Hey Jackfish! (or anyone else in the know)

Any words of wisdom on Varget loads in 45-70 using 405gr SPs safe for use in a Marlin 1895? I've heard that you can get good velocity without a lot of pressure. I've got a good IMR3031 load, but I'm trying to trim down the number of powders I stock and Varget works very well in a few other cartridges I load for.

I use rel7 (45/70 and 458win, mike and richard use benchmark in 450 and 450 alaskan.

it'll sure work... just might not be the BEST 45/70 powder..

jeffe

My rifle likes 50-52 gr Varget under a speer 400 gr flat point bullet. Velocity is good and accuracy very nice. I stuck with varget because it works well in a couple other cartridges for me too. maxman

All I can suggest is this load, adapted from Hodgdon #27:
Marlin 1895 45-70 Gov't
405 grain Remington JSP seated to 2.54" and crimped with a Lee Factory Crimp die
Winchester brass, 2.1" trim
CCI 200 primers
47.5 grains VARGET START
55.0 grains compressed VARGET MAXIMUM
1805 fps from a 22" barrel and under 28,000 CUP

I regularly use 2 loads:
400gr Rem, 57gr AR2208 (Varget): 1770fps
420gr FPGC, 55gr AR2208 (Varget): 1785fps.
Both loads use a Winchester case and WLR primer and are crimped into place.
Cheers...
Con

Con, do you use a drop tube to get all that powder into the case?

Jackfish,
No, don't need one. Load is compressed but have had no troubles to date.
Cheers...
Con