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I-too would much prefer a 26" barrel on the #1 in .45/70 - or the .450 Marlin.

As I wrote Wayne earlier, I checked my .458 2" data in a friend's .45/70 Siamese Mauser. The guns gave pretty much identical ballistics - my 22" bl. and his 24". I assume the extra 2" on his barrel made up for the greater case capacity and therefore should have been slightly lower speeds.

I'm not going to post my loads, but will say that with compressed loads of both H335 and IMR4320, I got 2,060fps with both powders and a 500gr. Hornady and 510 WW bullets, 2,200fps with 400gr. Barnes Spitzers and 2,290fps with the 350 Hornady.

Hodgdon's data only goes up to 50,000psi - these loads exceed that pressure with all bullet weights, I'd expect. Also- H4198 might be the best powder for the 350gr. Unfortunately, I stopped testing that powder at 55.0gr. as the accurcy disintegrated into patterns after 53.0gr. at 2,200fps. The H335 and IMR4320 held accuracy beautifully. Making 1" groups with .45 cal. rifle and all bullet weights is fun.

My chamber had a 3/8" leade which allowed me to seat the bullets out as far as possible depending on the design of the bullet.

These loads would work easily in a Ruger #1.

I suspect one should be able to achieve 2,100 to 2,150fps with a 450gr. Banded Solid in a Ruger .45/70. I cannot believe that one would penetrate poorly.

I poured the powder into the case very carefully and used a drop tube, as simply dumping it in did not work.

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Daryl

"a gun without hammers is like a Spaniel without ears" King George V

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