Does anyone here load the hornady 350 gr. interlock flat point in their .45-70? I just loaded a bunch of them over 51 gr. of Reloader 7, and they seem to shoot well in my marlin guide gun. I am hoping to use them this fall on an elk, and on my next trip to Africa for Eland and maybe Lion or Leopard...

If anyone else has any good loads for this bullet, I would love to hear them...

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
www.slatesafaris.com

I have loaded that bullet in my Ruger No. 1 with loads that are probably safe in your lever action using IMR 4198. I had to seat more deeply than the cannelure to get them to chamber owing to the nonexistant throat on the Ruger. You may be interested in the hole this bullet produces. My wetpack tests suggest that it will hold together extremely well even when it pancakes at 1900 fps. It also expands very nicely at 1400 fps and makes a really good "wound". You can check out illustrations of the bullet tracks at: http://ulfhere.freeyellow.com/ballistics/methods.html under the "Large Bore" section. I think this is one of the very best bullets for the .45-70.

Thanks Harald,
I have heard that 4198 is a great powder to use with this bullet. Something like 54.0 gr will get nearly 2200 fps. I did a little accuracy testing today, and recovered the bullets from the damp clay cutbank I was shooting into...they held together very well.

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
www.slatesafaris.com

i am shooting the same bullet in a 45-70 guide gun 58grs of reloader7 i tryed 60grs but found them a little hot.found them very accurate also. you may try 300gr nosler i am shooting them with 60grs of r7 also with good luck. have not checked fps yet will as soon as i have time . please work up to these loads thay are at the top .

I hate to be a traditionalist, but...

the 400 grain speer FN has provided excellent accuracy for me (5/8 inch groups at 100 yards) in my Marlin at 1750 fps. When it hits a deer, it opens up to half dollar size and tears things up.

hay 500grs what load are you using with the 400 speer

Dickens...that sounds way too hot for the guide gun..!! I know that 51 gr. of Reloader 7 is Max with the 400 grain, I can't imagine a 58 gr. load with the 350....but that also goes to show the great strength of the Marlin action. I can't wait to hear your chrono results with those loads..

Joel Slate
Slate & Associates, LLC
The Safari Specialists
www.slatesafaris.com