Marlin 44 is ready to go!
This is a discussion on Marlin 44 is ready to go! within the General Firearm Discussion forums, part of the Related Topics category; Originally Posted by Kilowatt3
We don't have any buffalo, grizzlies, or rhino around here ...
How do you know? Those swamps are dense. :)
I ...
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October 12th, 2019 11:29 PM
#16
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Originally Posted by
Kilowatt3
We don't have any buffalo, grizzlies, or rhino around here ...
How do you know? Those swamps are dense. :)
I remember when alligators went on the endangered species list. The people who did that were never anywhere near Louisiana. There was no shortage ...
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October 13th, 2019 02:53 AM
#17
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Originally Posted by
G-man*
I can reload a 50 round box with premium bullets cheaper than you can buy a box of cheap 9mm ammo.
Yep...even the 45-70 he was referring to can be reloaded CHEAP...as compared to almost any commercial ammo.
“The everyday man who holsters a handgun for come-what-may eventualities cannot improve on a .44 Special revolver.” Skeeter Skelton
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October 13th, 2019 09:46 AM
#18
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Originally Posted by
G-man*
I can reload a 50 round box with premium bullets cheaper than you can buy a box of cheap 9mm ammo.

Originally Posted by
Shootnlead
Yep...even the 45-70 he was referring to can be reloaded CHEAP...as compared to almost any commercial ammo.
I would be VERY interested in a cost breakdown of your .45-70 reloads that are cheaper than "cheap 9mm ammo"! You must have some incredibly cheap sources for reloading components.
The cheapest .45-70 load I could come up with was about $.40/round. That's buying powder in bulk, not using a "premium" bullet, and not even including the cost of brass! I can buy cheap, brass-cased factory 9mm for $.15/round.
What am I missing?
Regards,
Jim

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He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dares not is a slave. - Andrew Carnegie
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October 13th, 2019 10:22 AM
#19

Originally Posted by
G-man*
I hadn’t shot it for over a year. The wife used it last year.
I did 3 shots from sitting with my handloads at 55 yards, which is the farthest I can shoot in my yard, and see the target due to the slope.
I circled the group with a pen, and finished off the session by doing strong arm draw and fire for 4 shots followed 3 weak hand shots from 4 yards with my carry ammo from the LW Colt Commander.
Mods; I posted this here because it was a mixed bag of hunting rifle/ defensive handgun, but move it if it’s more appropriate somewhere else.
55 yard 3 shot group
Attachment 304000
Attachment 304002
That should do quite nicely!
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October 13th, 2019 10:48 AM
#20
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Originally Posted by
Kilowatt3
I would be VERY interested in a cost breakdown of your .45-70 reloads that are cheaper than "cheap 9mm ammo"! You must have some incredibly cheap sources for reloading components.
The cheapest .45-70 load I could come up with was about $.40/round. That's buying powder in bulk, not using a "premium" bullet, and not even including the cost of brass! I can buy cheap, brass-cased factory 9mm for $.15/round.
What am I missing?
I shoot .45-70 frequently and have been reloading them for the past 35 years or so. 350-grain RNFP cast of salvaged wheel weights, large rifle primer, 28 grains IMR 4198. I figure my cost to reload at about $0.15 per round, $7.50 per box of 50 rounds. That compares pretty favorably with factory 9mm pistol ammo.
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October 13th, 2019 10:50 AM
#21
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Originally Posted by
OD*
That should do quite nicely!

Out of all the rifles I have hunted with over the years, the 44 magnum is the most impressive on deer within 100 yards.
" Blessed is that man, who when facing death, thinks only of his front sight.”
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October 13th, 2019 10:53 AM
#22
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Scope on a lever gun?
A man has got to know his limitations.
In a world of snowflakes, be a torch.
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October 13th, 2019 10:54 AM
#23
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Originally Posted by
Bad Bob
Scope on a lever gun?

They come off with a few turns of the screw:)
" Blessed is that man, who when facing death, thinks only of his front sight.”
-Jeff Cooper
“ Looking around doesn’t cost you anything; and it’s a healthy habit”
-Joe Foss
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October 13th, 2019 10:54 AM
#24
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Originally Posted by
G-man*
Out of all the rifles I have hunted with over the years, the 44 magnum is the most impressive on deer within 100 yards.
I love my 44's.. The 30-06 with a 150-165 grn Nosler BT is very impressive on deer, at any distance.
A man has got to know his limitations.
In a world of snowflakes, be a torch.
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October 13th, 2019 11:15 AM
#25
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Originally Posted by
Bad Bob
I love my 44's.. The 30-06 with a 150-165 grn Nosler BT is very impressive on deer, at any distance.
I've never had to shoot anything twice with my .30-06 with 165-grain Sierra SPBTs. Effective, they are. IMO, a .30 165-grain bullet at decent velocity and reasonable range is good for most anything.
On a sidenote, I loaded some Nosler 150-grain BTs for the -06 and at first thought I'd found magic. Smaller than a quarter-sized group at 200 yards, but stretching out to 300 found I could barely keep them on the paper. Became unstable for some reason. That's when I switched to 165-grainers. Big difference.

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October 13th, 2019 12:16 PM
#26
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Originally Posted by
Kilowatt3
I would be VERY interested in a cost breakdown of your .45-70 reloads that are cheaper than "cheap 9mm ammo"! You must have some incredibly cheap sources for reloading components.
The cheapest .45-70 load I could come up with was about $.40/round. That's buying powder in bulk, not using a "premium" bullet, and not even including the cost of brass! I can buy cheap, brass-cased factory 9mm for $.15/round.
What am I missing?
Using my cast bullets and reloading my brass...coming in under the cost of bulk 9mm ammo is no problem. I can produce these reloads for about 16 cents per round or $8.00 per 50. In my area or online orders with shipping, bulk 9mm costs me $10 per 50 rounds...so, you have access to cheaper 9mm than I do. But, my point still stands...reloading 45-70 makes it very affordable to shoot. And, actually, my statement was about commercial 45-70 and not 9mm specifically...but it does compare very favorably to 9mm...since you mention it.
“The everyday man who holsters a handgun for come-what-may eventualities cannot improve on a .44 Special revolver.” Skeeter Skelton
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October 13th, 2019 12:18 PM
#27
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Originally Posted by
retired badge 1
I shoot .45-70 frequently and have been reloading them for the past 35 years or so. 350-grain RNFP cast of salvaged wheel weights, large rifle primer, 28 grains IMR 4198. I figure my cost to reload at about $0.15 per round, $7.50 per box of 50 rounds. That compares pretty favorably with factory 9mm pistol ammo.
Glad that works for you, but for most of us, it won't.
Most of us don't have the skills, equipment, time, or opportunity to cast free bullets. VERY few are able to cast "premium bullets", and the cheapest (NOT premium) bullets I'm seeing for .45-70 are a quarter a pop; almost twice the cost of a cheap factory 9mm round. You're also basing your cost on a very light load - 28 gr. vs. 35-45 gr. for a "standard" load. Forty grains of IMR 4198 will set you back about $.14/round for the powder alone.
So, a realistic cost for someone who doesn't cast 'free' bullets, and loads to a standard pressure, is $.25 for the bullet, $.14 for powder, and $.03 for a primer. That's $.42 a round and still does not account for the cost of brass or investment in dies. Heck, most of us would never reload 1000 rounds of .45-70 in our lives, so a $50 set of dies adds another nickel per round to the cost!
In your circumstances, maybe you can equate the cost of .45-70 reloads to new 9mm ammo. In my circumstances, I can't.
Regards,
Jim

NRA Life Member
Charter Member (#00002) of the DC .41 LC Society - "Get Heeled! No, really!"
He that cannot reason is a fool. He that will not is a bigot. He that dares not is a slave. - Andrew Carnegie
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October 13th, 2019 02:58 PM
#28
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G-man, a .44 lever gun is on my wish list. I keep scanning the racks in the local shops. Nice choice.
My current lever gun is Winchester in 45 Colt, which, loaded with warm ammo, would seem to be a decent second choice to the .44. 
45-70 is an awesome cartridge, but is too much gun for my neighborhood.
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October 13th, 2019 03:01 PM
#29
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Originally Posted by
Nix
G-man, a .44 lever gun is on my wish list. I keep scanning the racks in the local shops. Nice choice.
But my current lever gun is Winchester in 45 Colt, which, loaded with warm ammo, would seem to be a decent second choice to the .44.

Its not a good second choice.....it’s an excellent alternative!
" Blessed is that man, who when facing death, thinks only of his front sight.”
-Jeff Cooper
“ Looking around doesn’t cost you anything; and it’s a healthy habit”
-Joe Foss
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October 13th, 2019 03:24 PM
#30
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Originally Posted by
Nix
G-man, a .44 lever gun is on my wish list. I keep scanning the racks in the local shops. Nice choice.
My current lever gun is Winchester in 45 Colt, which, loaded with warm ammo, would seem to be a decent second choice to the .44.
45-70 is an awesome cartridge, but is too much gun for my neighborhood.
Many folks say 45 Colt does everything 44 Magnums does, but with less fanfare. I'd love to add a 45 Colt lever to the collection as well. I have a custom 3" M28 that was rodded out to 45 Colt that would pair well with one.
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