45-70 ammo

[spike.t]

I did find where Mason Leather tested the 300 grain federal load in ballistic gel.

99% weight retention, 1.9X expansion, and around 2 feet of penetration at 100 yards from a 16.5 inch Marlin with a muzzle velocity of about 1700 fps.

You are good to go.

For some reason that video popped up on YouTube when I was watching stuff......big brother watching

 

[spike.t]

NICE! That looks sharp. Can't wait to see photos!!

That looks to have the same 18.5" pipe mine does. More than enough to do the job...

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Finally remembered to measure it...16 inches

 

[Ruraldoc]

Your barrel is the same as the one Mason Leather tested. I was a little concerned that you might have a longer barrel giving higher velocity which could have led to problems on larger animals at really close range.

I think your barrel length and load are about perfect. Maybe on the Sable and Waterbuck, you aim to miss the shoulder bone on a really close shot if they are close.

After you use it a couple of times, you will know for sure, but everything points in the right direction for success.

 

[Ruraldoc]

I recently got a Marlin Trapper with a 16.5 inch barrel in 44 Magnum, it’s really fun to shoot and about as handy as some of the really big handguns.

I have a Marlin 45-70 with a 20 inch barrel and. doesn’t seem nearly as handy.

Thinking about trading it for a new Trapper in 45-70 with a 16 inch threaded barrel like the 44 magnum gun.

That way I can get a Suppressor that will work with both rifles still have a reasonable overall length for hunting.

 

[ldmay375]

I recently got a Marlin Trapper with a 16.5 inch barrel in 44 Magnum, it’s really fun to shoot and about as handy as some of the really big handguns.

I have a Marlin 45-70 with a 20 inch barrel and. doesn’t seem nearly as handy.

Thinking about trading it for a new Trapper in 45-70 with a 16 inch threaded barrel like the 44 magnum gun.

That way I can get a Suppressor that will work with both rifles still have a reasonable overall length for hunting.

I have a couple of JM Marlin 45-70's that many years ago I had cut to 20". That was my preferred barrel length, until I took the plunge on a Ruger-Marlin Trapper. The Trapper has become my favorite walk about companion rifle. I added a Skinner rail / peep and a Williams Sight Company low profile red dot, a Range Point medium lever, an after market trigger, and H-S Precision fiberglass stock and forend. It is about as weather resistant as I can make it.

I had sighted it in with Buffalo Bore's 380 grain Lehigh WFN. I have since handed loaded using that same bullet, and CEB's 325 grain Lever Gun Solid. Buffalo Bore's load averaged ~2040 FPS from one 20", my handload with same bullet was ~1820 fps. Hopefully within a week or so, I will chronograph and resight in for my loads with the Trapper. One very handy little 45-70 carbine.

 

[roverandbrew]

Thanks dave...sounds good.....and you not that far away...pop up for a beer with Bobby...probably only time you might get here.....

I told him we will go and visit. I am making a plan now for next year to have a date with that Eland.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Finally remembered to measure it...16 inches

Huh. Shorter than mine.

 

[spike.t]

So brought it up to takeri yesterday....went to range after offloading the cruiser......so standard bench rest ie cruiser bonnet ..nothing fancy like some of your lots stuff ..at about 50 yards...front bead is bit big for my likes as covered just under most of the target....so this is the target..shot bit low...also trigger not that light so was getting used to it....gave up after 3 shots due to being low....and as said not used to trigger..was pulling it a bit I think...

Asked Mr google about info on adjusting brockman custom rifle peep sights...and up it can....so worked out how to lower front blade...turned it 2 rotations and crossed my fingers...this was in afternoon..so headed to range ....really concentrated with the trigger...now the first shot is one of the 2 making a bigger hole where my finger is..shot no2 is nearer to the bull..shot no3 is high and wasn't happy with it...so had one more shot and now was in with first shot making the hole bigger...so decided that's good enough...was lucky tge adjustments worked pretty well.....

Now one of the scouts this morning reported seeing a warthog at the dam that didn't look very good...looked this morning but didn't see it....so after the range I drove to the dam...and as got closer to the water I saw a warthog under the dam wall at the waters edge....where the track got closer I could see it was very thin....so I drove around to start of the dam wall and got out to check with my binos...very thin...so got out the 45-70 and slowly started to walk along top of the dam...the wind was blowing very strongly towards me , so I kept slowly walking further and got to where I was looking down on it at about 25 yards or so....was just sighting and it suddenly noticed me....stared then turned...I took the shot and missed...that lovely trigger ....forgot about it...it ran off to around 50 yards or so and stopped....I made sure to concentrate on the trigger and down it went....a really old sow with big teeth for an old lady.....when they were cutting it up they found this ..didn't penetrate too far and was old ..but what we find sometimes...not exactly uncommon....not sure what size...but looks bit smaller than buckshot .....

 

[deewayne2003]

So brought it up to takeri yesterday....went to range after offloading the cruiser......so standard bench rest ie cruiser bonnet ..nothing fancy like some of your lots stuff ..at about 50 yards...front bead is bit big for my likes as covered just under most of the target....so this is the target..shot bit low...also trigger not that light so was getting used to it....gave up after 3 shots due to being low....and as said not used to trigger..was pulling it a bit I think...

View attachment 718796

Asked Mr google about info on adjusting brockman custom rifle peep sights...and up it can....so worked out how to lower front blade...turned it 2 rotations and crossed my fingers...this was in afternoon..so headed to range ....really concentrated with the trigger...now the first shot is one of the 2 making a bigger hole where my finger is..shot no2 is nearer to the bull..shot no3 is high and wasn't happy with it...so had one more shot and now was in with first shot making the hole bigger...so decided that's good enough...was lucky tge adjustments worked pretty well.....

View attachment 718798

Now one of the scouts this morning reported seeing a warthog at the dam that didn't look very good...looked this morning but didn't see it....so after the range I drove to the dam...and as got closer to the water I saw a warthog under the dam wall at the waters edge....where the track got closer I could see it was very thin....so I drove around to start of the dam wall and got out to check with my binos...very thin...so got out the 45-70 and slowly started to walk along top of the dam...the wind was blowing very strongly towards me , so I kept slowly walking further and got to where I was looking down on it at about 25 yards or so....was just sighting and it suddenly noticed me....stared then turned...I took the shot and missed...that lovely trigger ....forgot about it...it ran off to around 50 yards or so and stopped....I made sure to concentrate on the trigger and down it went....a really old sow with big teeth for an old lady.....when they were cutting it up they found this ..didn't penetrate too far and was old ..but what we find sometimes...not exactly uncommon....not sure what size...but looks bit smaller than buckshot .....

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@spike.t
Seems like you have good ammo for your handy rifle - what would you say is the biggest animal you would use that rifle and ammo on?

 

[spike.t]

@spike.t
Seems like you have good ammo for your handy rifle - what would you say is the biggest animal you would use that rifle and ammo on?

Honestly haven't a clue....never used it before....and have read the threads on buff etc etc.....staff Christmas meat ration might see if a wildebeest is obliging..but it will be a let's see what situation comes up and go with it....the pig wasn't big, but shoulder broken and exit hole wasn't much bigger than entrance so hopefully it would hold together OK on something bigger

 

[ldmay375]

Thanks for sharing the pictures and report. A very nice looking and handy lever gun you have.

 

[spike.t]

Thanks for sharing the pictures and report. A very nice looking and handy lever gun you have.

Yeah it is kinda short compared to most of my other toys it's growing on me the more i mess around with it.....must actually shoot it at night...think there might be a serious bit of sudden daylight

 

[ldmay375]

Yeah it is kinda short compared to most of my other toys it's growing on me the more i mess around with it.....must actually shoot it at night...think there might be a serious bit of sudden daylight

lol , yeah likely to light things up at night.

I was a hardcore believer in the 20" barrels for Many years. When I finally, actually handled one of the 16" Marlins, I bought it. It is an absolute favorite companion for walk-abouts / hiking. I would love to have a decent moose or bear shot opportunity with it.

 

[Tman321]

Since it's so hard for you to get ammo sounds like a good excuse to start handloading, at least you got a bit of brass now

 

[spike.t]

Since it's so hard for you to get ammo sounds like a good excuse to start handloading, at least you got a bit of brass now

Illegal here............

 

[F. Vaccaro]

Illegal here............

Darn.

 

[degoins]

OK so the dealer here after me asking for a couple of years has managed to get some in his latest shipment....what's it like?...no point recommending other makes etc as this is it...am happy as been waiting...so just asking how it works...

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I've only used them on deer and hogs and they worked well.