What case is this 35 Greevy Express based on? Looks like a 30-30 or 30-40 case. The link didn't provide any measurements unless you are a member.

It's a necked down .45-70. As for dimensions: 1.70" to the shoulder, 1.83" to the neck, neck length of only 0.27" (a bit shorter than I'd like), and shoulder diameter of 0.48" (almost no change from the parent case). Case capacity should be about 72 gn.

Case forming should be easier than with the .33 WCF since the body isn't squeezed down. Greevy recalled forming all his brass in a single pass of his resizing die. He also remembered the dies being made by RCBS, but I haven't gotten through to RCBS to verify this.

Clymer says they can still make up a set of reamers. The cartridge was designed for the Marlin lever gun leaving a rather short COL of 2.55". A COL of 2.9" would be better for the 250 gn bullets in the single shot I have in mind.

Greevy said his Marlin and the dies are for sale.

Thanks for the info.......I'd never heard of that one.

Someone posted awhile back, don't remember who, that wildcats on the 45-70 case could be made cheaply by useing a reamer for the standard H&H mag case. Maybe you could use a 350Rem mag reamer, run it in short and cut the rim seperatly? Would it be possible to cut down 350 Rem mag dies to work for loading dies at a much reduced price?
It may not be the 35 Greevy Express, but it might be close in performance.
???

Interesting idea, Lar45. I noted the similarity to the .350 and figured I could use the pressure tested starting loads from Hodgdon as safe loads.

I got through to RCBS. They did the dies, and new ones would be $230 -- if they can find their reamer in the tool room. I didn't ask the cost if they couldn't find it...

I just ran a 45-70 case up into a 350Rem mag size die. It ran through in one pass without any problems. The neck came out around .24" long. The case capacity is 75 gns H2O. Quickload shows 350rem at 72gns. Lee 350 dies are $20 at Midway. I wonder how hard with would be to convert a marlin 336 to feed this round?

Lar, you probably could make it work, but if you're using a 45-70 case, wouldn't you rather blow it out straight and make it a .475 X 45-70 instead?

If you feed your 336 carefully, you can turn a lowly 35 Remington into something others would never recognize - a 290gr @ 2100fps from a .35 Remington?

Marlin 336 & 35 Remington Performance

Or how 'bout a Winchester 94BB .375/356 ULTRA IMPROVED?

THE 375/356 ULTRA IMPROVED

If Marlin ever gets around to delivering on their promised 480R/475Ls, it won't be very long before someone screws that barrel onto a Model 95 in 45-70 and makes it into a 475GNR. ( Scroll Down To 475GNR Cartridge )

Lever Actions are a lotta' fun and offer a ton of possibilities.

GOOD LUCK!

Clymer's website lists the base measurement of the 45/70
reamer at .5084,the .350 Rem. Mag at .514.Unfired 45/70 cases,I have measured,mike .500-.501.If when using the .350 Rem.Mag. reamer,you reamed the chamber to .508,the case would only be 1.465 long using the 45/70 case.

Full length chambers measuring .507-.508 on the base can be cut with the following reamers; .257 STW,7MM STW,.30-8mm Rem.Mag.,8mm Rem.Mag.,.375 JRS,and the .416 Rem.Mag.

Any chambering for a bottle necked 45/70 case can use the
.376 Steyr case {rimless).The 376 Steyr case will fit the
bolt head and extractor of a Marln 30/30.

I made a dummy cartridge by turning the belt from a 7 mm Rem.Mag and turning the rim to .500,settng the shoulder back
to 1.548 and leaving the remainder of the case to simulate the neck and bullet.The shoulder was 25 degrees.

The dummy would not load through the gate,I removed the magazine tube,loaded it and reinstalled the tube.It functioned ok through the tube and lifter but would not eject through the port.The rifle was a Glenfield model 30.

The 336 would need the ejection port opened up and the loading gate opened up.The magazine tube will not accept the
45/70 case.

WC

Is the 336 action basically the same size as the one used on the 45-70's(1895?)
Could a larger magazine tube be switched out and the loading and ejection ports opened up? Sounds like lots more work, but the 336's can be had for cheap compared to the 45-70.
Just thoughts, I have too many projects right now, but it would be fun.

Lar45,

I have read different places that the Marlin 1895 made since 1972 is the 336 machined differently.I do not have a Model 1895 availible to strip and measure.

It is interesting that the SAAMI MAX pressures are much higher on the recent chamberings;.450 Marlin 43,500,.480 Ruger 48,000.

Marlin uses a recessed bolt head so no rim cut is made in the barrel.

If you ground .095 from the .350 Rem.Mag. die,turned the belt from the brass and rebated the rim to .500,you could use the .350 Rem. Mag. reamer.The cartridge case would be about 2.040 long,base to shoulder 1.550.Case capacity should be close to a .35 Whelen.

Hodgdon data .35 Whelen 57grs.Varget,200gr.RN bullet 2653fps,42,300.

Using a 30/30 Model 336 action with the case mentioned above
should only require modifing the ejection port,loading gate,and the cartridge guide extension above the chamber.

WC