Anyone tried the new Hornady ammo as yet?
Comments would be appreciated.

I would like to. I would love some feedback on them. I hope they produce just the bullets for us reloaders. Buy some and give us a range report please

My hunting bud's oldest son just purchased a 45-70 guide gun and some hornady LR ammo. He promptly informed me that he wanted me to mount a scope he bought on this rifle and sight it in. I'll probably do that, chrono the loads and shoot some groups in the next week or so. if I get the chance to do so, I'll post my observations then if its not old hat
GWB

I would appreciate hearing what you find out. I am also told that Marlin's original follower does not work well with the Hornady ammo, but that they will send one out designed just for that bullet. I am going to call them tomorrow.

quote:

Originally posted by Geedubya:
My hunting bud's oldest son just purchased a 45-70 guide gun and some hornady LR ammo. He promptly informed me that he wanted me to mount a scope he bought on this rifle and sight it in. I'll probably do that, chrono the loads and shoot some groups in the next week or so. if I get the chance to do so, I'll post my observations then if its not old hat
GWB

BITW,

I have one of the early model 1895-G guide guns, ported barrell, blue steel and wood in 45-70. I shoot the 400 grain speer flat point bullet, and have absolutely no trouble. I'll try some of the Hornady LR's in mine also to see whether they feed and report back. It will probably be a week or so.
GWB

As far as bullets for reloading, found this on Hornady's site in the FAQS.

"Q: When will you have LEVERevolution bullets available for sale to reloaders?

A: The demand for our LEVERevolution ammunition is so high, that every single Evolution bullet we manufacture is sent to the ammunition plant to get loaded as ammunition. We don't anticipate availability of component bullets for quite some time."

I saw that too. They need to hurry up, they don't have to make alot of them...just enough for me I would love to try some in my 30-30 and my 45-70!

I called Marlin this morning and they sell the new follower for $10.00. And it will work on all ammo in addition to the Hornady.

Been shooting the LE in my guide gun. Have had zero problems with the follower. I am taking the gun and ammo on a black bear hunt in Idaho, next week. I'll report back how it goes. BTW the ammo is incredibly accurate in my gun.

Mad Dog

I have been selling alot of the 30-30 LE ammo and have been getting good reports back as far as accuracy goes. The 45-70 I shoot in my #1 with excellent results. My gunsmith shoots it in his guide gun, and swears it shoots into an inch at 100 yards. I think it would be worth your trying a box.

Used the 45-70 LE last week on a bear in Idaho. Unfortunately, no bullet recovery. 3 shots at 40 feet[I didn't want her to get away ]. She went 8 ft. and died. The accuracy in my guide gun is very good. All bullets were a pass through. Exit wounds left a fist sized hole.

Mad Dog

I've used it in 30-30...very accurate. kicks more than normal winchester or remington ammo too. I plan on using it next month for black bear.

Neat concept, Ive always like the classic lever guns and spitzers give a real tangible advantage over a fn or rn design.

My question is why wouldnt ANY polymer tipped bullet work just as well? I mean the "leveroloution" slugs do eventually come to a point do they not?

My curiosity with the LE ammo got me to buy a box. Out of my Guide Gun (18.5") I got 1860 fps avg with a SD or 12.76. Accuracy was 1-3/4" at fifty yards with open sights and I shot a 3-3/4" group at 100 yards though three were together at 3/4".

For comparision my guide gun's favorite 405g cast bullet load over IMR 4198 will print 1" at 50 and just over 2" at 100 yards.

There is less arch in the trajectory printing 2" higher than my 405g cast bullet 100 yard zero. I'm sure they would work well beyond the ranges I would take a shot on game.

In KN's Ruger (20"), he got more than 100 fps faster and they printed inside of one inch at fifty yards.

A note to reloaders. The LE brass is shorter by a good margin than minimum trim length 45-70 brass. I guess I'll hang onto it just in case Hornady decides to offer the bullets seperately.

I haven't tried it in my longer barreled Marlin 1895 (22") yet. Its favorite bullet has been the 350 grain Hornady JFP, literally a one enlarged hole at 50 yards, so I expect it will shoot well with the 325gr LE ammo

quote:

Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
My question is why wouldnt ANY polymer tipped bullet work just as well? I mean the "leveroloution" slugs do eventually come to a point do they not?

The Leverlution(sp?) has a soft point that flexes against the primer of the round ahead of it in a tube magazine. A regular poly tip may be to hard to be safe. At least I'm not willing to try it myself. Nate

I see!

I gave the LeverEvolution ammo a go yesterday in my 22" Marlin with very good results. At 50 yards, open sights and front rested I posted a 11/16" group. Not bad for factory ammo and MUCH better than my guide gun.

I was suprised the velocity wasn't that much higher in the longer barrel 22" vs. 18.5"). It could be that I used a differn't chronograph and it was 20* F cooler than my previous experiement in my guide gun.

I have a bolt gun chambered in .450 Marlin. The rifle 9s a dynamite shooter with factory 350 gr. Hornadys. I purchased a couple of boxes of LE's and Lev Evos and ran one box through my rifle. Recoill is about the same with factory 325 gr. I did not shoot to 200 yds, but at 100 the accuracy is about the same as the 350's.

Bob

could'nt you load spitzer type bullets and shoot these in a single shot rifle or in your lever gun with one in the chamber and ONE in the mag.? Or would this be flirting with disaster? I'm new to reloading and just wondering.

People load one spitzer in the chamber for 30-30's alot, if you reload you could do it, but remember your trajectory differences.

I haven't tried it yet. I understand that some of the reasons that the bullets are not available are the brass is considerably shorter and therefore the powder used is un-available. This may be all bull, but that is what I was informed through the rumor mill.