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Anyone shooting a 416 Barnes (45-70 necked down to .416)in a Marlin 95? I just got a new PTG chamber reamer and it is going to be my next rifle project.
Thinking the 416 will give flatter trajectory and a little better penetration.
Lastly just wanted something a little different.
Thanks

You try it first and I may be interested

Woody

Which bullets are going to try in it?

I'm not sure if the Swift A-Frame or Speer Mag-Tip in 350 gr would be safe in a lever action, and would want an expanding bullet of some type. (Although this cartridge would look really cool with a Barnes Banded Solid in it!). I didn't do any research into cast bullets for the 416.

Was looking at this cartridge myself a few weeks ago. I think it would make an excellent brushgun for elk and big bears.

I like Hawk bullets they have flat nosed bullets 300 to 400 grains and round nose 300 to 500 grains in the 416 caliber. No they are not cheap, but depending on the hunt would be worth the expense.
Now for deer, black bear ,& hog a good cast bullet with a decent meplat should do the trick.
I am thinking of going with a 335gr. cast bullet (Beartooth)for all around use. Their prices are not bad.

David

I haven't looked at the Hawk bullets yet...but will soon.
Let me know once you've built the rifle and tried some loads.
Would like to hear the details on making it work in the Marlin.

I looked at building a 416 cal levergun but the COAL of 2.55 to 2.72" reared it's ugly head. James Gates has a 416 x 2" Beartooth for cast bullets in a levergun...check on the Beartooth Bullets - Tech talk, he has the info posted and an a very good article.

One simple solution is to bob the nose on whatever bullet you want to try so the meplat is over 0.225" dia, that way it won't touch the primer.

Even using the Speer 350's nose bobbed the bullet is seated REAL deep in the case...416 cal bullets are LONG in relation to diameter. I finally decided that a hard cast 416 bullet would be the best choice at the velocities obtainable with this particular iteration. James Gates 416 x 2 Beartooth probably would be the way I would go now instead of mucking about with something "new and different"???? We're not talking about a Hi-Velo or lonhg range shooter here, although if you already have a 416 Barnes reamer you have basically the same thing.

I based my designs on 450 Marlin, shortened 458 Mag, and shortened 45-70, and shortened 300 RUN cases with a COAL of 2.63" and using a 450 Marlin cal 336 or 1895 Marlin receiver to get the "V" threaded receiver and a little more meat in the chamber area.

In any event...this project probably will never get off the ground and rebored 336 in 405 Jess will do as much as I want with a slightly smaller 0.411" bullet and much more ease with developing the components...and much cheaper also.

'Njoy

Read the article on the 416 Beartooth, interesting but can't understand why go with a belted case.
Regardless I already have a Marlin 95 in 45-70 and see no problem going with a simple rebarrel. The 95's action will handle the 416's OAL.
Just need to decide on whether to make a short or long tube out of it.

Belted, beltless, rimmed or rimless...all have their arguments good and bad...it's more a matter in the mind and type of action...your choice and not a good/bad thing.

Who cut your 416/45-70 reamer by the way???

In your case a rebarrel is all that is needed and required as all the rest of the components are available relatively quickly and easily...

I would opt for that had I the choice to make in your case...and go with the shorter tube depending on the barrel length and where you want the balance point to be and what look you want the rifle to have. You or your gunsmith can install the tube mounts on a new barrel anywhere you desire.

I tend to get complicated when wildcatting at first sometimes, then over time as I work through the different iterations, finally get the simplest and cheapest for me solution worked out. I don't remember giving the 416 Barnes all that hard a look when I started jumping through the "inventors" hoop being more interested in using a shortened RUM or WSM case but your post has got me to thinking and looking again.

I was also looking a necking down and shortening the 458 Mag case ala 458 American, 458 x 2" and talking with CH4D about die costs and availability... and the 416 WSM being already available and 45-70 case having several iterations available.

In any event I an very interested in reading about your load development when you get to that stage.

'Njoy

The chamber reamer was cut by (PTG) Pacific Tool & Gauge.
I beleive the 416 Barnes isn't has popular as some of the others is because of lack of good bullet selection in the 416 caliber.
The 416 caliber really lags behind in bullets that will work well in a tube magazine, however they are out there and I believe their sectional density will offer better penetration.
A benefit of this round is that it is based off easy to get 45 70 brass.
Next I need to get some dies made.

David