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Picked up a new 1895 45/70, scoped it, handloaded some ammo and took it to the range. Accuracy is good with:

350 gr RNSP Hornady
56.5 gr IMR 3031
CCI 200's
Win brass

This is the starting powder charge for lever action rifles according to Hodgdon, and though I haven't sent any over a chronograph, Hodgdon claims about 2,000 fps.

Any experience or reservations on using the 350 gr RNSP Hornady on game such as black bear or elk?

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Thanks, Guy

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I doubt you'll have any problems with the 350 grain hornady in that 45/70 a couple guys Ive hunted with in the past have used that bullet in a 45/70 with good results BUT I think that listed powder charge is a bit too stiff or high pressure for best results, I think your looking at data for the ruger #1 and similar stronger actions,
most of the guys I've hunted with max out the imr 3031 powder charge at about 52 grains in a marlin

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Originally Posted by 340mag
I doubt you'll have any problems with the 350 grain hornady in that 45/70 a couple guys Ive hunted with in the past have used that bullet in a 45/70 with good results BUT I think that listed powder charge is a bit too stiff or high pressure for best results, I think your looking at data for the ruger #1 and similar stronger actions,
most of the guys I've hunted with max out the imr 3031 powder charge at about 52 grains in a marlin


Thanks. Nope - that's the starting load for lever action rifles with the 350 gr bullet according to Hodgdon. Checked it a few times, just to be sure, including moments after reading your cautionary note.

I need to get a chronograph out and see what it's really doing, but Hodgdon predicts about 2,000 fps for the combo.

Am just returning to the 45/70 after a ten year layoff. It's fun to mess around with a big bore Marlin again. I hadn't used this particular bullet in the past, but thought I remembered reading/hearing good things about it.

Regards, Guy

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please let us know how it works out! I know Ive loaded a few hundred 45/70 cartridges with 50 grains of IMR 3031 over a 215 fed primer ,
and that hornady 350 grain bullet,for those guys and never heard a single complaint
about accuracy,or lethality, personally I prefer the 405 remington bullet, for my personal use.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1...rnment-458-diameter-405-grain-soft-point

yes hard to find as discontinued (if you can,t find those the SPEER 400 grain works)

https://www.midsouthshooterssupply....-400-grain-flat-nose-soft-point-50-count

Last edited by 340mag; 06/19/19.
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Ya, I used to hunt with that 405 gr Remington bullet. That was a pretty decent 45/70 bullet I thought!

Hopefully I'll get on a bear with this rifle. Season is coming up in about six weeks! smile

Guy

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You may get great results using a 405-420gr GC cast sized .459 at 1500-1600fps for bear.

Lehigh Defense 380gr WFN solid .458 at 1600-1700fps.

Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetrator 305gr solid at .458 1800fps.


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Originally Posted by 340mag
I doubt you'll have any problems with the 350 grain hornady in that 45/70 a couple guys Ive hunted with in the past have used that bullet in a 45/70 with good results BUT I think that listed powder charge is a bit too stiff or high pressure for best results, I think your looking at data for the ruger #1 and similar stronger actions,
most of the guys I've hunted with max out the imr 3031 powder charge at about 52 grains in a marlin


Interesting! We were using different sources, with rather conflicting load guidance!

Hodgdon - normally my first source of info - shows a range from 56.5 - 60.5 IMR 3031, for the 350 Hornady RNSP, for lever action rifles

Hornady - on the other hand - shows a range from 45.2 - 56.1 IMR 3031, same bullet, for the 1895 Marlin...

Well I'll be darned. So, I'm a bit over Hornady's max, and right at Hodgdon's starting load for lever action rifles!

Interesting. Guy

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Originally Posted by SheriffJoe


You may get great results using a 405-420gr GC cast sized .459 at 1500-1600fps for bear.

Lehigh Defense 380gr WFN solid .458 at 1600-1700fps.

Lehigh Defense Extreme Penetrator 305gr solid at .458 1800fps.


Yes - in the past I have loaded cast 425 gr "Piledriver Jr" bullets from Beartooth - I figured they would be a terrific bullet for bear, elk, moose. And loaded less expensive 405 gr cast bullets for plinking, target practice, at more modest velocity. I think there's a lot to be said for a big heavy hardcast bullet with a flat meplat…

Never tried the Lehigh bullets. Perhaps someday I shall!

The 45/70 is entertaining for sure. I just picked up a package of brand new Winchester cases, and another box of the 350 gr RNSP Hornady bullets. I'm going to concentrate on that load for now. Bear season is only six weeks away!

Then I'll lay in some supplies for a more mild "plinking" load. smile

It's fun to have a big bore Marlin again. I've missed it!

Regards, Guy

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I am curious,is no one worried about using RN bullets in a lever action? there are FP 350 Hornadys available,would that not be a safer choice?

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while it sure may seem like a valid concern, I've never heard of that being an issue and,
I've read a few places hornady did testing and found that was not an issue

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When I was playing with the 45-70, I ran the Hornady 350RN a LOT, and liked the 3031 load of 56 grains. This was in a Marlin 1895. Another thing I don't see mentioned when discussing this bullet, is that it was originally produced as a light bullet for the 458 Win Mag. It's a good bullet, and should stand up to anything you might ask of it in the 45-70.

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Originally Posted by byron
When I was playing with the 45-70, I ran the Hornady 350RN a LOT, and liked the 3031 load of 56 grains. This was in a Marlin 1895. Another thing I don't see mentioned when discussing this bullet, is that it was originally produced as a light bullet for the 458 Win Mag. It's a good bullet, and should stand up to anything you might ask of it in the 45-70.


I recall reading that long ago. Thanks!

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Originally Posted by bill73
I am curious,is no one worried about using RN bullets in a lever action? there are FP 350 Hornadys available,would that not be a safer choice?


It's listed in Hornady's manual as appropriate for the Marlin 1895, and there are other lever action loads utilizing round-nose bullets, so no, I'm not worried.

Regards, Guy

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Congrats on getting another 1895 Guy! I was wondering how long it would take you to come back around to the original "Gov'T" round! grin

I have quite a few boxes of those Hornady 350's myself and need to get some ammo loaded up for mine. Been awhile since I have limbered it up!


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I've loaded the 350's for my 1895 GBL; they did ok but not close to the accuracy of the factory LeverEvolution ammo. At some point, I plan to load the 325 grain bullets close to factory specs to see if I can get the same accuracy.

The specs cited in the posts above are a pretty stout load and were not a lot of fun for me to shoot. The factory ammo is more user friendly.

I couldn't get a photo to post here but did post a photo in the Image Gallery of the four shot group I fired before last hunting season. I couldn't see any reason to try to improve upon that.

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Quote

"The specs cited in the posts above are a pretty stout load and were not a lot of fun for me to shoot."


yeah, while I have seen 55 grains of IMR 3031 listed for marlins with a 350 grain bullet , almost everyone,
I hand load for and hunt with found 50 grains as the most accurate and resulted in noticeably less,
but still very obviously impressive recoil, and many of the older manuals list 50 grains as near max
52 grains and up was not nearly as accurate in several marlins, and the 350 hornady loaded over 50 grains has killed several elk in our group

btw I found 50 grains of IMR 3031 and a 215 fed primer under a 405 grain bullet extremely accurate in my BLR 450 marlin

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Shot several elk with the hornady 350 rn out of my 1895 marlin, 1850 FPS, only recovered one bullet and that one went length ways ended just under skin

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Contact member Coyote_Hunter as he has a great deal of experience shooting that bullet from an 1895.

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An alternate bullet in lighter weight and a good performer is the Speer 300 grain UniCor/Plinker. It's a tough bullet that I've used at MVs up to 2200 fps without and signs of getting frangible.

I found a sweet spot at 2015 fps, 59 grains H322, Starline case, and CCI 200 primers. SD is a little more than I like at 37 fps, but I keep my shots well under 600 yards so the vertical dispersion isn't too noticeable. (grin)

But, my favorite for the .45-70 is the Piledriver jr/H322 going 1679 fps MV.

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I found the Hornady 350 FP a bit more accurate in my experience. I've used a number of different powders -- 3031, 4198, RL7, Benchmark, 4895, AA5744. Found a real deep penetrating load with 405 gr cast water quenched bullets and a velocity of circum 1300 to 1350. Bestcwishes wìth your loads.


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