Marlin 1985 GS 45-70 Cast boolit load

[InisBineest]

Hey all,
Not new to reloading or casting, but new to the 45-70 and i am after any experience people have had, specifically with the 45-70 out of modern marlin lever guns.

1. Diameter of projectile to cast... do I get a .459 inch mould (and use a .457 push through sizer if needed) or a more common .457 inch mould? I know you can chamber cast, but that one is something i've had no experience with (happy to learn if pointers can be given) and i'm wondering what others have found success with in terms of diameter out of this particular type of rifle

2. Powder choice.... I'm looking to load lighter recoiling plinking loads for the most part using either 340 grain or 405 grain projectiles, with the option to load heaver hitters for hunting pigs and such. Trailboss is looking just fine for that, but i'm wondering if others have used any other powders (Eg AR2207, Benchmark 2 etc) but loaded below the min loads in the manuals (most loads are around 40-50 grains, and 1300-1600fps) to achieve a velocity closer to 1000 fps. I don't want to blow anything up messing around with a potentially dangerous load, i'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with such things?

Thanks in advance!

[Tank]

Hey all,
Not new to reloading or casting, but new to the 45-70 and i am after any experience people have had, specifically with the 45-70 out of modern marlin lever guns.

1. Diameter of projectile to cast... do I get a .459 inch mould (and use a .457 push through sizer if needed) or a more common .457 inch mould? I know you can chamber cast, but that one is something i've had no experience with (happy to learn if pointers can be given) and i'm wondering what others have found success with in terms of diameter out of this particular type of rifle

2. Powder choice.... I'm looking to load lighter recoiling plinking loads for the most part using either 340 grain or 405 grain projectiles, with the option to load heaver hitters for hunting pigs and such. Trailboss is looking just fine for that, but i'm wondering if others have used any other powders (Eg AR2207, Benchmark 2 etc) but loaded below the min loads in the manuals (most loads are around 40-50 grains, and 1300-1600fps) to achieve a velocity closer to 1000 fps. I don't want to blow anything up messing around with a potentially dangerous load, i'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with such things?

Thanks in advance!

Hey Inis!
Welcome to the wonderful world of the immensely versatile 45-70!
Personally I’ve had some success with 405gr FP’s (Lee mould, range trash as cast and Aloxed) over 31-33gr 2207 (Winchester cases, Federal LR primers). Mild and quite accurate out of my GS.
Trailboss is ultra economical and I’ve found it to be ultra consistent. You won’t be chasing big velocity with it though....fantastic fun for practice and my kids love range time with the big 45 using the stuff.
My pet load is a .459 Spartan hard cast 500 FP over 31gr 2207. This load turns up 1,230fps in my GS (and my pet Project Wombat - a modified H&R Model 155 single shot) and is phenomenally accurate!
These loads are ‘Trapdoor safe’ (sub 28,000psi) so won’t trouble your Marlin at all.
Check out the ‘Single Action’ rifle load section on the ADI sight for the lowdown also.
You’ll fall in love with your GS!
I’ve put everything from 250’s to 540’s through mine. Doesn’t matter if it’s loaded down for the kids or sending 400 grainers at near 2,000fps.....it’s guaranteed to put a mile wide grin on your face!!
Enjoy!!
Regs,
Tank.

[Gamerancher]

Slug your barrel to find out its bore size, mine was .458.
16 gr of trailboss or try 20 gr of ADI 2205. Both worked well in my 1895 CB, mild and accurate, shot well out to 200m for lever gun silhouette.
( Edit: That was using a cast 370 grain RNFP flat base bullet sized to .459.)

[Tank]

Project Wombat!

14B1B3F9-390F-4DA4-A881-523BADEAD5D9.jpeg (37.06 KiB) Viewed 3533 times

6 shots at 100yds with ‘Project Wombat’

18EC4FBF-8C30-4AFF-89E8-72B73712596D.jpeg (94.48 KiB) Viewed 3533 times

[Wm.Traynor]

Holy Cow that's accurate, Tank
And it's got a barrel band too, which can be problematic, in my experience but not yours. Onya mate

[InisBineest]

Thanks for that, love your Wombat too, that things looks beast!

[Tank]

Cheers mate!
The barrel band is ornamental....it’s plastic and is held in place with a grub screw. But I hear you!
It far surpassed my wildest imaginings for accuracy though!
You’ll have a ball with your GS mate!
They’re a gem of a rifle.
Good luck!
Tank.

[bigpete]

I believe my load in my 1895cb was a lee 405gn,in sized,lubed with alox cut with lanolin,on top of 40gn of ar2206h. Could manage 1-2" groups at around 60m with iron sights and my poor eyes. Did a lot better the one time I put a scope on it.

[InisBineest]

I believe my load in my 1895cb was a lee 405gn,in sized,lubed with alox cut with lanolin,on top of 40gn of ar2206h. Could manage 1-2" groups at around 60m with iron sights and my poor eyes. Did a lot better the one time I put a scope on it.

Do you remember what the diameter of the projectile was?

[bigpete]

I believe it was .461

[in2anity]

The barrel band is ornamental....it’s plastic and is held in place with a grub screw. But I hear you!

that's awesome.

[InisBineest]

I believe it was .461

Thanks!

[InisBineest]

I just found a video of a bloke using 10grains of unique under various weights of pill in his 45-70. Unique is equivalent to AP70S according the the ADI handbook. Has anyone tried something like this before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfnK0e-qZPg

[Gamerancher]

I use 10 grains of AP-70 in a couple of lever-guns but in .38-55, .30-30 and .45 long colt. Never tried that amount in the .45-70. While it is not as position sensitive as other powders, it can be. The problem with that is very inconsistent accuracy. I think that shows in the video that you posted. That is not much powder in a large case. ( If you read the comments below the video, one fella talks about it. )
I've had a mate visit with his .45-70's with 16 grain Trailboss loads that shot cloverleaf groups, ( like Tank posted above ), off the bench at 100m, admittedly, that was with a scope.

[bigpete]

Trailboss is definitely the go imo

[InisBineest]

Trailboss it is