1895 45/70 good results

[Ranger J]

I got to take my new Marlin 1895 45/70 out to the range yesterday.  I had some trapdoor loads using Re#7 under Remington 300G HP and 405G Sp.  I had scavenged a 3-9-power scope off a 223 Handi rifle and started at 25 yards.  The first shot with 300G was about 8” below the bull’s eye and slightly to the left.  It took me 4 more shots to hit center.  Next shot also in center.  I tried not to get too excited as this was just at 25 yards.  I moved to the 50-yard bench and repeated the results.  I switched to the 405s and got a nice group, just slightly lower.  The important thing to me was that both loads grouped with no flyers.  While walking out to check and mark target I picked up a 12G spent shell and stuck it on a shot out piece of the chicken wire.  I nailed that sucker on the second shot.  Shooting the 1895 with these loads was like shooting a 22.  There was very little recoil although I was wearing a shoulder pad.  Having had my shoulder worked on a couple of years ago I have got into the habit of wearing the pad regardless of what I am shooting.  As no one else was at the range at that time I took a couple of shots from the 50-yard bench at some pieces of paper laying on the earthen backstop of the 100-yard range.  On two shots I sent them flying into the air.  Needless to say I really like the gun.
I did experience a squib with one cartridge that sent a 300G bullet about an inch or so up the barrel on primer power.  I looked at the case and there was unfired powder in the case but it seemed to be soaked with oil of some sort.  Several days earlier I had been shooting my 45/70 Handi rifle and had several hang fires although no squibs.  These were new, never been fired Remington brass and I don’t know how and when the contaminant got into the powder as the only lubricant I use is to roll lube the cases before I resize them.  Yes, I always run new brass through the resizer.  I guess it is now my job to shoot all those remaining bullets to make sure I don’t run into this problem in deer season.  
I’m afraid the new Marlin will put the Handi out of work, as it is the more accurate of the two.  The Handi doesn’t do badly though.

[Mac11700]

Congrats on finding a good shooting rifle...I really like my new XLR...and am headed to the range this week to site it back in...I had to replace the mounts & rings..Mine so-far really likes the Speer 300 grainers and the Nosler partions...They'll be moving out a tad faster than the trapdoor loads...but that's ok...cause I'll have a few good loads to plink with after deer season...The Noslers and the Speers shot extreamly well out of my Handi and all my Marlins so-far...

Mac

[Redhawk1]

I love the 1895 in 45-70, great gun. 

[victorcharlie]

I love the 1895 in 45-70, great gun. 

I think my 1895 is pretty neat too.......even though the scope's cut me twice now!  Ouch........darned see thru rings have got to go!

[Redhawk1]

I love the 1895 in 45-70, great gun. 

I think my 1895 is pretty neat too.......even though the scope's cut me twice now!  Ouch........darned see thru rings have got to go!

I hate them see thru rings, I quit using them many years ago. 

[Coyote Hunter]

One of my favorite .45-70 loads is 300g LaserCast FP's over 13.5g HS-6 and a CCI 200 primer.

Half the recoil of a .30-30, near one-hole accuracy.  Good out to about 50 yards, then they drop fast.

And 11 "Family Sized" orange juice jugs filled with water won't stop them!

[Ranger J]

I was wondering about how laser cast work in the 45/70.  I use them in my .44 Handi, with less than satisfactory results but not the bullets fault, and in my 357.  What velocity are you getting and do they lead the barrel.  Have you ever shot a deer with one?  I like to shoot the gun and I am always looking for a way to shoot it more economically.  Using the Remington jacketed bullets is not much more expensive than using the Laser Cast and I know what they are going to do.
RJ

[opatriot]

 Yea.. Ranger J .............I have all the same questions as you ...I recieved some 405.gr lasercast bullets last week but have only had the opportunity to shoot a few .....they grouped 1-1/2 " at 50 yds. ...with a buckhorn sight ...but ive been real curious what kind of perfomance others have had with them..............

[Ranger J]

Unfortunately the 45/70 didn’t get blooded this last week.  It and a Stevens 200 in .308 were my ‘new’ guns and I alternated them this deer season.  The Marlin got the first day and a nice buck came out of the cedar thicket right next to my stand, took one look at me and was gone before I could even think of raising the gun.  The next day was the Stevens day and I shot two small deer and was back in the house drinking coffee before 7 in the morning.  I’ve ordered some more Remington 300 HP from Cabela’s and will be loading them to Marlin levels, as I seem to get a real jump in accuracy over the trapdoor loads.  I just hope the weather holds so I get a chance to go to the range to try them out.
RJ

[njanear]

I have a M1895G (ported) that I love to shoot.  I haven't started reloading yet but I do have the stuff here (dies, new and once-fired brass, IMR 3031 and 3 types of bullets: 405gr OTs, 300gr and 405gr Remingtons).  Maybe after hunting season rolls out I'll get to work on it.  Right now I have her sighted in with the factory Rem 405grs and just Nov.10, she was blooded on a 6pt Georgia Whitetail (4 hrs into her 2nd day in the field).  A .45 hole in, a .45 hole out, a blood 'highway' left for the entire 70 yards he ran - when I fielddressed him, I stuck my finger through the .45 hole bored through his heart (my buddy thought that was interesting  - he's a 7mm RM shooter, which would essentially just disintegrate the heart ).  I was impressed with the load's 'slow freight train' performance but I think I am going to step it up a notch too in order to get the bullet to the target a little quicker. 

I am also going to tailor a load to my T/C Contender Super 16 .45/70 carbine- I figure she will make a real nice lightweight pig thumper    I'll have to keep her at the TD level, so hopefully she likes one of the bullets that the 1895G doesn't - that way I will have a more visual confirmation that I pick up the right rounds for each.