Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles need a .45-70 load

the rifle is a Marlin 1895XLR and the bullet is a 405 grain soft point. None of my manuals list this bullet and I was hoping to be able to find a load with H4198 if possible. any help is appreciated. thanks.

The Hodgdon web site will get you started, 46gr-50.5gr max in lever guns. Just go to load data... Hodgdon

Try the marlinowners.com forums. They will have a wealth of load information for you.

I already checked thier site but the biggest bullet they listed for it was 400 grains. I can't imagine there would be much difference but you never know.

Hodgdon's #26 says 41-44gr of H4198.

I just finished re-reading Paul Matthews book "40 Years With The .45-70 Revised" and his favorite load for the 400-405 jacketed bullets was 53gr of IMR3031. It seems to have worked very well for him in a number of .45-70 rifles.

Best wishes in your search!

Ed

in a bore/case size of the 45/70, the extra 5 gr of bullet weight wont make much difference at those pressures. or at least, i havent been able to tell any difference in my Ruger #1, or a few TC's.

H4198 has been a favorite of mine in the 45/70, it and Re-7 are about my favorite powders with mid-power loads in my TC's....44.0gr of H4198 with about any brand of 300's shoots decently in my TC carbine and pistol.

42grs RL7 + 405's - snappier than factory loads, very accurate


28.0grs IMR-sr4759 +405's - fairly slow, super accurate

dont over look h-4895

I run benchmark and hornady 350's from my guide gun. It clocks 2100, meters great, shoots great and I always have it on hand because I run it in my 223's, 22-250, and others.

Bb

Yep, its called AR2206H here. Pretty much stuff as much in the case as will fit and you are good to go with the Marlin and 400-405g bullets. Or load it lighter if you want a soft load.

A great powder for the 45-70 unless you must have top speeds.

I use 4198, RL7, some AA5744 with cast as well as Blue dot with cast. 4198 works good. So does Benchmark.

53.0 of 3031 is also the classic Elmer Keith 45-70 load. I tried it in a crescent butt '86 and it wasn't great fun. I backed it down to 50 grains even and got the dual reward of "tolerable" recoil and tighter groups.

A caveat: even at 50 grains, it's up in Level 3 territory per the Lyman book.

I used Kieth's load of 53 gr. of 3031 with the 405 gr bullet for 30 years in my 1895, 45-70 & it bugholed at 100 yd.

Unfortunately, in a fit of weakness, I sold it.

Great gun, great caliber.

MM

How did your brass hold up? My 1895 uglies it up pretty fast, don't think the chamber is as tight as it could be.

No problems with the brass.........minimal sizing needed with my chamber. Mostly WW brass.

MM

Ah so, that could be it. I'm using R-P brass, seems a lot softer than Winchester. Thanks.

My Marlin seems to think it's a bolt action with either 300gr HP's or 350 FP's

aaaaaaaah...

those hornady 350's are one of my favorites for the 45/70 in my #1-s; real hammers on stuff.

I'm sure you will be able to load them warmer in a #1