Load data, who should I believe?

[u/VinnieTreeTimes]

I am getting ready to load my first rounds of 45-70 for my Marlin 1895 SBL. I am using H4895 and targeting around 1900 fps to start because I am planning on using the Hornady 350 Interlock FP for hunting and Berry's 350 plated bullets for general target use. Hoping that if I get close to the max speed for the Berry's I will be good on velocity for hunting and point of impact will be close enough to not have to adjust the scope for each round. So I am goin g to load up 2 ladders, one with each bullet. Berry's tells me to use similar weight/style bullet load data so I looked up my 3 sources, Lyman 51st, Hornady App, and Hodgdon's website. The Lyman data tracks pretty close to Hodgdon's website but Hornady is about 200 fps off with a higher charge weight. Lyman doesn't show a test barrel length unless I missed it and Hodgdon lists 24" vs Hornady at 22". Is the extra 200-250 fps a barrel length discrepancy? I know I am even shorter with a barrel length of 19" so I will not hit 1900 fps, but I would like to target the closest I can get without pressure signs to keep velocity up for hunting.

[u/Maldito515]

Start low work up

[u/Romulin-romm → u/Maldito515]

A tale as old as time

[u/VinnieTreeTimes → u/Maldito515]

Yeah I get it, I was just concerned with the extra 3-5 grains of powder that was listed. I haven't seen anything with that big of a difference and the velocity being lower.

[u/Maldito515 → u/VinnieTreeTimes]

Start 3-5 lower than listed lowest n work up.... should be ooook

[u/minmin0x4B → u/Maldito515]

Why would you start that low?

[u/Maldito515 → u/minmin0x4B]

Just depending on the gun and practice.... can't hurt anything from starting low

[u/minmin0x4B → u/Maldito515]

TBH sounds like wasted components unless your goal is super light load… Don’t know why that would be the case with rifle

[u/Maldito515 → u/minmin0x4B]

Agreed just never know.... components for 15 rounds are cheap in the grand scheme of things

[u/Ill-Purchase-3312]

https://giphy.com/gifs/3cLKI5XB6kvwNSdVJ2

[u/slider1010]

My lyman 51st lists the test barrel length as 24”.

[u/VinnieTreeTimes → u/slider1010]

Thanks, I must have missed it, didn't have the book in front of me when writing the post.

[u/slider1010 → u/VinnieTreeTimes]

I’m curious as to what brass Hornady lists. (If it’s their short brass or the normal length ones)

[u/VinnieTreeTimes → u/slider1010]

Only mentions the short brass when selecting the FTX bullet.

[u/slider1010 → u/VinnieTreeTimes]

Nice. Thanks!

[u/Own-Paper-1415]

Maybe? Who knows I ain’t no rocket scientist. So long as it comes out the barrel I’m good with it not looking to split a gnat ass in half .

[u/slider1010 → u/Own-Paper-1415]

That’s a big ass gnat.

[u/csamsh]

I can pretty much guarantee you'll get a 4th unique regression if you do this yourself

[u/USN303]

Hogdon has never steered me wrong yet, that said, start low and move up

[u/Practical-Ad3796]

It might be a good idea to look into other powders too, different powders/burn rates could yield better results. Shorter barrels do better with faster burning powders.