Experience with 405 gr. Reminton FP .45-70

[insanelupus]

Greetings all, I am new to this particular site.  After reviewing posts on this thread and the single shot rifle thread I have a question of those with more experience than I.  First the rifle is an 1885 Hi Wall Browning reproduction, with 28" tapered octagon barrel, Marble's front and rear sight, w/ Marble's Tang sight.  Caliber .45-70.

I have had good luck with 405 grain Remington FP over 45 grains of IMR 3031 (Safe for my rifle maybe not others), and CCI rifle primers.  Velocity I'd guess at about 1600 fps (no chrony).  I've used this load on several whitetails with good luck, some expansion, and short ranges, never over 100 yards.  Eat right up to a quarter/half dollar sized hole.  I plan on beefing up the load to the neighborhood of 48-50 grains of IMR 3031 this year. I will be hunting elk with this rifle in NW Montana.  Heavy timber and I personally limit my shots to 200 yards.  Whatever load I find, will pull multiple duties, we have moose, black bear (average 200-350 pounds), and of course whitetails and mule deer.  Not to mention the hopefully none too often encounter with upset grizzlies, mountain lions or moose on the rampage.  (I always carry a .44 Ruger with 300 grain flat points @1000 fps, another topic for another day!!).

Does anyone have experience with a similar load using the Remington bullet on elk, moose or perhaps large black bear?  I am concerned that the Remington bullet, ( I believe the old Core-Lokt design is what they are advertised as), will blow up or come apart on shoulders of moose and elk at short ranges (not unusual in our thick timber).  I prefer shoulder shots, as they usually anchor the animal, whereas if they get to moving, that extra 100 yards could mean the difference of packing them up off a mountain side or up out of a much more inconvenient deep canyon or ravine.  I have looked at going to a Speer or Barnes 400 grain, or perhaps a 480 grain Woodleigh, or 500 grain Hornady.   I don't wish to use anything lighter than 400 grains and I'm not a fan of cleaning up lead bullets, so I personally prefer jacketed bullets.  I have 500 of the 405 gr. Remington Bullets on hand, and must say I've never had problems with them.   But I've never tackled big critters.  Does anyone have any real world experience with the Remingtons, and if so, what kind of penetration/expansion did you have at what velocities?   Thank you for your time.

[jackfish]

I have shot a moose and feral hog with the 405 grain Remington JSP in my Marlin 1895.  The load I use achieves 1950 fps from my 22" barrel.  On a 125 yard quartering shot, the bullet smashed the 1100 lbs. moose's shoulder, penetrated about another 30" and exited with a 2" exit wound.  The moose took a few steps away from the water and collapsed.  The quickly approaching 350 lbs. feral hog took the same load under the chin, with the bullet travelling the entire body length before exiting.  The hog piled up about 20 feet from me.  I would not hesitate to use this bullet on any animal you list.  As a matter of fact, Tim Sundles at Buffalo Bore loads this bullet to 2000 fps and thinks it is entirely adequate for mountain grizzly.

The 405 grain Remington JSP is not a CoreLokt, has a thin jacket that is helped staying in place by a step below the nose and two cannelures below that.  The core is an alloy, harder than pure lead.  While this bullet does an adequate job at relatively high velocities, it really shines from 1300-1800 fps.  Your 405 grain Remington JSP load of 48-50 grains of IMR3031 should make a heck of big game load in your High Wall.