New 1895, is this a reasonable load??

[perklo]

:-)

I just bought a used full-size 1895 in 45-70 WITHOUT the Micro-Groove rifling.

I have 405 grain Laser-cast flat points, Win. Large Rifle Primers and new nickel-plated Starline brass.

My first 15 rounds for the range tomorrow have 38 gr. of IMR-4198 and a fairly stout crimp. I want to push that 405 bullet to about 1600 fps+.

Anyone have experience with a similar loading in this style Marlin?

Max for this weight cast bullet in Marlins was 41.5 grains of 4198...

Thanks! - perklo

[azshooter]

According to IMR it is safe.

http://www.imrpowder.com/data/rifle/4570govt.php

[perklo]

:grin:

Happy, happy, happy!

I wanted to shoot this new/used 1895 with iron sights before I put a 1x4 Leupold VXII scope on it. One of the beauties of the flat-top Marlin lever designs is that you can truly have back-up sights since you can use them with the scope off but rail still mounted.

I swapped out the factory front bead for a Marbles green fiber-optic of the same height. I replaced the rear with a Marbles dual step elevator flat topped blade with the white enameled diamond under the notch...

Of course, these took some fitting and I just lined them up and set them in the "middle" so-to-speak.

Every once in a while, the stars line up and it 's all good. I shot a 2.5" group of three at 50 (windage is dead on) and it only opened up to 5" with 3 more down at 100 yards. That's as good as I could wish with iron sights on a windy day.

The load was the above mentioned 38 gr. of IMR 4198 and 405 Lasercast flat nose.

Now if the UPS guy will just bring the scope!!!

- perklo