I just ordered a Marlin 1895CB chambered in 45/70 from the local gun shop. I have plenty of books to show me loads, but was wondering if anyone else had this gun and what they found was the most accurate in it.

Wes

Elmer Keith's classic load:
53 grains of IMR 3031 with 400 grain bullets gives +1800fps, is very accurate and about as fast as you ought to go in the Marlin 1895 45/70.

In an adventurous episode, I used 52 grains of RL-7 to get 400 grainers over 2000fps, and every screw in the rifle loosened. Never more.

Lesser quantities of RL-7 or Elmers load of IMR3031 are good.

For 300 grainers, I would use RL-7 50 grains and get over 2000 fps with the light bullet.

The 45/70 is better than the 450 Marlin for the handloader.

The above would be my hunting loads. The light plinkers and Cowboy Action Shooting loads I have no experience with.

I'm running 54grains of Reloader7 behind a 300grain Hornady FNHP.
this is "MAX" as per Hornady.

AllanD

Can't get the edit to work...

with a 2.5X scope I can keep that load to 4" at 200yds.

4" may not sound great to some, but that's good enough
to guarantee a hit on a deer sized target out to 250yds or so.

AllanD

In an adventurous episode, I used 52 grains of RL-7 to get 400 grainers over 2000fps, and every screw in the rifle loosened. Never more.


I worked up a load for this gun/caliber using 300 gr Barnes bullets at max--ended up having to go to the dentist to have my bridge recemented. How do you put that charge on the customer's bill?

I too have settled on 53 grains of IMR3031 behind the 400 grain Speer flat point in my 1974 vintage 1895. Good bop for the pop.

I also load the same bullet behind 50 grains of the same powder for a little less power and a little more comfort.

I like 46 gr of AR2207 behind the 405 rem or 405 woodleigh.

I've pretty much settled on a 420gr cast projectile, infront of 53gr AR2208 (Varget) for 1700fps. Lovely load, accurate and hits hard.
Cheers...
Con

I use Reloader 7 @ 52.0 with 350 grain Hard Cast FNGC in my marlin with Fed 210M primers in Fed Prem cases.

Killed alot of bear and a few moose with this load excellent

and very accurate a 2000FPS load +P.

54gr of H322 with Rem 405gr JSP or Kodiak 405gr in starline brass. Very accurate load, haven't chronographed it yet but should be in the 1800fps range.

I have two loads that I've worked up for my 1895.

53.0 grains of H322 in a Starline case with an Oregon Trail 405 grain cast. Chronographed at 1980 out of the 26" barrel with plenty of recoil but perfect for hunting anything you want!!!!!!!! I tried 54.0 grains but it was too much for my gun.

52.5 grains of Varget in a Starline case with a 350 grain cast slug for around 1600-1700 through the chronograph, but I can't remember what the actual reading was right now. This is a pleasant load that you can shoot all day and would still work out for hunting.

This gun is fun to shoot. One of my sons and I went out shooting last summer in the evening and we were shooting 500-700 yards with the 350 grain load and had a blast. When the light is right you can see the bullet trail and it's fun to listen to that big slug smack into the rocks as it sounds angry. Of course on the way home from our shooting, at sunset in June, we spooked two elk on the road that ran off about 75-80 yards and turned around to look!!!!

IMR 3031 51.9 gr., rem 405, starline and WLP, an honest 1800 in my 1895SS and pressures are nowhere near the 40000 numbers other powders need (e.g., H4198, H322). I am well aware that some think the 1895SS is safe for 40000, but with IMR3031 there is no need for me to test that theory (which Marlin has never confirmed).

that is a painful load.

quote:

Originally posted by TEANCUM:
53.0 grains of H322 in a Starline case with an Oregon Trail 405 grain cast. Chronographed at 1980 out of the 26" barrel with plenty of recoil but perfect for hunting anything you want!!!!!!!! I tried 54.0 grains but it was too much for my gun.

are those gas checked? any leading at all? do you have micro-groove or Ballard rifling?

thanks

delloro

That first load is not gas checked and accurancy seems to be very good for the open sights. I have the 1895 CB which only comes in Ballard rifing I think and there is a very slight leading that seems to be getting smaller and smaller as the gun is still somewhat new. I need to shoot some more jacketed slugs in it to settle things down. I hope that helps you and good luck.