hunter looking to buy first new rifle/scope
#31
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 36
yes once you get that rifle correctly sighted in, (Id suggest at least a couple inches high at 100 yards to make hits at unknown ranges easier)
I think youll find youve got a very good rifle combo
what city will you be located near in the states?
I noticed you mentioned VT NH and VA
BTW PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW THE RIFLE SHOOTS FOR YOU!
I think youll find youve got a very good rifle combo
what city will you be located near in the states?
I noticed you mentioned VT NH and VA
BTW PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW THE RIFLE SHOOTS FOR YOU!
#32
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: texas
Posts: 1,201
just a tip or two,
(1) use gas check, cast bullet designs, they consistently provide less bore fouling
(2) use 215 fed primers as they seem to be the most consistent in my testing
(3) size the bullets you cast at .459, sized any smaller and accuracy seems to suffer
(4) if you graph out bullet weight vs velocity , and retained energy at 100 and 200 yards,
you get a curve indicating the 350 grain -420 grain weight is about ideal, in the 45/70 and 450 marlin rifles
all cartridges should be loaded to near max length the magazine can handle for best functional durability/consistency
as the loaded cartridge length must be rather consistent, heavier projectiles take up more of the available powder capacity, one reason projectiles over about 420 grains are not ideal.
http://gaschecks.castpics.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_ id=17
heres a few molds I find work well.
http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html
the 355 seems to shoot well with most powders
the pointed 405 can be used in the browning BLR box magazine but its marginally less accurate than the 355 grain in my experience, your rifle might be different
BTW I cast my bullets from 95% WW alloy and 5% pure tin, sized and lubed to .459 diam
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/63...nose-gas-check
heres jacketed bullets well documented to work well,in a 450 marlin
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifl...nterlock-rn#!/
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/16...ain-soft-point
https://www.speer-ammo.com/bullets/r...-350-fn-bullet
https://www.speer-ammo.com/bullets/r...-400-fn-bullet
IMR 3031 and WW748 , and RL7 powders all work rather well.
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifl...nterlock-rn#!/
(1) use gas check, cast bullet designs, they consistently provide less bore fouling
(2) use 215 fed primers as they seem to be the most consistent in my testing
(3) size the bullets you cast at .459, sized any smaller and accuracy seems to suffer
(4) if you graph out bullet weight vs velocity , and retained energy at 100 and 200 yards,
you get a curve indicating the 350 grain -420 grain weight is about ideal, in the 45/70 and 450 marlin rifles
all cartridges should be loaded to near max length the magazine can handle for best functional durability/consistency
as the loaded cartridge length must be rather consistent, heavier projectiles take up more of the available powder capacity, one reason projectiles over about 420 grains are not ideal.
http://gaschecks.castpics.net/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3&products_ id=17
heres a few molds I find work well.
http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog/index.html
the 355 seems to shoot well with most powders
the pointed 405 can be used in the browning BLR box magazine but its marginally less accurate than the 355 grain in my experience, your rifle might be different
BTW I cast my bullets from 95% WW alloy and 5% pure tin, sized and lubed to .459 diam
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/63...nose-gas-check
heres jacketed bullets well documented to work well,in a 450 marlin
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifl...nterlock-rn#!/
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/16...ain-soft-point
https://www.speer-ammo.com/bullets/r...-350-fn-bullet
https://www.speer-ammo.com/bullets/r...-400-fn-bullet
IMR 3031 and WW748 , and RL7 powders all work rather well.
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifl...nterlock-rn#!/
Last edited by hardcastonly; 11-04-2018 at 06:43 AM. Reason: typo
#33
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: texas
Posts: 1,201
a great many guys seem fixated on the need for a high velocity flat trajectory rifle and cartridge combo,
theres millions of guys who are convinced that cartridges like a 7mm or 300 mag are required to kill deer.
and yes theres certainly advantages to using those in some areas.
magazines seem to be filled with stories of long range shots.
but Id point out that in 5 decades of hunting elk and mule deer ,
Id bet the average range Ive seen and killed elk and deer would be well under 150 yards.
shots over 250 yards in my experience are rather rare
the reasons simple, most of the photos you see in magazines are taken in national parks or taken ,outside hunting season.
deer and elk, are generally smart enough to stick to areas with cover, (like aspen, conifer or oak brush), once the shooting starts
you find you still hunt or even stand hunt in mixed cover, game tends to travel inside cover.
a skilled hunter should be able to get within 250 -300 yards of game in most of the hunted areas Ive hunted
many of the areas that held game looked similar to these pictures.
theres millions of guys who are convinced that cartridges like a 7mm or 300 mag are required to kill deer.
and yes theres certainly advantages to using those in some areas.
magazines seem to be filled with stories of long range shots.
but Id point out that in 5 decades of hunting elk and mule deer ,
Id bet the average range Ive seen and killed elk and deer would be well under 150 yards.
shots over 250 yards in my experience are rather rare
the reasons simple, most of the photos you see in magazines are taken in national parks or taken ,outside hunting season.
deer and elk, are generally smart enough to stick to areas with cover, (like aspen, conifer or oak brush), once the shooting starts
you find you still hunt or even stand hunt in mixed cover, game tends to travel inside cover.
a skilled hunter should be able to get within 250 -300 yards of game in most of the hunted areas Ive hunted
many of the areas that held game looked similar to these pictures.
Last edited by hardcastonly; 11-03-2018 at 12:54 PM.
#34
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 36
just a tip or two,
(1) use gas check, cast bullet designs, they consistently provide less bore fouling
(2) use 215 fed primers as they seem to be the most consistent in my testing
(3) size the bullets you cast at .459, sized any smaller and accuracy seems to suffer
(4) if you graph out bullet weight vs velocity , and retained energy at 100 and 200 yards,
you get a curve indicating the 350 grain -420 grain weight is about ideal, in the 45/70 and 450 marlin rifles
(1) use gas check, cast bullet designs, they consistently provide less bore fouling
(2) use 215 fed primers as they seem to be the most consistent in my testing
(3) size the bullets you cast at .459, sized any smaller and accuracy seems to suffer
(4) if you graph out bullet weight vs velocity , and retained energy at 100 and 200 yards,
you get a curve indicating the 350 grain -420 grain weight is about ideal, in the 45/70 and 450 marlin rifles
QuickLoad shows a lot of promising options for powders out of my 20" Browning BLR in .450 Marlin:
VihtaVuori N120
95% case fill, 37.54 grains, 1653fps, 2791ft.lbs energy, 38159psi, 100.0% propellant burnt
IMR 4198
96% case fill, 37.35 grains, 1659fps, 2810ft.lbs energy, 38700psi, 98.6% propellant burnt
Alliant Reloder 10x
96% case fill, 39.27 grains, 1647fps, 2772ft.lbs energy, 34587psi, 96.9% propellant burnt
VihtaVuori N130
101% case fill, 40.93 grains, 1658fps, 2808ft.lbs energy, 38508psi, 97.5% propellant burnt
Alliant AR-comp
101% case fill, 42.34 grains, 1650fps, 2780ft.lbs energy, 32631psi, 97.2% propellant burnt
#35
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: texas
Posts: 1,201
that looks like a good option, but until you get to try it out,
with several different propellants,in your rifle,
you won,t know its true accuracy and consistency potential
casting alloy , used, and the temperature, they get cast at is important, to accuracy
with several different propellants,in your rifle,
you won,t know its true accuracy and consistency potential
casting alloy , used, and the temperature, they get cast at is important, to accuracy
Last edited by hardcastonly; 11-04-2018 at 08:40 AM.