Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers DRC .45-90 Marlin Pics

I received my .45-90 Marlin back from Dave Clay yesterday. This is the first one he has done. I can't wait to shoot this cannon. Here are some pics.

Looks like quite the thumper.

JR, do let us know how this lever gun works out ok! I am interested in the performance and how accurate it is at the range. Thanks for the pictures.

JR,

Very nice. Did David install the lever also?

No, I installed that. Its a Wild West guns, so I hope he wasn't offended that it wasn't a DRC.

I wondered as it didn't look like his lever.

I want One

sweet setup, lookin forward to the range report

Went out and crony'd some .45-90 loads at Cresap rifle club in Frederick, MD on Saturday. I worked up from 2,664 ft-lbs up to 4,116 ft-lbs.

The powder I was using was BL-C(2) as recommended by QL. The powder ended up being a good deal slower than predicted, so the maximum pressure I reach I would guess was around 40k. That is just a guess, I haven't updated the QL model with the actual measurements yet.

For most shots I used the sled, but I shot a couple off hand to get a feel for the recoil. I would compare it to a buffalo bore .45-70 ammo.

Every round cycled perfectly through the action. The gun/rounds were extremely accurate too. I was shooting on the 50 yard range because the purpose of this trip was mainly for chronying rounds, but I was tearing the black out of the bullseye little by little every shot

Last weekend I tried Win 748. Same results, the powder was slower than predicted by QL (I think Win 748 and BL-C(2) are closely related if not the same powder with different names).

I plan to adjust the powder burn rate in QL to match the measured velocity, which my guess is will be below 40 kpsi. The heaviest load was filled to 105% of available case capacity, so time to move on to the next powder. Next, I think I am going to try H322. I am working my way up from slower powders to faster powders so I end up with the lowest pressure load that meets my performance goal.

I haven't mentioned this yet, but the first set of loads I made to scope the rifle in used RL-10X. I cooked up some loads with QL that had the case capacity filled to a little over 100%, but when I actually loaded the loads I could hear powder shaking around inside when I shook the case. This means that either the grain size or void volume assumed by QL was off.

When I took the rounds out to the range, they were slower than predicted. Normally I would adjust the burn rate in QL to match the batch of powder I have, then use the adjusted numbers to predict the pressure I was at. From there I adjust to get back up or down to my pressure goal with that particular batch. That cannot be done with this batch of RL-10 though, because both the geometry and burn rate are are variable

-JR

Mister Maley, I have two questions. How much did David Clay charge for the rechamber? Did the two of you discuss load pressure limits relating to the Marlin action?

I want to let dave determine a price. I think i got mine for a steal. Dave mentioned pressures higher then what i am used to hearing are safe in marlin actions. I am going to stick with 43,500 as the upper limit.

On that note. I just recenty got a copy of MATLAB software and am now thinking of installing a strain gauge hidden under the forearm to more acurrately determine the actual pressures im at. I will need an ad-da card to pick up the measurements. I want to use my laptop, so i may try and use the microphone jack to pick up the signal. I will need an amplifier for the gauge, and am thinking about using a small op amp with variable power.

I can calibrate the gauge just by hanging a know weight from the end of the barrel and compare to the calculated strain it should create at the gauge. I just want try this to see how accurate ql is, and because i get bored easy.

-JR

What kind of bullet and what kind of speed are you getting?

Right now i am using a speer 300 gr and its making the trip at 2450-2500 fps at max loads. I am looking forward to hornady's seemingly magical leverlution powder coming out in spring. I have a feeling it will be the perfect powder to begin developing 405 grain loads.

that would be good for an african safari i bet. thats like .375 H&H level

I certainly am impressed with what you have in a lever gun! I am going to try to do the same with an extra rifle I have in the vault. I need some more information though, I'll PM you etc. later down the road.

I made a video of it last night, the quality is terrible because I was recording it with my cell phone. Also the ejection in the video was tough just because I was using one hand. Holding it like you would shooting it ejects perfectly. Here is the video:

http://www.youtube.com/user/13maley?feature=mhum#p/u/1/I_U_sqmFSNc

I hope to follow that up with a range video, hopefully with a camera man.

Randy I am still wanting to do something with my extra 1895 45/70 Marlin, that 45/90 is really a nice project you betcha.

I have a Ruger #1 in 45-90 and use the 405 with "stout" loads of 3031. Cloverleafs at 50 yards. For load data I use the 450 Alaskan. I was approaching 458 loads, but shooting it off of the bench was no fun so I backed off a couple of grains. I have just purchased a 1895 GBL and was already kind of wondering about the conversion. The 90 case is quite a bit longer

Elkmen,45/70 case=2.1",45/90 case=2.4". If you want to use cast,look at Lyman loading manual. Loads given for 500 grain cast that run from mellow to manaical. Using a 20:1 bullet and AA5744 you only want to go to around 1400 and there ain't nuttin' it's gonna bounce off of.