Did it again

Snapping Twig · #1 08-01-2010, 01:37 AM

Last November I ordered a Marlin 1895 SBL, that's a stainless guide gun in 45-70. 18.5" barrel, laminated stock, 6 + 1 capacity (that's a lot of lead) and ghost sights and scout rail system.

Can't get one here apparently, so a couple months back I changed my order to the blued steel version w/o the ghost ring and scout rail.

It showed up last week and I took it home Friday.

Marlin 1895 GBL.

I ordered the sight and rail system, so this will be the same rifle as the SBL, but it will be blued steel, not stainless. Looks better IMO, so I saved a lot of $$ and got the better rifle for me.

The parts will be here soon, this is how it looks fresh from the box.

Now to find two moulds, 300 and 405 ~ 425 grain. I hear nice things about Ranch Dog, might look at those.

Next comes the dies and brass, etc.

This is a lead cannon.

There's nothing this thing can't harvest, not unless they reintroduce dinosaurs, and even then...

Factory rounds are downloaded to prevent disaster with old trap doors and other marginal rifles. A hand loader can soup it up to modern pressures in an 1895. Just like Ruger and TC loads, there's a higher level yet for Ruger #1 rifles and that genre. Can't load that high for an 1895, but you don't need to either really.

If you can't take whatever you shoot with a 405g .45 that's moving over 1800 fps, you're in the wrong business. That don't bounce off many things - armor plated or otherwise.

Anyone else have a 45-70 or favorite loads? Please share.

canoeguy · #2 08-01-2010, 06:33 AM

I've got the regular 1895, blued with 22" barrel. I like it a lot, I have really enjoyed casting bullets and handloading for it.

Found mine deosn't like bevel base bullets, have to use flat base or gas check bullets. Wouldn't stabilze the bevel base bullets, they tumble. Shoots the flat base and gas check bullets just fine.

Found a good all purpose fun and accurate target load with a 350 grain flat base bullet from a Lee Mold (straight wheel weight lead), and 12.5 grains Unique powder for 1300 FPS. Very accurate and easy on the shoulder.

Loaded up some 405 lead flat point bullets with a gas check (also from a Lee mold) with enough 3031 to get 1700 FPS, they were fun to shoot. Also loaded up some Hornady 350 grain Jacketed soft points to 1700 FPS for a Deer hunting load. Rifle shoots all of these loads well, and should take any game from rabbit to elk. For factory loads, the Remington 405 grain jacketed soft point shoots good, these are somewhat expensive ($40 a box of 20) but way cheaper than any other facotry round. I bought a couple of boxes for hunting, but for general shooting I'll stick to my pet 350 grain cast lead load with Unique, these cost me about .06 cents per round.

Got my brass (Starline) from Cowboy Shooting Store, they always have some in stock and were cheaper than Midway.

The 45/70 load is fun to shoot and handload for, and the Marlin lever rifle is the best platform for 45/70 in my opinion. Have fun with yours, I certainly have had fun with mine!

Dan Cash · #3 08-01-2010, 07:54 AM

Lyman mould 457122 (the old Gould hollow point 330 grain) would work well for your light bullet. It performs very well in my Marlin "cowboy" for accuracy and I am of the opinion that that slug will do for 99 percent of what you want to kill. The nose punch can be modified to provide a solid bullet if desired. I use it over 70 grains of FF black powder but I am sure there are smokeless loads that will give satisfaction.

WPWarhawk · #4 08-01-2010, 09:00 AM

Big 45-70 fan here, I've had a 1975 vintage Marlin 1895 since the early '90s. I've taken a few deer with it, including this Kansas buck in 2001.

It's accurate enough to have taken this bobcat with a heart shot at 135 yards, while hog hunting in Texas.

I normally shoot my handloads, and the one that shoots best in the 1895 is the Remington 405 JSP over a stout charge of H335 (about 2 grains under the max load)

Last year I picked up a used guide gun just before deer season. It has a Leupold 3x scope on it and was zeroed with the new Hornady Leverlution ammo. Since it came with a couple of boxes of this ammo, I just checked the zero and decided to hunt with it.

I've decided to hunt in closer, I deer hunt in Kansas and have killed deer at 400+ yards several times. It's wide open country, but the deer stick in the thick stuff, so I decided to set up in the heaviest brush I could find that still had a reasonable open lane to shoot in. This buck was in his element, just browsing along feeding along a game trail and crossed my shooting lane about 75 yards from me and my guide gun.

Between Christmas and New Years last year, my grandson got to go on his first hunt. A hog hunt at the Langley Ranch in Texas. I used the older 1895 and my son used the stainless guide gun. Both of us used Federal 300 grain factory ammo, hoping it wouldn't be quite as loud as my handloads to be easier on my grandson's ears. I coached him about wearing his ear muffs, and whispered to him to make sure he knew I was about to shoot ... he still didn't wear them. He did back us up with his new Daisy Red Ryder.

I also have a Marlin LTDIII, which is just like the 1895 Cowboy, except that it has an 18.5 inch octagon barrel. I haven't even shot it yet, and plan to use it exclusively with cast bullets.

Snapping Twig · #5 08-01-2010, 03:44 PM

Thanks for that information guys.

Stripped her down and found a small metal burr in a slot on top of the bolt. Came out easy enough. Other than that, looks good - real good.

Lubed it up, ran an oil swab down the bore and now I'll work the action a few times

until I get my ammo loaded.

I found Starline brass to be the most reasonably prices, but back ordered at $42/100.

I believe I'll look at a 300 grain mould and I'm torn between 405 and 425 for the other.

H4198 and H322 appear to be good and W296 & 2400 look nice for reduced loads.

I'll be busy for the next month, so I'll have to wait to shoot this rifle until I can collect all the supplies. Can't see myself paying $45 for a box of 20 low pressure 300g loads.

NE450No2 · #6 08-01-2010, 05:39 PM

One load that has worked well in several different Marlin's is 53gr of IMR 3031 with the 350gr Hornady bullet, either the RN or the newer FP.

These bullets work great on deer, wild pigs and black bear as well.

bishopm14 · #7 08-01-2010, 08:21 PM

Nice. I need me a Marlin .45-70, but Marlin ain't making it easy. I've always liked the standard 1895, but this year's GBL and STBL are awesome variants also...

Snapping Twig · #8 08-01-2010, 09:12 PM

If you like those, check out an ABL or an SBL.

The ABL is a limited run for Action Arms and is identical to the GBL, save for the laminate stocks are grey like the SBL. Gunbroker has 3 for sale right now.

The SBL is Stainless and has the XS ghost sight and scout rail system.

It's going to be difficult to wait until I get my reloading supplies, this rifle is supposed to be very accurate going by the happy owner's posts at MO.