Q: Can you tell me what type of rifling my new Ruger-Marlin .45-70 has as I want to fire cast lead bullets in it and have been told that Ballard-type rifling is best.
Also, could you suggest some loads for a 390gn lead bullet?
Rohan York
A: Your new Ruger-built Marlin .45-70 definitely has Ballard-type rifling, which is the preferred system if you want to shoot cast lead bullets through it.
If you have once-fired cases to reload, check that the case length is 2.100” (53.34mm). If they are longer, make sure to trim them, otherwise they may not work through the action of your lever-action Marlin.
Hornady recommends trimming cases even shorter (2.040” or 51.82mm) when using their Monoflex bullets which have a long ogive, but a 390gn cast lead bullet shouldn’t require this.
The bullets will need crimping, of course, to work through the tubular magazine and prevent spring pressure pushing them further into the case.
Powders are hard to get just now, but the following loads with ADI powders are mild and not maximum.
Take your pick: 50gn of AR2219 for 1670fs; 46gn AR2207, 1754fps; 55gn BM2, 1756fps; 52gn AR2208, 1610fps; or 46gn AR2206H, 1750fps.
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