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.

very nice!love too see the large lever cannons still used.wow nice piece.

Here's a video from the range earlier:

I have a question, was the ejector modified to allow you to eject a loaded 45-90 round?

yes

Any of you ready to sell a 45-70 cowboy. I am interested and cannot find one out there anywhere. [email protected]

They may not have set up for their production yet in the Carolina plant. I have a feeling the unique late model Marlins (such as the Cowboy model) that were produced in North Haven CT will become collector items one day.

I finally got a hold of discontinued scope mount that allows me to scoot up the scope to avoid contracting scope eyebrow.

JR,
Welcome to the lever action .45-90 club. With the right bullets, it is definitely good for anything in Africa or elsewhere. A couple of pix of game taken by a friend using mine in Africa:



It is not a Marlin, but the critters do not care where the bullet originates!

Call David Clay, he did it for me. You can call him at 7836099 or 8210247, both with Ft. Worth TX area code that begins with 8. Prices are 500-700 depending on what is involved.