Daryl

Thanks,

Daryl

quote:

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Originally posted by Daryl D:
I am looking for a practice or plinking load for my 45-70 Marlin using 410 grain bullets. My manuals don't show anything that heavy.
Thanks,

Daryl

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I have been shooting 405 GR. LEAD bullet
with 13.5 GR. UNIQUE. a small tuft of cotton to hold the powder against the primer and regular WW Rifle primer. Good accuracy. Harry

This is not exactly a plinking load, but I use it at the range 'cuz its a lot of fun.

47gr RL 7, CCI 200 primer, 400 gr Speer = 1850fps from my Marlin 1895SS (chronied velocity - just got one a few weeks ago). According to another poster here, that load should get 1950 fps with a magnum primer.

Gives you a pretty good jolt but its a real blast for blowing up milk jugs etc. I have retrieved a few of the 400gr Speers (which are pretty cheap) from some stumps I shot, and I am pretty impressed. They held together really well in the dry wood, and probably tripled in frontal area.

I pack mine mainly for griz protection during the non-hunting months. At the range I practice by rapid firing on a line of water-filled milk jugs. I start at 25 yards and have one every 5 yards closer. 5 shots at 5 jugs, as fast as you can recover from the recoil and work the lever. Its a hoot.

So, tell us, what was the "mishap"?

Best regards,

Canuck

www.realguns.com

BTW my favourite powder for the 45/70 is Vit N133 - work up from 48 gr .
I found SR4759 works well for reduced loads and often use it for plinking .Work up from 30 gr.
When using Lead GC bullets ( 350 gr ) I also load with 2400 .
Most people prefer Rel 7 .....see what works for you .

Ben

The mild loads I shoot would be no problem in the marlin, at least the 405 grainers. Of course, you realize the cartridge length limitation of the Marlin? Just checking.

OK, lawyer stuff aside. Here are the loads, lightest to heaviest, sticking with 405 grainers.

1. 58.0 gr of Win 860
WW brass
Win Lg. rifle Mag primer
405 gr hard cast lead
Velocity 1250 out of a 26" bbl. (measured)

Win 860 is a very slow powder, it allows me to use a compressed powder charge and a heavy crimp to keep bullets from shifting in cases during recoil. Pressures are still quite mild with this load as you simply can't get enough powder in the case to get into trouble.

2. This one is straight out of Lyman's and it works well for me.

39.0 gr of IMR 3031
WW brass
Rem 9 1/2 rifle primer
405 rem jacketed bullet
Velocity 1405 fps 26" bbl (measured)

I have also used hard cast with same load. No need for mag primer with 3031.

3. 50.0 gr IMR 3031
WW brass
Rem 9 1/2 primer
405 hard cast
Velocity 1750 fps 26" bbl (measured)

4. 58.0 gr IMR 3031
WW brass
Rem 9 1/2 primer *
405 hard cast
Velocity 2100 fps 26" bbl (measured)

* I originally used a win mag primer with this load, but it brought the pressure on too quickly. The standard primer ignites the load just fine. This load is a thumper! I usually get stares at the range when I start touching these off.

5. This load won't work in the marlin, cause of the throat and cartridge length issues, but in case you get another rifle...

54.0 grs IMR 3031
WW brass
Rem 9 1/2 primer
440 gr LBT Cast Perf. bullet w/gas check
Velocity 2025 fps from 26" bbl

This one is a real thumper in my 1886. I wish it had a shotgun stock instead of the crescent steel butt. I get open mouth gaping stares when I fire these babies! They're loud, too.

I have a single shot and a siamese mauser, also, but I use really heavy bullets in those, unfortunately the marlin won't feed 'em, so I didn't list them.

Canuck,
I hardly ever turn down a chance to tell a story. I will try to make it short.
The "mishap" occurred while I was guiding a moose hunter last fall. I had called in a bull moose on a small lake we were sitting on. We could hear him grunting and coming towards us but we had not seen him yet. I thought for sure the bull would hit the shore line and follow it around right to us. The bull stayed in the timber instead and circled us wide to get the scent. We had no choice but to try to cut him off before he caught our scent. So we had to leave our vantage point and go into the thick timber and bush. The pressure was on because we did not know if the bull was a shooter or not and if we were going to get a chance to see
him, it was going to be close. 30 yards at best. I explained this to my hunter and I told him to get ready but NOT to shoot until I say so and If I say SHOOT, just shoot and don't ask any questions or hesitate. Cause if he is a real good bull we would not have much time for a shot. Well, after several tense minutes(the bull was absolutely quite now)he appeared only 30 yards away. The bull was only about 48-50" wide. Too small. Then all of a sudden, BANG!. The guy shoots anyway. The bull whirls and runs and I swing my 45-70 on him and I shoot....? The hammer falls on the safety and the bull disappears. Then I say "FUCK!"
It turned out to be fortunate that this happened because when I went over to where the bull was standing and then trailed him for about a half mile or so, I realized the guy had missed this bull all together. Not 1 hair or drop of blood. I was already wondering how I was going to explain to the Outfitter why my hunter shot such a small moose. Due to the hunter being a lousy shot and me being unfamiliar with the Marlin the bull escaped unscathed. I was relieved that my (other)safety was on but at the same time realized that I was damn lucky that it was not a bear problem. I have been using Mod.70's for so many years and am used to flicking the 3 pos. safety of with my thumb.
That is why I need the practice rounds. If I am going to use the Marlin, I need to be more familiar and natural with it. It could save me a lot of trouble.
The hunter, by the way, after 13-14 shots, plus my final 2, killed a nice 64 1/2" bull.

P.S.
Thanks for the idea on the 5 jugs for practice,

Daryl

Daryl

Robin