My load for years consisted of a 405 grain Kodiak Custom Super Premium Bonded bullet, Winchester brass, 54 grains of H322 and WLR primers. I used to use 56 grains of H322 from my old Speer manual, but backed off to 54 grains after reading some stuff by Brian Pierce, thank you Mr. Pierce. The bullet sits on that case full of H322 and with a good crimp from the Lee crimp die, it stays put under recoil when in the rifle's tubular magazine
The velocity out of my fire lapped, DBC coated, "customized" Marlin 45-70 and it's 21" octagon barrel with Ballard rifling is well over 1,900 fps mv. It is absolutely no fun to shoot off of the bench, so most of my shooting with that beast is off hand or off of shooting sticks. I still have over 80 of those heavy jacketed 405 grain Kodiak bullets loaded up. I also have some heavy jacketed 350 grain Kodiak bullets that I am going to load up and they will probably be going well over 2,000 fs mv with H322 and new Starline brass.
Karl from Alaska Bullet Works in Juneau shoots a 45-70 with his 405 grain heavy jacketed bullet. He said many Alaskan guides and other Alaskan's that carry a 45-70 for bear protection prefer the heavy jacketed 405 grain version for up close shots on big bears. But, he said the regular jacket thickness worked fine, but he mainly makes the heavy jacket per customer requests. Should I ever opt for hunting with my Marlin for moose I believe the 350 grain version will be a plenty and think it also is plenty for big bears.
I know many use cast and LBT style bullets in their 45-70's or some other type of non expanding deep penetrating bullet and have good results. But, since I won't be hunting out of North America I will stick with an expanding jacketed bullet. I have heard good things about the discontinued 300 grain Nosler bullet and wish it was and option for hunters.
Barnes makes a 350 grain X bullet for Buffalo Bore for the 45-70, but they have some kind of a "agreement" with them and will not offer that bullet as a component for those of us who load our own. If they did I would grab some as I am a Barnes X fan. I personally feel they are doing a disservice to their many loyal customers by refusing to sell that 350 grain X bullet to them, but I realize they are in business to make money.
Like many in Alaska, I hunt with a scoped bolt rifle, but when not hunting, I prefer the slab sided Marlin 45-70 for hiking, ATV rides, camping, fishing salmon streams, berry picking, etc. The big and heavy .45 caliber bullet is a comfort during those activities.
