Practice Loads?

[James B]

Anyone have a good mild pratice and plinking load for the 45-70 with the 300 grain jacketed bullet? I would like to use the Marlin for plinking and small game this summer. I use the 405 grain cast bullet with Unique but would like a reduced laod for the 300 grain bullet. The unique load with lighter bullets are not consistant in my gun. The 405 bullets I am using now are to long to feed through my Marlin. I have some new 405 Flat point cast that are a bit shorter. I think they will feed ok. Thanks.

[oso45-70]

JAMES B.
This is what i use for a plinking load in all my 45-70s with 300gr bullets.
43grs of IMR 4198 powder,, fed. primer#210 Gives me Velocity of 1690
ft. per. sec. Very shootable. Hope this helps James.....Joe

[James B]

Thanks. I will give that a try. I have three 45-70 rifles. An H&R Handi Rifle which is an Awsome shooter. My old Marlin, its a 1972 year model with the straight stock. And I just picked up a new Encore with a 45-70 barrel. I also have a 44 Mag in the H&R which shoots 200 grain Hornady XTP's very well and also shoots the 240 grain cast bullet at about 1100 fps great. That works good for a plinking big bore load. Hope to soon get a new 44 Mag Marlin lever gun as well. I had one and it was as accurate as any rifle I ever shot out to 100-125 yards. Have a good day.