BCRules

I was about to get rid of my marlin 45-70. I tried 3 different 300gr bullets, and 2 different powders, and best accuracy was 3-4MOA. It sucked. Finally I tried 350gr hornady FP with IMR4198. Holy cow, its a shooter. Worked up a load from 42gr to 45.3gr, and all was less than an inch.

I was about ready to toss a decent gun.

Pawildman

Hey... Those Marlins GENERALLY shoot real well. Just gotta find out what they like to eat. I did the same as you... I also found that the 350 gr. Hornady FP ontop of 46.5 gr. H4198 gave me great groups. A side bonus... I don't need to floss my teeth after shooting.... But it does really shoot good... Not for the faint of heart...

streetglideok

Im feeding my 1895 the 350gr FP bullets as well. Starline brass with Reloder7 powder, I'm around max load in the lyman book. Wasnt impressed with the stock sights, and upgraded to the XS ghostring sights. Nice improvement. It definately rattles the teeth loose!

fritz1

I also use Hornady 350grainers and IMR4198 in my guide gun, its a geat combo, excellent accuracy and totally devastating on black bears.

streetglideok

I went snooping, Lyman lists their max load with 4198 at 41.5gr, while Hodgdon says 50gr. Max with reloder7 is 46.5, I believe Im running 45gr. May have to look into 4198 if I ever get this stuff burned up.

BCRules

I think your the one who suggested I move away from 300grainers to the horn 350. Good call. Definatley appreciated the oversized grind to fit limbsaver. I used to shoot this think with a plastic hard recoil butt. Screw that.

Statjunk sent me a bunch leadheads. Shot 40gr with 425gr gas checks. Shot 2.5MOA but leaded up the barrel some. I just don't think you can shoot alot of lead in the microgroove.

Pawildman

....My 7th edition of the Hornady manual lists loads for both IMR 4198 and H4198. They are not interchangeable. Max with IMR is 45.3 gr., with Hodgdens it's 48.4 gr. All with the 350 gr. Hornady FP. One must be careful to be certain they are looking under the correct 45/70 data, too. Most books publish three criteria... one for the older Springfield-type rifles, one for the newer lever guns, (Marlin 1895), and one for the sturdy Ruger #1 types.

streetglideok

I found the data on Hodgdon's online resource guide, and 50gr for IMR4198, and 54gr for H4198, under lever action loads. Shockingly hot, considering most of their loads on there are pretty conservative.

BCRules

Brian Pierce from Handloader mag, always considers 1972 and new marlins to be able to handle 43.5KPSI, hense those loads. But anything below that or winchesters with nickel steel barrels to handle 35KPSI, and any marlin from 1895 to 1915 or 1886 wins (blackpowder era) to limit pressures to 28KPSI.

Freakin confusing. But I trust his writings and research. He did a big writeup in Aug. 2003.

With that said, I really don't want anymore recoil than 45.3gr gives.

Pawildman

.... Could be, Mark... I remember we had a bunch of discussions on what we were doing with those Marlins and what results we were getting awhile back. I also remember you talking about the bad leading you were getting with the cast slugs...