45-70 for elk

[Winchrman]

I have a cow elk tag and will probably use a 35 whelen on the hunt , but i have a winchester EL 45-70 that i have a lyman reciever site on . I would like to take the EL along and if conditions are right use it . I want to buy a couple boxes of factory ammo to experiment with for recoil and accuracy - any recommendations for the 45-70 and elk ?

[Leverluver]

Just for fun, I always took a longer range rifle and a "timber" rifle. I'd soon tire of sitting and glassing and often would go into the dense black timber or aspen quakies. More often than not, my timber rifle was my 71 but the 86EL would also be excellent. IMO, the two best available soft point loads are Garret's loaded with a 350 grain Woodleigh and Buffalo Bores loaded with the 350 Speer. The Garret is a well balanced load of reasonable pressure (~33KCUP) and the bullet is a good match considering the velocity (2100fps from a 22"). The BB load is fine too but is at the very upper end on pressure (nearly 10K over Garret's) and the bullet is very tough, i.e., it doesn't open well below ~1800fps. It doesn't open at all below 1600fps. Even so, it is a good load if ranges are 75 yds or under. The muzle velocity is ~2175 out of a 22" barrel. If both Garret and BB impact at ~1900-2000fps, the BB is the better penetrator as it has a high antimony content and doesn't open as much. It all depends on what you want to happen. From there is a vast assortment of cast loads that will all do well and maybe even better than soft points if raking shots are likely.

[Duff L Bagg]

Check out Garretts web sight and I think you will be impressed with Randy's offerings.

http://www.garrettcartridges.com/default.asp

[dkmlever]

I have killed a couple or four elk with a 45-70 all with Federal factory loads of the 300 grain JHP. No issues, they drop, as always bullet placement is the key.

[86er]

The 350 grain Kodiak bullet loaded by Grizzly Cartridge ( you get a discount for being a forum member!).

http://www.grizzlycartridge.com
or 503-556-3006

[Mike D.]

I'll be heading to Colorado in Nov to hunt cow elk. I finally figured out that I can't eat those horns and cows taste finer, anyway. I have killed elk with both the .45-70 and .45-90, using either 350 grain Laser-Cast or Hornady RN bullets. This time I'm gonna drag the 71 Winchester along, as well as my old Remington 700 BDL .30-06. I'll be using the new all copper 168 grain Barnes TSX boattails for the longer range shot and 200 Hornady FNs with the .348 for closer work. Either one is capable of doing the job on a fat young cow.

[Jay Bird]

I like the 45/70 for ELK............................ 250 yrd shot.

[jkbrea]

I shot a cow elk last season with the leverevolution 45-70. It worked great and for factory ammo, it's not too pricey. About $28 at Bass Pro.

[Sixgun]

I like the 45/70 for ELK............................ 250 yrd shot.

Guys, My son has lied. I took that photo, witnessed the shot, AND I lasered the range. It was not 250 yards. It was 236 yards . And yes, the ammo was mine. Home grown NEI 375 grain bullet over 40 grains of RL-7 for 1700 fps.------------------Sixgun

[Duff L Bagg]

I like the 45/70 for ELK............................ 250 yrd shot.

Guys, My son has lied. I took that photo, witnessed the shot, AND I lasered the range. It was not 250 yards. It was 236 yards . And yes, the ammo was mine. Home grown NEI 375 grain bullet over 40 grains of RL-7 for 1700 fps.------------------Sixgun

Thanks for keeping him in line. 14 yards is 14 yards. These young uns today will stretch the truth every time they get the chance, unlike us older guys who will always shoot ya straight with no exaggeration

[Don McDowell]

It won't cycle thru your 86 action but a 550 gr paper patch over 75 grs of goex 2f , will really stick an elks nose in the dirt at 200 yds. Saw it happen just this morning.

[Jay Bird]

As I recall it was 257 yards away. I told you were the Elk was and you thought it was in another place. How many eyes do you have?? I don't lie so stop mocking me. NOW GET BACK TO THE BASEMENT AND FINISH MY RIFLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!