45-70 hunting loads

[Nobody]

11111

[Mike D.]

I have taken mule deer to 200 lbs with both the .45-70 and .45-90. One shot DRNs using Barnes 250 Grain TSXs. Bullets enter at .458 and exit much larger. No bullets recovered, they all went downrange. Heart and lungs foamed and only ribs damaged.

[hightime]

I had the same questions last year. I think since I came from high speed bottleneck bullets to the slower big bore, I thought they might be too brutal. I ended up shooting three whitetail with the 1895 Cowboy 45-70. I used factory Rem 405 gr loads. They all made holes out not much bigger than the in holes. All three went right down without as much meat damage as what my 270 Win. used to do. I am now reloading and have not shot a deer with the more powerfull loads recomended for the Marlin. I can't see that it would make much differance. I like the results and now I can shoot though a lot more brush.

Owen

[AJMD429]

I am NOT an experienced big-game hunter, but from what I read by those who are, there isn't much that a hard-cast lead bullet in the proper caliber/velocity won't do for any North American game. The elephants and rhinos and so on seem to need harder metal than lead.

[Nobody]

11111

[Tycer]

No you have not overestimated the 45-70.

The Winchester performed as designed: Dump all the energy quickly.

I "think" the Rem corelokt a bit more sturdy, Hornady a bit more than that, then Barnes orig, then Nosler partition then Swift A-frame. These are standard fare bullets.

Joe Reikers is one of the most knowledgeable men around when it comes to 45-70 performance on game. Here's an article by him: http://www.gunblast.com/JoeRiekers-BearHunting.htm

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... ak#p355281

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... ak#p325897

http://www.diyballistics.com/?p=180

I like the Core-Lokts when it comes to jacketed, but I hunt mostly with cast bullets.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70 ... enjoy.html

[Tycer]

The Rem 405 factory loads will do you right.

How many are you going to shoot? A Lee Loader is pretty easy with the 45-70 case shape.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/224711 ... government

Add powder, primers, bullets and brass.......

[.45colt]

Was they other guy shooting factory or reloads? How fast were they going? How far was the deer when He shot? every bullet design has working limits. if that bullet is made for best expansion in a deer at 11-1600fps impact speed, and He shot the deer 25yds away with a MV of 1900fps then that hollowpoint will most likley just blowup. alot more info needed.

[Blaine]

Use the Factory Federal 300gr load. A flat nose, soft point solid. It will hold together much better. Those are not a weak load. 1880fps in a 300gr bullet is anything but.

[Nobody]

11111

[Warhawk]

The 45-70 in any loading does not "tear up" a lot of meat. I don't like the performance of the leverlution ammo on hogs and big deer. But it will probably be fine on smaller deer. I've shot deer and hogs with everything from hot handloads to factory loads with 300 to 405 grain bullets. The only bullet that has failed to completely penetrate for me is the Hornady Leverlution.

I have used

Heavy handloads with 405 gr Remington JSP and 400grain hardcast
Moderate handloads with 400 grain hardcast
Federal 300 grain factory load
Remington 405 grain factory load
Hornady leverlution 325 grain flex tip

The only one that was even remotely "torn up" was a big Kansas buck with a deformed rack that I shot in the neck as he was head on facing toward me, with his head down feeding. The handloaded 405 Rem JSP drove a chunk of vertebra through his vitals and out through the ribs on the off side. He didn't go far.

[crs]

Bob,
I have used the same .45-70 Winchester 300 grain Nosler protected point ammo you reference and in every case , it shot totally through the animals, leaving an impressive exit hole if it hit anything solid. This was true for two whitetail buck deer, pronghorn, blackbuck, and fallow deer.
I like those bullets so much, I load them for my .45-90 and 86er took a large leopard with it in Africa and it was a DRT shoot through. However, these bullets are designed to perform at normal .45-70 velocities and will expand explosively on impact above 2200 fps, so that was the upper limit muzzle velocity set for my .45-90 loads. FWIIW, they become varmint loads at 2600 fps.

[guido4198]

If you're not wanting to reload....just buy the Remington 405's. Look for the verbage on the box:"For Use In All Rifles".
They are as close as you'll get to a perfect loading for deer in timber, relatively short range opportunites.

[AJMD429]

FWIIW, they become varmint loads at 2600 fps.

A 300-grain 'varmint' load... that's more like a tri-axle on nitrous...

[pdawg.shooter]

In 40+ years of hunting with the 45-70 the load I have found best all around is a 430gr paper patched bullet over 54gr. of AA2495. Works for everything.

[Tycer]

I would like for it to go in one side and out the other while expanded but I am guessing I on longer have that choice since they expand so fast.

I know the rifle can do it I just need the simple all around round. Is that asking too much?. The Rem 405s will do well. You could spend twice the money but not get twice the performance. There's a reason the Rem Core-Lokts have been produced continuously for 72 years and are the number one selling factory ammo.

I love that simple reload tool and am asking for it for Christmas. Its not for black powder only is it? Nope

When you start reloading, you can search for that perfect load. When you do, PM 86er for a bit of advice on which bullets to try first and which powders. He truly knows hunting and has shot more 45-70 ammo into game than most of us ever will.

I have two loads, heavy load and a general load. The heavy load is a 450 grain cast bullet traveling less than 1700 fps and the general load is a 330 grain less than 1900. I can cast the bullets hard or soft depending on what I am shooting at.

86er prefers controlled expansion, premium bullets. I'm too cheap.

[Mike D.]

Exit hole from 250 grain Barnes TSX fired from .45-90 Winchester at 2200 FPS. Neat hole in, quite large out, bullet kept on truckin'.

[6pt-sika]

There are a number of bullets I like in the 45-70 !

For jacketed I like the no longer made Nosler 300 grain Partition and the Swift 350 grain A Frame .

I've killed deer with both in 45-70's and 450 Marlin's with understandably excellent results .

For cast as far as I'm concerned the PREMIER cast bullet for me is the Ranch Dog 460-350GC loaded with a stout charge of H322 . After that I would have to rank the Ranch Dog 460-425GC and the BRP 462-465GC as second best for my needs !
I've killed deer with both the Ranch Dog offerings but not with the BRP yet !

Now there's another bullet I like just because I like it . Really no earthly need for me to use it but I like it and it happens to be the BallistiCast 462-550GC .

My own 45-70 is at this moment sighted in with the BRP 462-465GC and I know where the 550 BC prints with that sight in !

With a little luck I'll be able to blood my present 45-70 this year with the BRP bullet and quite possibly later the BC bullet as well

[Blaine]

FWIW, I got two boxes of the old Nosler Partition 300gr .458s and someday I intend to work them up to about 2000-2100. The extra fps would only be for an extended range. Those Noslers should work at much lower fps'.

[Tycer]

FWIW, I got two boxes of the old Nosler Partition 300gr .458s and someday I intend to work them up to about 2000-2100. The extra fps would only be for an extended range. Those Noslers should work at much lower fps'.

Too bad they discontinued those. I had about a dozen I did penetration tests on and they were great. I have no idea how the new round nose ballistic tips will behave.

[Blaine]

FWIW, I got two boxes of the old Nosler Partition 300gr .458s and someday I intend to work them up to about 2000-2100. The extra fps would only be for an extended range. Those Noslers should work at much lower fps'.

Too bad they discontinued those. I had about a dozen I did penetration tests on and they were great. I have no idea how the new round nose ballistic tips will behave.

I hope that's a lifetime supply. I also hope another 300 will shoot to the same POA, then maybe I can make someone's day with a gift. Cabela's had those on clearance a few years back for 39 per box I remember when they were half that, or less

[crs]

BlaineG,
You bought those Noslers at a good price. The last box I bought for my .45-90 was $50 and there are only about 40 left, all loaded to 2200 fps.
Let me know if you decide to sell yours.

[Blaine]

BlaineG,
You bought those Noslers at a good price. The last box I bought for my .45-90 was $50 and there are only about 40 left, all loaded to 2200 fps.
Let me know if you decide to sell yours.

If you know of a cheapo 300gr that will shoot to the same poa, I'll give you a box.....I'll never shoot at that many at deer, bear, or elk with the Guide Gun.

[jkbrea]

I am now wondering if the Leverevolution 325gr rounds are going to do it for us when we go Big hog hunting or Black Bear. Should I decide to go to a flat tipped solid for all my future game hunts?
I just cant believe that round did not cut the little deer in half let alone not even exit. He was only 60 yards away. Have I over estamated the 45-70?

FWIW, I don't reload yet but I've taken three elk, (a cow. bull and calf), with my 45-70 using the leverevolution stuff.
Never had a problem with it. I recovered one bullet on a cow that went in and punched through a rib and came to rest just inside the hide. I posted pics of it back then with a pic of the recovered bullet. Heres the link. One thing that's wrong is the barrel is 18", not 22".
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... f=1&t=4115