Ohioans For Concealed Carry Discussion Forums

posted November 18, 2015 05:26 PM

*** WARNING ***
Do NOT use this load if shooting a Trapdoor or other antique rifle
***************

Now that straight wall rifle cartridges are legal for deer hunting in Ohio, I decided to dust off my Marlin 1895 45-70 lever action that has been hiding in the back of the closet.
I loaded up some Barnes Original 400gr bullets with 53.2 grains of IMR 4895 behind them and took them to the range. I got a 5” group at 100 yards with open sights resting on a shooting bag. I'm sure the rifle and loads where capable of better, but alas, my eyes were not.

The chronograph showed 1,660 fps average velocity with a range of 1,648 to 1,679. They gave a nice thump to the shoulder, but not really unpleasant.

*** WARNING ***
Do NOT use this load if shooting a Trapdoor or other antique rifle
***************

RichN wrote:I loaded up some Barnes Original 400gr bullets with 53.2 grains of IMR 4895 behind them and took them to the range. The chronograph showed 1,660 fps average velocity with a range of 1,648 to 1,679. They gave a nice thump to the shoulder, but not really unpleasant.

That's gotta hurt. I'm shooting 350 grain bullets out of my SBL at similar velocities - one tube full is enough - or else my shoulder is a bit tender when I get up the next morning. You must have the larger heavier 1895 CB ???

It's an 1895SS, late 1980s vintage. It isn't particularly heavy, about 7-7.5 pounds with a 22" barrel. It does have what was a state of the art at the time recoil pad installed.

I began loading ammo at age 12 and the 45/70 at age 14. That's years and years ago. I found the IMR 4198 Required less powder to do more. I push the 300 grain JHP well over 2000 fps from the 1895 as well as the Browning 1886. But I always use jacketed bullets. Never over 350 grains.
The speer manual has quite a bit of info on handloads for the 45/70 including cast bullets. One oddity is the 325 grain at 2009 fps from a Trapdoor ! I never pushed mine that fast but strange that its that fast when lighter loads with lighter bullets are listed as max of 1700 fps.

But I never experimented with cast lead or lead alloy.I never felt compelled to cast my own nor purchase them.

I load my 405 grain LFN cat bullets with 50 grain of Varget and get it close to 1800 fps. Kicks a bit, but not as bad as a 3 1/2" Magnum 12ga slug with 400+ grains out of my Remington 870.