BLR question?

03 April 2013, 22:25

Dave Bush

BLR question?

In the Barnes Manual No.4, there is Ruger No.1 load data for the 45/70 loaded to 55,000 psi. Do you see any reason that I couldn't use this data in my 450 Marlin BLR, maybe backing it off a grain or two? After all, the BLR is essentially a lever action bolt rifle and they chamber in 300 and 325 WSM and other high pressure cartridges.

Dave
DRSS
Chapuis 9.3X74
Chapuis "Jungle" .375 FL
Krieghoff 500/.416 NE
Krieghoff 500 NE

"Git as close as y can laddie an then git ten yards closer"

"If the biggest, baddest animals on the planet are on the menu, and you'd rather pay a taxidermist than a mortician, consider the 500 NE as the last word in life insurance." Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading (8th Edition).

04 April 2013, 01:16

JFE

I would have someone with Quickload work out some loads for you based on actual case capacity and OAL.

With the BLR you may be able to extract even higher performance by using a longer LOA. 450's are loaded to 2.55" LOA but the short action BLR is chambered for rounds with a 2.8" LOA. I have not handled one in 450 but believe the 450 magazine is blocked to limit LOA. If the 450 action has not been altered, all it may take is altering the magazine or using a different one.

04 April 2013, 05:47

Coloradoyaler

Hello

I played with this idea as well. The 358 magazine will feed a 450 round in the 450. However the real problem with this idea is you will run out of case capacity before you will run excess pressures.

Also, you might want to contact Prof242. He's done quite abit with his 450 marlin blr.

Regards
Mark

04 April 2013, 10:21

N E 450 No2

Besides psi, you also need to consider bolt/case head thrust...

My question is, how much better of a Killer would it be with say 100 extra fps???, or even 200 extra fps???

How much extra wear will those extra fps cause to the rifle and the brass???

04 April 2013, 16:02

Coloradoyaler

N E 450 No 2

I have a BLR in 416 Ruger. I also was concerned about bolt thrust. I explored the question of bolt head thrust with alot of gunsmiths and knowledgable gun buffs before I bought it. All the answers were the same. The blr bolt locks into the barrel directly. The action holds the action componets. Besides the action walls are quite thick. Who's right and who's wrong is yet to be determined. I have appoximately 1500 rounds though the 416 with no problems at all! It will consistanly shoot 1-1 1/2 groups @ 100yds. I am getting 2325fps with a 400gr nosler and 2420fps with a 350gr TSX.

05 April 2013, 04:47

OLBIKER

Must get your attention when you touch that off!!!

05 April 2013, 05:48

Coloradoyaler

OLBIKER

Actually it is not bad. My 50 alaskan on the marlin 1895 is worst.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFV_iE1vm1k

12 May 2013, 02:45

Rule 303

I am now thinking that a BLR in 416Ruger will be the next rifle I have built. That would be a sweet rifle to carry after DG.

12 May 2013, 03:44

Texas Blue Devil

Coloradoyaler,

Does your BLR in 416 Ruger hold 3 in the magazine plus in the chamber??

That is one sweet looking rifle. It seems like the ultimate cape buffalo rifle.

12 May 2013, 08:25

Coloradoyaler

Tex

No it holds three. I pop the magazine in and work the action. So I have two in the mag. I modified a mag so I could have one in the chamber and three in the mag. However, the recoil would push the shells and the follower forward in the magazine and stick the follower at the bottom of the mag. This would not allow the shells to rise and feed. With two in the mag this was not an issue. At first this bothered me. Then I got another mag and found you can switch mag really quick.

12 May 2013, 12:36

prof242

I've throated out my .450 Marlin so that I can use an OAL of 2.85". Throating allows a longer OAL, thus more powder capacity. This could go to 2.95" with some magazines. I use stock .300/.325 WSM magazines for the cartridges. Sometimes you will have to bend the feed lips slightly to keep the cartridges in the magazine.

Using Quick Load, I've been very careful with the pressures, using 59,000psi as my maximum. I have an Oehler Ballistics Lab that has shown pressures very close to what was forecast. One of the powders used has been Ramshot Exterminator. This was used to get sufficient powder in the case for the velocity and pressure without compressing the powder to a great degree.

19 May 2013, 21:58

capoward

quote:
Originally posted by Coloradoyaler:
Tex

No it holds three. I pop the magazine in and work the action. So I have two in the mag. I modified a mag so I could have one in the chamber and three in the mag. However, the recoil would push the shells and the follower forward in the magazine and stick the follower at the bottom of the mag. This would not allow the shells to rise and feed. With two in the mag this was not an issue. At first this bothered me. Then I got another mag and found you can switch mag really quick.

You need to PM Michael458 and RIP regarding this issue - they have a simple fix for this identical issue with the M70 Win WSM magazines and the DG B&M cartridges that I'm sure they'd be willing to share.

02 June 2013, 20:32

Dave Bush

quote:
Originally posted by prof242:
I've throated out my .450 Marlin so that I can use an OAL of 2.85". Throating allows a longer OAL, thus more powder capacity. This could go to 2.95" with some magazines. I use stock .300/.325 WSM magazines for the cartridges. Sometimes you will have to bend the feed lips slightly to keep the cartridges in the magazine.

Using Quick Load, I've been very careful with the pressures, using 59,000psi as my maximum. I have an Oehler Ballistics Lab that has shown pressures very close to what was forecast. One of the powders used has been Ramshot Exterminator. This was used to get sufficient powder in the case for the velocity and pressure without compressing the powder to a great degree.

Prof:

In my BLR 450 Marlin, I use Accurate 2230 which is the same powder as Ramshot Exterminator. At the range, I just shoot plain old 400 grain Speers but for hunting, I use Barnes Busters. Great powder.