45-70 max loads for a lever gun

[red87yj]

Hey all,

I have some free time today and want to work up some 45-70 loads. I have a marlin 1895 with an 18.5 inch barrel. I have read the max psi for this is 40,000. Which is pretty far above listed loads in my manual. I'm using jacketed bullets and have found quite a bit of info for cast but not much for jacketed. The rifle has a 3x Burris scout scope on it fyi.

My question is what is the highest load you have put in your level gun (level 2). I just want to see what this caliber is capable of. By the way I have 300 and 325 gr bullets laying around, and some cast 500 gr but I'm hesitant to mess with them too much.

Thanks all

Zach

[coalcifer]

Go to marlin owners.com for lots of info detailing exactly what you are thinking about doing. Good luck.

[red87yj]

Just an update. I am by no means an expert and highly suggest no one do what I have done. If anyone tries what I describe below and blows their rifle apart i take no responsibility for you action since every firearm is different.

Per the nosler no. 7. I started with 43 grains of Imr 4227 and increased in increments of 2 grains to 49 grains. I used Speer 300 grain JHP. I created 3 of each charge weight. 43 grains had more punch than the factory Winchester I was testing it against. COL was 2.500.

43 and 45 were on paper but the grouping sucked. 47 and 49 were high, but the grouping was better. I will have to make up some more and sight the scope in for them. I had no pressure signs in the brass with the 49 grain charge (above what nosler listed for max charge). I think my next trip will consist of 47, 48, and 49 grains of the same powder before I try out another powder. I have 4198 and unique to try out as well.

[knight0334]

I keep with 300gr JHP's and some of which that I have drilled out to 250-255grs.

Most reloading books will only have loads for the <28K PSI/CUP Trapdoor levels.

I can tell you right now that both IMR-4198 and H-4198 are pretty good powders for level #2 loads. 3031 is pretty good too.

Below is from Hogden's site, the 45-70 Levergun level chart.

A little tip with the .458" straight/slight-taper cartridges - PSI and CUP are the same. The .45-70/90/100/120 are the only cartridges where CUP and PSI are the same measurement.

Bullet Weight (Gr.) 	Manufacturer 	Powder 	Bullet Diam. 	C.O.L. 	Grs. 	Vel. (ft/s) 	Pressure 	Grs. 	Vel. (ft/s) 	Pressure 	  	 
250 GR. BAR TSX FN  	Hodgdon  	H335  	.458"  	2.525"  	60.2  	2131  	27,900 PSI  	67.5  	2371  	38,300 PSI  	  	 
250 GR. BAR TSX FN  	IMR  	IMR 8208 XBR  	.458"  	2.525"  	54.3  	1897  	20,600 PSI  	64.1C  	2308  	32,700 PSI  	  	 
250 GR. BAR TSX FN  	Hodgdon  	Benchmark  	.458"  	2.525"  	56.2  	2085  	27,300 PSI  	62.5C  	2298  	34,000 PSI  	  	 
250 GR. BAR TSX FN  	Hodgdon  	H322  	.458"  	2.525"  	53.3  	2080  	26,100 PSI  	61.9C  	2423  	38,100 PSI  	  	 
250 GR. BAR TSX FN  	IMR  	IMR 4198  	.458"  	2.525"  	47.0  	2079  	25,700 PSI  	55.3  	2432  	38,600 PSI  	  	 
250 GR. BAR TSX FN  	Hodgdon  	H4198  	.458"  	2.525"  	49.4  	2152  	26,400 PSI  	56.5C  	2487  	38,700 PSI  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	IMR  	IMR 4064  	.458"  	2.525"  	59.0  	1858  	20,300 CUP  	65.5C  	2125  	28,700 CUP  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	IMR  	IMR 4895  	.458"  	2.525"  	58.5  	1800  	19,900 CUP  	65.0C  	2087  	30,000 CUP  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	Hodgdon  	H335  	.458"  	2.525"  	61.0  	2073  	22,500 CUP  	68.0  	2326  	38,800 CUP  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	IMR  	IMR 8208 XBR  	.458"  	2.525"  	60.0  	2023  	25,400 CUP  	65.0C  	2240  	32,900 CUP  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	IMR  	IMR 3031  	.458"  	2.525"  	58.0  	1971  	21,900 CUP  	64.0C  	2196  	29,500 CUP  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	Hodgdon  	H322  	.458"  	2.525"  	57.0  	2002  	21,400 CUP  	63.0C  	2252  	32,600 CUP  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	IMR  	IMR 4198  	.458"  	2.525"  	53.7  	2293  	33,100 CUP  	57.2  	2407  	39,100 CUP  	  	 
300 GR. SIE HP  	Hodgdon  	H4198  	.458"  	2.525"  	55.0  	2221  	27,600 CUP  	60.0  	2424  	40,000 CUP  	  	 
325 GR. HDY FTX  	Hodgdon  	H322  	.458"  	2.590"  	51.5  	1951  	26,000 CUP  	59.4C  	2250  	37,600 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	Hodgdon  	Varget  	.458"  	2.540"  	54.0  	1786  	21,800 CUP  	60.0C  	2013  	29,500 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	IMR  	IMR 4064  	.458"  	2.540"  	58.0  	1967  	32,700 CUP  	62.0C  	2085  	36,700 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	IMR  	IMR 4895  	.458"  	2.540"  	57.5  	1891  	29,200 CUP  	61.0C  	2026  	37,200 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	Hodgdon  	H335  	.458"  	2.540"  	54.0  	1903  	26,000 CUP  	60.0  	2094  	38,800 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	Hodgdon  	H4895  	.458"  	2.540"  	53.0  	1784  	21,700 CUP  	59.0C  	2045  	32,900 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	IMR  	IMR 8208 XBR  	.458"  	2.540"  	55.0  	1930  	26,800 CUP  	61.0C  	2152  	36,200 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	IMR  	IMR 3031  	.458"  	2.540"  	56.5  	2022  	31,400 CUP  	60.0C  	2135  	37,100 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	Hodgdon  	Benchmark  	.458"  	2.540"  	56.0  	1886  	26,900 CUP  	60.0C  	2092  	39,300 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	IMR  	IMR 4198  	.458"  	2.540"  	47.0  	2032  	32,500 CUP  	50.0  	2131  	36,600 CUP  	  	 
350 GR. HDY JRN  	Hodgdon  	H4198  	.458"  	2.540"  	48.5  	2036  	32,200 CUP  	54.0  	2191  	39,300 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	Hodgdon  	Varget  	.458"  	2.540"  	50.0  	1655  	18,600 CUP  	55.0C  	1845  	25,000 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	IMR  	IMR 4064  	.458"  	2.540"  	53.5  	1808  	29,700 CUP  	57.0C  	1918  	36,400 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	IMR  	IMR 4895  	.458"  	2.540"  	54.0  	1785  	30,500 CUP  	58.0C  	1930  	38,600 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	Hodgdon  	H335  	.458"  	2.540"  	52.0  	1798  	25,400 CUP  	58.0  	1995  	40,000 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	Hodgdon  	H4895  	.458"  	2.540"  	50.0  	1614  	19,200 CUP  	55.0C  	1859  	26,500 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	IMR  	IMR 3031  	.458"  	2.540"  	51.0  	1809  	26,900 CUP  	55.0C  	1971  	37,300 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	Hodgdon  	Benchmark  	.458"  	2.540"  	55.0  	1856  	29,600 CUP  	58.5C  	1986  	40,000 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	Hodgdon  	H322  	.458"  	2.540"  	50.0  	1767  	23,700 CUP  	55.0C  	1984  	39,200 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	IMR  	IMR 4198  	.458"  	2.540"  	43.0  	1868  	31,600 CUP  	46.0  	1960  	37,600 CUP  	  	 
400 GR. SPR JFP  	Hodgdon  	H4198  	.458"  	2.540"  	46.0  	1854  	29,500 CUP  	50.5  	2002  	39,400 CUP

[dodge]

I load for the same rifle and what I did is check my loading manuals. I started at the lowest level and kept going until it started to hurt when I shot it. I then backed off a couple of grains. My load ended up being a mid-level load for the powder I was using. IIRC the older Hornady manual listed a hotter load. My load now is just under max. I use 44 grs IMR 4198 with the Hornady 350 FN. With a velocity of 1800 fps.

[red87yj]

I loaded up some more rounds using Imr 4227 this morning and have found that Hornady case that I have is well under the 2.1 inch case length. Has anyone else encountered this? Very frustrating to have cases that are basically useless for what I'm trying to do.

Zach

[coalcifer]

The Hornady flextip casings are much shorter in length due to the placement of the crimping groove on the flextip bullet. Do not use those casings for regular loads because the any bullet but the flextip will need to be seated deeper than normal. As I stated on a previous post, check out the marlinowners web site.

[Qtrborecrazy]

Go to marlin owners.com for lots of info detailing exactly what you are thinking about doing. Good luck.

+1 lots of info at marlinowners, not only for the 45-70 but for the 30-30, 35 remington, 444 and all the rest. I have 2 45-70s but don't reload for them yet.

[bamboomaster]

+1 lots of info at marlinowners, not only for the 45-70 but for the 30-30, 35 remington, 444 and all the rest. I have 2 45-70s but don't reload for them yet.

Well, it's time you learned how.

If you can visit when the roads get better, bring your empty brass and I'll walk you through it on a Dillon 550B.

Kindest regards,