doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 45-70 Ammo Question

I own a Marlin, lever action, 45-70, mfg. in 1975. I recently purchased some ammo from a person who reloads. I later noticed on the box that states, "for Browning 78 only". The specs. on the box are: 350 gr. bullet, 3031 powder, at 50 gr. weight.

My question is: can I shoot this ammo through a lever action gun?

I don't like shooting other folks reloads unless I have the necessary trust. Hodgdon's reloading site lists loads for "Lever Actions" using 3031 with a 350gr bullet from 56.5 to 60.0gr. Assuming your reloader knows what he's doing, it should be a mild load. The Marlin is a good strong gun and shouldn't have any issues.

"only" is a flag. He may have long loaded the cartridges, B 78 no need to cycle through a magazine, many single shots are loaded to suit the leade & too long for a lever action.

Marlins are strong, But I would not fire anybody else's re-loads. I would pull the bullets dump the powder and re load them my self. May want to use his 50 gr data. Hodgdons recommended are heavy recoilers.

Boats

Boats & Hoot: thanks for the advice. I took the ammo in question out and compared the length to a factory Remington load. Sure enough, the reload was longer, by about 1/16, or less, of an inch and they do not cycle easily, or jam, if I cycle the lever action quickly.

Personally, I don't reload, so I will either dispose of these reloads or try to shoot them on the range, one round at a time.

I don't shoot anybody's reloaded ammo. If you don't know what's in it how do you know if it is safe? I've seen too many hot loads to trust someone else to load for me. Are the bullets what they say so on the box? I'd pull the bullets and reload them or have some one do it for me.

There is always the question too as to whether the bullet shape is suitable for use in a magazine.

In the past I've purchased some reloads but that is not something that I would do these days now that I have a sense of my own mortality.

have another day
Dr.WtS

It's easy to pull bullets & brass is hard to find. If you don't have a bullet puller, Put the cartridge in your loading press no die. Run the case up so the bullet is exposed. Grab it with a pair of slip joint pliers, ones that have the round cut out in the jaws.

Lower the ram, pliers stop on the presses top, bullet pulls right out. Dump the powder re-size the case with the primer punch removed then load as normal.

Don't try to punch out the hot primer, load using it as seated.

Opps you don't reload, then give them to somebody who does.

Boats

The Hornady manual has three separate sections for 45-70 Reloading data.
1. For "factory Loads" which are safe for the trap door Springfield military rifles.
2. A hotter category for the modern lever guns like you have.
3. An even hotter category for the Browning 78.s, Ruger #1s and those make on a Siamese Mauser Action ONLY

I would not use them in MY lever gun.