marlin 45-70 bullets

[ghr]

looking for a 500 grain or larger bullet that can be loaded for this gun.  bought some hornady 500 grain interbonds, but was told they were to long for the marlin. is this true?  will the 3031 powder be adequate for this large of a load?

[John Traveler1]

The Marlin 1895 .45-70 rifles won't magazine feed overlength ammunition.  That 500 grain bullet you want must be seated pretty deeply to feed and eject properly.

IMR3031 and IMR4198 are favored powders for this caliber, but using 500 grain bullets will give you pretty modest velocities.

What do you want to do with a 500 grain bullet that you can not do with a 405 grain bullet?

[jpuke]

I had experimented with a 530 gr paper-patched bullet for a little while, had to be seated pretty deep to function.  The load data I used was given/copied for me from an older Lyman manual for a 550 gr bullet.  It shot fine, the velocity hovered around 1400 fps.  I felt this load was safe, I haven't made any more for a while because my wife had a baby and I've been short of time for such a labor-intensive projectile.  

Here's the data I was given by ButlerFord45:

Unique 12.0gr@1012fps to 14.0gr@1100fps
2400 20.0gr@1096fps to 26.0gr@1400fps
IMR 4227 23.0gr@1160fps to 28.0gr@1335fps
IMR 4198 26.0gr@1162fps to 32.0gr@1386fps
IMR 3031 34.0gr@1273fps to 39.0gr(compressed)@1442fps
552 Grain Cast w/gas check
Bullet #462560
Accuracy Load:
IMR 4198, 32 gr@1386fps

LYMAN 45th.

Hope this helps, I have always been intrigued by heavy bullets.  Load Carefully!       jpuke

[Lone Star]

looking for a 500 grain or larger bullet that can be loaded for this gun.  bought some hornady 500 grain interbonds, but was told they were to long for the marlin. is this true?  will the 3031 powder be adequate for this large of a load?

You need to buy and read a current reloading manual - Speer or Hornady preferred.  It will list loads appropriate for your rifle.  The 500-grain bullet will not expand at the velocities you can achieve in your M1895 - it will act as a solid.  

Be very careful about loads you get off the Internet - while many are just fine, sometimes fools post loads which are totally unsafe.  Always check against published pressure-tested data before using Internet loading data.
 

[ghr]

thanks for all the info.  it didn't occur to me that loads listed on the web that are specificaly listed for a marlin could be unsafe.

[Cottonwood]

The 525-gr Pile Driver from Beartooth Bullets was designed just for the Marlin rifles.

[Thebear_78]

These hardcasts are designed just for the 1985 lever guns also.
http://www.competitor-pistol.com/jb%20home.html

The 550 craters have quite a good reputation for accuracy and perfromance.

[Lone Star]

thanks for all the info.  it didn't occur to me that loads listed on the web that are specificaly listed for a marlin could be unsafe.

If the data comes off a powder or bullet maker's site then it is pressure tested and safe - it is "published" on the 'net.  What I was refering to were loads somebody posts on a forum or board or private website; these may be fine - or they may be dangerous......
 

[RugerNo3]

The Lyman Manuals are excellent reloading manuals that are pressure tested loads and cover many powders. Bullet or powder specific manuals are good, but are very narrow in coverage. As stated the Lyman Manuals give an accuracy load based on the variety of components used. The free data manuals are good and the load book for a specific cartridge from Cabelas covers a gamut of options.