Canadian Airgun Forum

Anyone ever used this powder for cast bullets? I bought I for my 45 70 but can't find amy data on it. Is it comparable to imr3031? I am tempted to try it out with the same load data for imr3031 loads or try to sell it trade it.

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Fx verminator mk2 extreme in .22 or arrow bolts
Airforce texan .457
Evanix rainstorm .357
Hw45 in .22 and .177
Kriss vector gen 1 .45 acp
Norinco m305 7.62 x 51
Marlin 1895 45 70

Search, there is load data available such as http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/defau ... der&Source

Harry

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The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those
who got there first

Thanks I just called them up. Finally I got a recipe for my 480 grain splitzers doing 1500+ fps

_________________
Fx verminator mk2 extreme in .22 or arrow bolts
Airforce texan .457
Evanix rainstorm .357
Hw45 in .22 and .177
Kriss vector gen 1 .45 acp
Norinco m305 7.62 x 51
Marlin 1895 45 70

Benchmark is a wonderfully accurate powder in both of .45/70's, Marlin and Sharps. Use the appropriate Hodgdon data, for the 'strength level" of rife you have.

Go to Hodgdon's web site for appropriate loads for you rifle. It is more easily ignited and burns much cleaner at lower pressures than IMR3031 which usually leaves too much scorched and un-burnt powder in the barrel after firing, in the lower pressure loads. I always keep 2 or 3 pounds of it in stock.

10 consecutive shots from my double Aperture Sighted Sharps (35" bl. GM barrel 18" twist), 48.0gr. Benchmark, 405gr. RP, 1,850fps @ 100 meters, off bags, of course - went into .875" (7/8") centre to centre. This was a low pressure load, midway between start and max. for low weak action rifles, like Trapdoor Springfields. Extrapolation from the chart shows it should produce about 1,600fps for a 24" bl. The max lists in this rifle-range, is 50.0gr. for approx. 1,700fps.
The stronger rifles can, of course be loaded heavier. Marlin, and WW 1886's - to 58.5gr. for 1,986fps. Benchmark is not listed for the stronger yet rifles as it is too bulky. The maximum 58.5gr. load for the lever guns is a compressed load.

Good powder, slightly slower burning & more dense, but more easily ignited and cleaner burning than IMR3031.

Never heard of Benahmark Powder. I assumed you meant Benchmark, thus my post.

I should also note, due to your asking about cast bullet data (which is listed in Hodgdon's Annual Manual), that I used 42.0gr. Benchmark with the 506g.r Cast gas-check bullets in the Sharps, with original open sights installed. I was able to plunk them into 1 1/2" at 100 meters with regularity and hit the small 6" plates on our in-town range at 220yards. Good accurate powder, cast or jacketed.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

Thanks for the tips

I called up and they gave me data on cast bullets. I have a 480 grain mold and 43 grains of Benchmark does 1600+ fps. This redefined my 292 grain bullets which didn't group well at 1500fps. It's true that marlin 1895 45 70s like heavy bullets that are 400+ grains. I do size my bullets to .457 but some molds I seen are .459 405grains. I often dream of what a 34 inched barrel would be like compared to 18.5 shooting thsee homemade rounds. I want to do some long distance plinking and watched videos on YouTube of 990 yard shooting at metal gongs.

_________________
Fx verminator mk2 extreme in .22 or arrow bolts
Airforce texan .457
Evanix rainstorm .357
Hw45 in .22 and .177
Kriss vector gen 1 .45 acp
Norinco m305 7.62 x 51
Marlin 1895 45 70

Most Marlins, especially the older micro-groove versions usually shoot well with .459" to .460" OD bullets, This is due to the very shallow multi-groove rifling.

In your rifle, sizing bullets to .457", the heavier bullets may be more prone to obturating slightly and thus shoot better than the lighter bullets.

I never size bullets smaller than .459", even though my Sharps has an undersized .448" bore. Normal would be .450". All 10-12 of my .458's over the years have given me superb accuracy using .459" cast bullets. As a rule of thumb, I size cast bullets .002" larger than the groove diameter.

I have heard of Marlins giving good accuracy with heavier than 400gr. bullets, however, bullet shape is vitally important. The bullet's ogive must be like the RCBS cast bullet line, from 300gr. to 500gr. They all have the short nose design for loading for rifles with restricted overall length- like the Marlin - a maximum OAL of 2.55". Some rifles will allow longer over all length, as in up to 2.60", but not all. The Model 86 Winchesters, original and replica should allow the use of the standard Government 500gr. bullet, the .457125 Lyman mould, which usually casts between 500gr. and 525gr. depending on the alloy used.

Mounting a sight like this one, http://www.brownells.com/rifle-parts/si ... 18599.aspx will give you the necessary elevation to shoot to well over 1,000meters with your short barrel, however the short sight radius will be against you. I have this sight on my model 1876 Uberti .50/95now and was able to come within 1foot of our 4'x8' buffalo gong at 1000 meters.

Mine, is the rifle on the top along with a ctg. .50/95. The rifle below, was recently re-stocked and is my bro's a .45/60- model 76 as well.



For somm reason my photobucket locked up, was going to post a picture of the buffalo being mounted on the 1000 meter line.

Well, I'm now off to the rifle range for some indoor airgun shooting with Gord.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

BTW guys- the 2017 Hodgdon's Annual Manual should be available now.
Make sure you check out all the magazine racks in your area for them.
Here, Wholesale Sports gets 1/2 dozen in, along with a Mohawk gas station.

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Best Wishes
Daryl

Amazing to find places to shoot out to 1000 meters. I moved out here from Toronto to experience these type of skills. My Texan shoots 500-700 yards and got me eager to use my marlin 45 70 the same way. The one I have is only 18.5 inchest but I often wonder what a 34 inched 45 70 would be like. Would you sell those sights? Are those prices on that site in CanadIan?

_________________
Fx verminator mk2 extreme in .22 or arrow bolts
Airforce texan .457
Evanix rainstorm .357
Hw45 in .22 and .177
Kriss vector gen 1 .45 acp
Norinco m305 7.62 x 51
Marlin 1895 45 70