Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Win modern 1886 405 grain loads?

Midway has 8lbs for $217.00 and Free shipping.

5 pounds.

8 lbs says my invoice

A bit off topic, but hopefully acceptable minor thread drift within the limits of requested information.

Just me, you understand, but if I were mainly just plinking rocks, I would go to 350ish cast with mid 30s of 3031, or mid 20s of 5744 or 4759.

Of course I have a lifetimes supply of three of those components so it may influence my decision somewhat.

One simple load of 26 grains of AA5744 will completely penetrate any or all of the largest mammals in North america, whether it is shot in an1886 or a Sharps...

Great pictures, nice examples.

Shrapnel,

Are you using cast bullets in your 45-70?

Absolutely. A Jacketed bullet has no advantage over the hard cast bullet, it will not mushroom much at 45-70 velocities past 80 yards or so. Rarely do you ever stop a 45-70 in an animal, when you do they look like this...

I feel that cast bullets work best in the 45-70 too.

Nice pictures, rifles and game!

Fwiw...

I had a Marlin 1895 45-70 with 22" barrel and Ballard rifling. Loaded Rem 405 grain jsp bullets up to Elmer's load of 53 grains 3031 (IMR) that he often claimed were in the 1800+ fps area. Felt a little extraction issue at 53 grains.

Settled at 50 grains IMR 3031. Excellent accuracy (~1.25 moa). Guessing about 1650-1700 fps (???) and easy extraction. Don't have a chrongraph.

51.5 grain IMR 3031 + 405 grain would be my call for the accurate "near max" load for that rifle with easy extraction.

Tell us about that beautiful rifle .