullets are big enough for the bore of your Marlin. You'll prolly need them at least .460" which is what I size mine to.

[BwanaDave]

Thanks, I do have the 45-70 load book but believe it or not it doesn't have a load using Reloader 7 for a 405gr cast bullet. There is 400 and 420 for cast. Alliant lists for 385-405gr but they don't say whether it is for jacketed or cast and they have a starting load of 37 gr with a max of 40 gr which is quite a bit lower than I recall 405 cast being loaded at. Under Lyman bullets there is a load for 400 gr cast min 37 max 48 and for 420 gr cast min 40 max 48.5. Thus I am a bit confused.

I have also looked in the Lee manual and my old Handloader Magazines covering the 45-70 and didn't find anything using Reloader 7 with a 405 cast bullet. Five or six years ago everyone was raving about the 405 with Reloader 7 and now I can't find the load, go figure. Back then I was using 350 Hornady jacked RNs with 3031 and they worked great. But I have 500 of the 405s looking at me and a bunch of Reloader 7.

Thanks

Dave

[Bullard4075]

The old classic IMR 3031 load for the 405 grain bullet was 53.0 grains.
Elmer Keith always said this load was safe in the 86 Win so it should be
plenty safe in the Marlin.
I have shot this load in half a dozen 45-70s with perfect success.
This load with the 400 Speer shot clear through an 900 lb Moose twice with a
perfect mushroom. I say "clear through" as the bullets bulged out the hide
where I sliced the hide and recovered the bullets. Near enough "clear through"
for me.

[Pete44ru]

[The old classic IMR 3031 load for the 405 grain bullet was 53.0 grains.] - +1

I agree.

BTW - Paul A. Matthews also recommends this load in his excellent book for .45-70 fans: FORTY YEARS WITH THE .45-70

.

[alnitak]

Check out this thread...I had the same question a few weeks back.

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... =1&t=14417

Looks like 42-45 grains of RL-7 was kinda the standard, with up to 48-50 as max.

[BwanaDave]

Thanks to all, I found a load at Realguns using 44 gr RL 7 for the exact bullet I have. I loaded up 50 of them this morning and I will try them out as soon as the weather allows.

Dave