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450 Marlin ballistics question

6K views 5 replies 6 participants last post by  big boar 
#1 ·
I am looking for ballistic data for the factory loads (both the 350 gr. and 325 gr. FTX) out of the 1895M with the 18.5 barrel. Hornady publishes data based on a 24" barrel. I am aware of data appearing in a post on the Marlin Forum of November 26, 2009, by Jaycocreek in thread "Loading 450". His post provides some comparative ballistic data on various hand loads and Hornady's 350 gr load. The data is for muzzle velocity and energy only.

I am looking for velocity, energy, trajectory for muzzle, 100 and 150 yards.

Thanks.
 
#2 · (Edited)
That straight case produces best efficiency with those bullet weights using relatively fast powders, like IMR 4198 or 4227. As a result, the powder burns early in the bullet travel. That means the chambering doesn't gain as much velocity from longer barrels as cartridges that work best with slower powders do. So your short barrel won't loose as much velocity as you might expect. QuickLOAD predicts velocity losses, depending what powder and pressures I loaded it to, would be about 4.1% to 4.5% from the shorter barrel with either bullet. I assume the Hornady loads will do the same.

Remember, though, that Hornady is probably using a 24" SAAMI test barrel with minimum chamber dimensions and bolt action breech. As a result, even if you had a 24" barrel on a production lever gun with production tolerance chamber, you would probably get lower velocity than they do. Maybe 100 fps less or so, but YMMV. So, I would figure to get anywhere from 100 fps to 200 fps less velocity in your 18.5" gun than they are claiming for a 24" barrel. Only a chronograph will tell for sure.
 
#5 ·
If you can pick up a chronograph and shoot 10 rounds through it, give us the average velocity and we'll get you all the information you're requesting. Or, you can pretty much just go by what's on the box...inside 150 yards or so, the nominal differences in energy/trajectory just won't matter all that much. Sight in 2" high at 100 and go hunt.
 
#6 ·
I haven't shot factory stuff('cept 22&12ga) in 40 years so can't really help you there, however I've got a 1895M (REALLLYYY like it) so I'll give you what I've got. Cast bullets, RCBS45-405FN 'O' @100yds drops 12" @200yds. I dial in about 5"-6" depending on the weather and have at it. Mostly I practice rapid offhand @25-50yds, offhand @100 & only shoot the 200 occasionally and that's from the bench. I'm huge on cast bullets for this gun and have fired a few 1000 rounds through it. I use a lighter load with RCBS300FN slugs for fun/practice.
 
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