45-70 in a Marlin 1895

62fuelie

I seem to remember a thread a while back about needing to shorten the cases to use longer nosed 300-405 gr. bullets with a fairly large meplat and get a good crimp into the groove. If I am correct, what is the recommended base line cut for starting to make loads that will function through the action? Or is it a matter of measuring from the crimp groove to the nose and figuring out how much needs to be cut to reach the COL of the manual?

charliemeyer007

I haven't loaded for a Merlin, have a buddy with one in 45-70 but he doesn't like to shoot it as much as the one in 45 Colt.

I think crimp grove to nose is the number you need. 300 grain should be fine, even 405 ought to work. The larger 500 and 540 you will be trimming brass for sure IMHO. I would look hard at the Lyman 330 Gould hollow point 457122 cast on the harder side for a micro grove barrel. They cast large as they were for soft lead, sizing antimony containing bullets down is a job.

BHAVIN

I have one and use mostly 300gr Cast W/gas check and have loaded Rem 405 JHP's as well and have not had to shorten the brass at all. Both have fed fine. Mine is an earlier Pre safety.

MIKE WISKEY

Hornady shortens the cases on thier .444m and .45/70 ammo when useing the flex tip bullets as crimp grove to nose tip is longer. you need to keep o.a.l. to factory spec's. to get them to feed right.

62fuelie

Thanks to all, I'll start measuring and get out the calculator.