I just had an old family heirloom Marlin 1881 45/70 restored. It shoots great & my gunsmith told me it's safe to shoot just about anything in it. About the only standard (non+P) 45/70 ammo I can find around here is Remington. It shoots great in the old Marlin - almost 130 yrs old & it still shoots straight as an arrow.
But I have been warned on 'another' forum not to use jacketed bullets; they can wear out the bore on an old rifle like mine. The Remington ammo is 'semi-jacketed'...............realistically, I doubt I'll be shooting more than 100 or so rounds a year out of it............
If I remember correctly from HS basic chemistry class, no matter how 'soft' the steel the Marlin's barrel is made of, it's still a LOT harder than a bullet's copper jacket................is there a chance of wearing out the barrel using jacketed or semi-jacketed bullets?
I know there are a lot of experts in ammunition & gunsmithing lurking here - any thoughts & advice would be greatly appreciated - thanks!!!
ps: not to be a party-pooper, but I work 2 jobs & live in a small house with no basement or workshop, so reloading my own is not in my future..........sorry to say, I have neither the time nor the space to do it.
But I have been warned on 'another' forum not to use jacketed bullets; they can wear out the bore on an old rifle like mine. The Remington ammo is 'semi-jacketed'...............realistically, I doubt I'll be shooting more than 100 or so rounds a year out of it............
If I remember correctly from HS basic chemistry class, no matter how 'soft' the steel the Marlin's barrel is made of, it's still a LOT harder than a bullet's copper jacket................is there a chance of wearing out the barrel using jacketed or semi-jacketed bullets?
I know there are a lot of experts in ammunition & gunsmithing lurking here - any thoughts & advice would be greatly appreciated - thanks!!!
ps: not to be a party-pooper, but I work 2 jobs & live in a small house with no basement or workshop, so reloading my own is not in my future..........sorry to say, I have neither the time nor the space to do it.