Marlin 45-70 ammo question

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Marlin 45-70 ammo question

Posted: 4/30/2020 7:52:45 PM EDT

I finally got a Marlin 1895 in 45-70, pre-safety rifle with a 22" barrel. Always wanted one just because.... Not planning on doing any serious with it in the short term but looking forward to giving a big bore a try. This is my first 45-70 and want to pick-up a few boxes of ammo, should I go with 300gr or 405 gr?

Posted: 4/30/2020 7:56:17 PM EDT

[#1]

I shoot Hornady leverevolution 325, and PPU 405. I have some HSM Bear Loads to try. I suggest to try a few different loads to see what your gun likes. It is a fun gun to shoot.

Posted: 5/1/2020 9:30:29 PM EDT

[#2]

Hardcast lead 405s at reasonable velocity does it all.

Posted: 5/1/2020 10:05:07 PM EDT

[#3]

I would start with the heavier load as a lot of Marlins like the longer bullets.

Posted: 5/4/2020 4:59:38 PM EDT

[#4]

Have the 24" Marlin XLR from '06.
I had best results with Hornady 325gr with 1.5" groups at 200yds.
YMMV
Much Luck

Posted: 5/10/2020 9:25:25 AM EDT

[#5]

You might want to consider:

Buffalo Bore 405 grain softpoint .45-70 “Magnum”. 405 grains at 2,000 fps! Mushrooms to over 1” diameter with deep penetration.

This is strong medicine for anything on two or four legs in North America except for maybe brown bear over 800 lbs. Used by a lot of Alaskan guides.

Yes, it’s expensive but, it’s worth it. Practice with lighter loads, but zero with this. It positively flattens black bear, deer and elk within 200 yards.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=151

Posted: 5/10/2020 11:17:12 AM EDT

[#6]

Pick up some reloading die's for it.

You can go from mild to wild.

Posted: 5/10/2020 12:01:30 PM EDT

[#7]

Quote History

Originally Posted By MS556:
You might want to consider:

Buffalo Bore 405 grain softpoint .45-70 “Magnum”.  405 grains at 2,000 fps!  Mushrooms to over 1” diameter with deep penetration.

This is strong medicine for anything on two or four legs in North America except for maybe brown bear over 800 lbs.  Used by a lot of Alaskan guides.

Yes, it’s expensive but, it’s worth it.  Practice with lighter loads, but zero with this.  It positively flattens black bear, deer and elk within 200 yards.

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=151

View Quote

You can get some Garrett loads for big bruins

Those things are like hammers. I always go back and forth on what I'd use if I had to go in to bear country, my 45-70 with Garrett loads or my 375 H&H with solids.

Posted: 5/10/2020 8:15:32 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Originally Posted By Zeebz:

You can get some Garrett loads for big bruins

Those things are like hammers. I always go back and forth on what I'd use if I had to go in to bear country, my 45-70 with Garrett loads or my 375 H&H with solids.

View Quote

Yes Garrett Hammerheads. I think those things would stop a small car.

Hammerheads

Posted: 5/11/2020 12:18:21 AM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Originally Posted By safemover:
Pick up some reloading die's for it.

You can go from mild to wild.

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Amen.

Posted: 5/28/2020 1:14:44 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:

Yes Garrett Hammerheads. I think those things would stop a small car.

Hammerheads

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Those are what I keep in my 45-70 here for "just in case/oh shit" moments.

Posted: 5/28/2020 1:17:10 PM EDT

[#11]

and then there is this from the Garrett website:

Interestingly, both our 45-70 loads generate as big a Taylor Knockout Value at 130-yards as does the 375 Holland & Holland with 300-grain bullets measured at the muzzle.

View Quote

Posted: 5/29/2020 6:53:01 PM EDT

[#12]

Quote History

Quoted:

Those are what I keep in my 45-70 here for "just in case/oh shit" moments.

View Quote

Same here.

Posted: 6/3/2020 11:31:21 PM EDT

[#13]

In the 1880’s Americans were dropping Buffalo with 405gr bullets at black powder velocities. 1,300-1,400fps.

A 405gr lead flat point bullet will kill anything at 1,400fps.

Buffalo arent small animals.

Posted: 6/4/2020 3:26:09 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
In the 1880’s Americans were dropping Buffalo with 405gr bullets at black powder velocities. 1,300-1,400fps.

A 405gr lead flat point bullet will kill anything at 1,400fps.

Buffalo arent small animals.

View Quote

But they do have a soft spot.

Posted: 6/9/2020 6:54:26 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
In the 1880’s Americans were dropping Buffalo with 405gr bullets at black powder velocities. 1,300-1,400fps.

A 405gr lead flat point bullet will kill anything at 1,400fps.

Buffalo arent small animals.

View Quote

Agreed, but a 405 grain flat nose bullet at 2,000 - 2100 fps flattens most game, dead right there, and effective range is extended. Their effect on whitetail inside 150 yards is astounding.

The hot stuff is not something you want to shoot all day, but those loads do have terminal ballistic benefits.

Posted: 6/9/2020 7:26:34 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

But they do have a soft spot.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
In the 1880’s Americans were dropping Buffalo with 405gr bullets at black powder velocities. 1,300-1,400fps.

A 405gr lead flat point bullet will kill anything at 1,400fps.

Buffalo arent small animals.

But they do have a soft spot.

Passengers were shooting at them off of moving trains.

Posted: 7/18/2020 10:41:51 AM EDT

[#17]

There are a few loads I have seen that put out some insane muzzle energy numbers. Grizzly has a 405gr at 2050 FPS for example, or of course the 540 gr Garrett @ 1550 fps.

I think I am going to give the Underwood hard cast 430 gr @1550 a try though, it is not their +P load but is more stout than the traditional 405s moving slower.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Marlin 45-70 ammo question

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