Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Just to be different

I loaded up 25 rounds of 45-70 w/70 grains FFG Express and a 20:1 cast bullet. Lyman 457643. 400 grains. Hopefully the weather will hold out one more day and gimme a chance to shoot them in. I have a Smith Marlin barrel sight that is graduated and regulated for BP ammunition in the 400-405 grain range. Never heard of a slug from one of these cannons loaded w/BP bouncing offa anything and I already know how accurate they are at some pretty impressive ranges. Hopefully I'll be able to post some pics tomorrow.

That's taking the round back to it's roots. You know what I found real interesting was, back when I first got into the 45/70, reading about the Sandy Hook tests. You're absolutely right about those big slugs not bouncing.

Vic, I have some hunting success with a 45 caliber BP rifle. I use 2 other 45 rifles. 45-110 Sharps and 1 45-90 High Wall.


45-110,45-90,45-70. Why not go BP for all three? Killed a Newfie moose with the 45-110.

Boy, I bet, with a good, strong case and rifle, along with a sizeable dose of H4198, that 45/110 would offer some impressive ballisics, no doubt on par with the .458 WinMag. I know the 45/90 case is just .1" shy of the WinMag's length.

But, I like your line of thinking. Use them in the loadings they came out in. Black powder and paper-patched bullets.

Screwed outta range trip. Tomorrow looks promising. Vic, the 45-110 is a 2 7/8" case. The 458 Lott is 2.8" The 45-90 is 2.4" the 458WM is 2.6". The 45-100 is a 2.6" case. I HAVE TO load the 45-110 BP because the rifle is an original Sharps. The 45-70 is a Marlin 1895SS.

Jim, do you find you have to go to the same extent in cleaning with stainless that you do with blued? I'm guessing you do, but just wondering.

Cole, I would stick to the regimen regardless of the steel of a rifle. A mind/discipline thing. The 1895SS AIN'T stainless steel. The "SS" means something other.

Being different may just spoil you. 70 grains of 2f Express behind a 400 grain bullet in a Marlin 1895 is the Real Deal. Look for 1250 fps. This will put a serious hurt on about anything going. It is really a perfect combination for bears over bait.

I don't have that mold, but I use the Lyman 457193 which is a 420 grain flatnosed bullet over the same powder charge. I have never shot a bear with it, but it puts a very serious hurt on the wild hog population down here. You're gonna like it.

I have the 193 mold and Tuesday I cast up 105 at 20:1. The 400 gr 643 cycles perfectly and once I get my front sight issue taken care off, it looks like a shooter.

Sorry for the stupid question. I think the "SS" refers to scope and something else. With Marlin having so many of their guns in stainless, it slipped my mind. Not too traditional, but a stainless 1895 would be sweet.

I've got a stainless one, Cole, buy I haven't used it much, still use and prefer my parkerized version, though that's fixing to change.


just did the truck liner spray on for the stock on the stainless one. Waiting for a front tritium sight for it from Brockmans and a quick trip to the gun doctor today. I can't get the magazine tube screw to start for the life of me! The parkerized version went back together easy pleasy, as I took both apart to clean.

also put the cross bolt safety(s) locked off as I never could see the need for one.