Hi - I just purchased a new Guide Gun and wondered if you had any bullets to try and duplicate that Garrett 540grn load? Oh yes, I do live in Alaska.

'CUB,

Somewhat out of my realm of experience since I only loaded 300- and 405-grain jacketed in my old 1895, but
I believe the overall cartridge length problem of the Marlin may rear its ugly head with 500+ grain .45-70 loads. Truthfully though, if that is the situation, I doubt there is a Kodiak alive that will stop a Beartooth 405-grain LFNGC loaded to full potential in your GG.

Garrett seems to like the 540 gr slug he launchs at 1600fps.  He seats them deep enough and sells alot, I guess it must work the way he does it so I want to see what everyone here thinks.  

With a loaded OAL of 2.550, I use 49.0g of H4895 with lasedcast 500grainers to get 1650fps out of my guidegun. It generates about 50 ft. lbs. of recoil, so watch out. It is a compressed load with a heavy crimp. It is in the loadswap section.     doug      P.S. Marshall once told me he likes 350g as the ideal bullet weight for the 45-70, and the demand isn't their for a 500g

I have been thinking that a light bullet (250gr?) jacketed exanding bullet along the lines of a Barnes X or a Nosler Partition would be ideal driven at max velocity.  I don't know, just thinking.

'CUB,

Last year Wolfe Publishing did a special magazine on lever actions. Among the articles was one on the 444-chambered Winchester 94BB, wherein the author hunted feral donkeys in Austraila. He used the .44 caliber, 250-grain Nosler Partition. These animals were described as roughly zebra-sized, up to 600 lbs., and equally tough. Of the several taken, unspecified in the article, only three bullets were recovered. The lightest was 188.5 grains.

Now in your .45-70 a similar Partition should do about the same. For non-dangerous game in a sport hunting situation such a load should be fine. Since you're concerned with big bruin appearing at spitting distance without warning, I don't know if that would be enough penetration for all shot angles. I think 400+ grains of hardened lead would serve you better.

41Fan,

That 500-grain load sounds like a handful. From what you've described it may be on a very ragged edge pressure-wise with that OAL. Be careful. An extra 50 fps isn't worth a few fingers or worse.

(Edited by Bill Lester at 6:33 pm on April 10, 2001)

I was thinking of using the Jacketed bullet for all regular game and loading that hardcast for bear.  Thats why I was curious about duplicating the Garrett 540gr load.  I am ordering some but at โ for 20 rounds ,   WOW!

'CUB,

I see, my apologies for misunderstanding your point. Well there is a Nosler Partition at 300-grains, as well as hollowpoints in the same weight from Hornady and Remington. But you say you won't buy Remington... why, if I may ask? The Barnes X-bullet is a spitzer, so that a no-no in your tubular magazine. Any of those bullets should do nicely on deer and smaller bear. Probably do a job on moose and elk for that matter.

I would also agree on the price of factory .45-70's featuring hard cast slugs. It will give heart failure, even though I understand why they cost as much as they do.

Barnes does make a XFN in 250 and 300 gr weights.  I have not tried them yet but I am a big fan of X bullets in general, and if these perform on a par to the spitzer X bullets, then they are going to be real performers.  

Big Bore is correct. Barnes does catalog these bullets, but I have yet to see them for sale. I was relying on my latest Midway catalog when I quoted the available lightweight .458's. They are not listed. Apologies for the imperfect information in my last post.

(Edited by Bill Lester at 5:52 pm on April 11, 2001)

I guess the truth is, that I'm more than just a little concerned about liability with the 500+ grain bullets!  Most loading data out there today doesn't include 500+ grain bullets, and especially not for the Marlin 95's.

I have toyed with the idea of a 525g WLNGC bullet for the Marlins... I just haven't had the demand for the bullet to justify it's addition to our lineup.  I'll certainly listen however.  I will be adding, later this spring or early summer (depends upon when the mold is delivered!), a new 350-360 grain (depends on how it casts with our alloy) WLNGC bullet especially designed for the Marlin 1895's and the new .450 Marlin.  It should fill a nitch that many people have been asking about!

God Bless,

Marshall