Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Hornady 350FP in 45/70

Guys, what length are you loading the 350FP at? I used the book length of 2.545", when loaded and crimped at that length when I put them in the chamber and close the lever they are 2.535", so they are running into the rifling correct?


What do you guys recommend?



Thanks

Did you check the OAL after crimping and before chambering? I ask because sometimes crimping will shorten the OAL slightly.

If not, I'd run 'em at 2.535", or slightly shorter.

Yeah, I can set it at 2.545" with no crimp and load a round and it will push it down to 2.535", you can see the rifling marks on the bullet. I crimped one and it did the same thing. 2.535" places the cannalure right at the top of the case mouth, this won't be a problem?


Thanks

You might could go another .010" if you have room, or trim cases, to get your bullet out of the rifling.

Then there is the mighty Lee Factory Crimp die...."We don't need no stinkin' cannelure"..Set the bullet where you please, and crimp away.

Thanks Vic.

I went out and ran some across the screens today.

H4895 + 350FP
56grs - 1670fps
57grs - 1775fps
58grs - 1863fps
59grs - 1912fps

The 350RN was getting 1922fps with 59grs. With the velocity being nearly identical I'm thinking I have no pressure problems, correct? If the FP was running much higher pressure would the velocity not be much higher?

It looks like your velocity is in line with that powder. I am going to guess that you are shooting a Guide gun, judging by the velocity you are getting versus "book" velocity, which is listed as generated with a 24" barrel.

I would think your question on the pressure is correct, given the velocity, for all intents and purposes, is the same. That load is running 33kcup, and the Marlin (I am assuming again) is capable of 40kcup, but apparently there is some amount of standard deviation in the pressure for it to be held to that level for a max load. Or the case just may be full

Ya wanna wake that rifle up a little, try some H4198. If accuracy holds up, that powder will flat sling a bullet out of a 45-70.

I've got a couple of IMR4895 loads I run, but they are with heavier bullets, and the powder seems on the verge of too slow, burning very dirty, but very accurate, so it stays in the lineup.

Yes, I should have included that, it is an 1895G 18.5" barrel. I almost bought some H4198, but I have much H4895 and this should be plenty, 350 @ 1900fps. 58.5grs showed the best accuracy running right around 1" @100yds. If I can't smoke a deer with this load they are far too tough.


Thanks for the help Vic.

You betcha..

Benchmark also works pretty good for stout loads. I load it for 350 FP and 405 Rem FP. 55 grains will loosen your fillings.

Yes, it will.

60 gr of Varget will get you're attn. too.

I took this buck with a 350g Hornady RN pushed by 58.5 g H4895. He was standing directly facing me, I shot him in the center of the brisket. The hole on his left shoulder is where a piece of the bullet and shoulder bone blew through, I found the jacket of the bullet right by his tenderloins, and the majority of the core exited out the right ham. He dressed out at 200 lbs. I guess this load will work on a whitetail.

That is some great real world experience there. great deer too!


Thanks for the info

Nice deer Miguel.

Thanks guys. He is my second largest one ever. Should be getting a call from the taxidermy man any day now.

Very nice buck! Looks like the Hornady is an excellent bullet from all of the reports I have seen. Scotty

Just set the 350 COL for the chamber of your rifle as long as it feeds. You can also "throat" through the receiver by just pulling the bolt, to gain a bit more length.

"Some" Marlin 45-70 and 450 M's have "short throats". My Browning 450 M can handle 2.65" in the mag and in the chamber and much higher pressures, but my 45-70 Marlin barrel will only handle the 350 Horn at ~2.54" and the 300gr Sierra at 2.70", but I can only feed a 2.65" COL round as I've done some fiddling with the carrier.

I'm going to rechamber the 45-70 bbl to 458 American using a 458 WM reamer to "throat" to handle the Horn 350 at 2.65" and also for a little "freebore". I did the same to the 444M barrel I stuck on the Marlin. It takes an additonal ~2 gr of powder to equal "standard COL" velocities, but I can also step up slightly in the velocity department at the same pressure...splitting hairs more than anything, but interesting to me to see what transpires.

Luck

This is an old thread, but I gotta say that is one friggin pig of a deer! Look at his legs and neck and hind quarters. Holy crap!

I have a crap-ton of 350 grain Hornady RNs purchased in a "blem" sale. My "stout" load with them is 55 grains of H322 for something like 1900-2000 fps (I think, don't really know). They are just crimped in the cannelure. I have shot stouter loads but I have yet to find an animal that won't keel over dead with that load.

Again, congrats on that pig...I mean, deer miguel. That is a real bruiser!