Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 300 Grain Barnes .458 diameter

Anyone have any experience with 300 gr Barnes bullets in their 45-70 or 450?

Art in Wyoming

Haven't used them on game yet, but at the range, I recently got pretty small groups with the 300-grain X bullet in my Marlin 1895 (45-70). Best group was with 54.5 grains of Accurate Arms 2015, Starline Brass, and a CCI 200 primer.



Here is some data from Barnes for the 300-grain X bullet in the modern Marlin 1895 , in case you find it useful:



Cartridge: 45/70 Case OAL: 2.105

Bullet Weight: 300 Load OAL: 2.523

Bullet Style: X Primer: Fed. 210m

Case: R-P Barrel Length: 26

MARLIN 1895



Powder Minimum Load Velocity Maximum Load Velocity

H-4198 45.0 1852 49.0 2017

H-322 49.0 1839 53.0 1989

H-4895 51.0 1905 55.0 2054

AA-2015BR 51.0 1911 55.0 2061

RL-7 45.0 1891 49.0 2059

IMR-4198 40.0 1812 44.0 1993

IMR-3031 50.0 1862 54.0 2011

IMR-4895 51.0 1839 55.0 1983

IMR-4064 53.0 1791 57.0 1926

The Barnes Original .458" 300 grain flat nose soft point bullet is very stout and is likely not to expand much on deer sized animals.

Yep, they are stout. Reload 225 gr Barnes X in my .338, another tough bullet.
I like the idea of a 2000fps 45-70 load, though I load 440 gr LBT gas check also. Just playing around with getting better groups. By the way, have had very good groups with Hornady interlock 350's, no chance to try them on elk yet. Later this month.

Art/Wyoming