GArrett Hammerhead cartridges 45-70

[bigchinner]

So, I got these cartridges in a trade and never used them. They are in a slip open red box. It says shoot in "ballard barrels". Very nice looking cast bullethead. ANyone have experience with this manufacturer or round?
I would like to shoot this round sometime since it's about 4.00 a pop.
Thanks
CK

[NoHeavyHitter]

The irony is that the .45-70 is both the easiest and one of the "cheapest" calibers to reload...

What I'm trying to say is that reloading 9mm is a zero-sum game whereas loading an expensive cartridge yields a far greater savings. I can reload a .45-70 using any Lehigh exotic projectile and still be under a couple bucks..

But yeah, those Garrets are meant for business. They'll probably drop about any animal that currently walks the planet. As far as the "Ballard" rating goes - they're just telling you to shoot it from a barrel with heavy rifling - not "micro-groove".

[JTROKS]

Is there a pressure rating on those 45/70 loads, 1-3?

[bigchinner]

It says +P on the box and 35,000 cup at 1550 FPS
540 grain superhard cast.

[200Apples]

So, I got these cartridges in a trade and never used them. They are in a slip open red box. It says shoot in "ballard barrels". Very nice looking cast bullethead. ANyone have experience with this manufacturer or round?
I would like to shoot this round sometime since it's about 4.00 a pop.
Thanks
CK

Which firearm do you intend to shoot your Hammerhead ammo from? Not all can handle the pressures generated by Garrett's Hammerheads. Look here for firearm recommendations for each .45-70 loading.

I mention this because Garrett "Hammerhead" ammo is their serious hunting ammo... Last I looked, Garrett offered two or three different Hammerhead loads in .45-70. If it's their stout load, you're only going to fire two or three of these and then you're done for the day. The load I mention pushes a 540-grain "super-hardcast" to 1550 fps and is suitable to take any of the African Dangerous Six. Another uses a 500-grain jacketed flat point to 1600...

[Imageview]

Those are nasty on both ends of the firearm. As long as it's a modern 45-70 it should be fine, definitely not something to shoot out of a classic firearm from the black powder era.

[200Apples]

It says +P on the box and 35,000 cup at 1550 FPS 540 grain superhard cast.

Yep.

That's no plinkin' load.

[bigchinner]

I got them to shoot out of a marlin 45-70 guide gun but passed up the deal for the rifle and kept them. I got them in a trade knowing that I was looking for a guide gun. I am definitely not paying $2000-3000 for the newer ones.

[bigchinner]

anyone interested in these 19 rounds. I am out $50 in trade and don't have a 45-70 and don't plan on buying one. Out of my budget range.

[Dirtlaw]

Bigchinner, where are you located? I have interest if you intend to sell.

[W.R.Buchanan]

Please understand: These are A** Kickers. The recoil will be similar to a 1 1/4 oz. 12 ga. slug at 15-1600 fps. Except the gun is lighter.

My 1895 CB 26 weighed 7 lbs. on the nose when I got it. I installed a serious Recoil Pad and a Graycoil Recoil Reducer in the stock which brought the weight up to 8 lbs. (Still kind of light and needs to be more like 9 lbs.)

Point being there is a significant price to be paid on the back end of these guns. I'm about done at 325 gr boolits at 1550-1600 fps. These are nearly twice that!

Randy

[bigchinner]

Thanks for the info W.R. The +P mark really makes sense.

[lastinline]

I wonder how long it would take to destroy a Marlin lever rifle using those?

[Imageview]

These are safe for the marlin 1895, you will quit before the rifle does.

[200Apples]

These are safe for the marlin 1895, you will quit before the rifle does.

True story.

As was mentioned earlier, a 540 grain "super"-hardcast @ 1550 fps is no plinkin' load. In fact, it is the load that Vince Lupo used to take the African Dangerous Six.

Recoil management is virtually impossible when using a 7-lb Marlin. Some would quip that recoil management for this load would be "carry all day, shoot once", but the gun will withstand quite a few. As W.R. and Imageview noted, the shooter will quit long before the gun will.

On the other hand, if anyone's looking for a pleasant .45-70 load but one that will also be easy to hit 100 yards with, it's a 400/405-grain @ +/-1200 fps. Remington used to sell a CoreLokt "Safe For All Rifles" (Trapdoor loads) 405 grain semi-jacketed flat point, if you can find some. They claim 1330 fps from a 24" barrel but our data recorded using a Labradar is 1050 fps from 18.5" of Marlin 1895GS. It's easier on the shoulder than commercial .44 Mag from a .5-lb lighter Marlin 1894!