if i get the .45-70, what factory ammunition ...

[fish280]

should i try first?

should i buy the NEF, i'd like to get a little deer hunting in with it in january. i will not have time to crank up handloading for it, nor the range time except to get sighted in.

thanks.

[quickdtoo]

The rem 300gr HP and 405gr FN as well as the Win 300gr HP all shot ~2" at 100yds in mine. If you want a good 200yd round, the PMC 350gr RN sighted in 3" high at 100yd, shoots 5" low at 200yds, but will have lots of recoil in a normal handi rifle, more than most shooters can handle.

[rickt300]

The Remington 405 or PMC's cowboy load using a flat nosed 405 grain cast bullet both recoil mildly and are bery accurate out to any range you can use iron sights. The 300 grain loads kick harder than the 405's and the PMC 350 grain load should only be shot in the Handi after a bunch of range sessions with other loads.

[quickdtoo]

....PMC 350 grain load should only be shot in the Handi after a bunch of range sessions with other loads.

Please clarify your reasoning for that suggestion.  thx

[fish280]

i've owned a marlin 1895 in .45-70. i put several heavy turkey loads through an NEF 10 gauge to pattern it for a friend. and i am a practiced user of the realguns.com recoil-o-meter. i'm pretty sure i know a little 'bout recoil - not that i have any use for 200-yard .47-70 loads when i have a perfectly good scoped bolt gun in 6.5x55 and a scoped ultra in .308.
nope, this little NEF, if i get it, will be a fun-toting, close-hunting, tree-stand-in-the-deep-woods gun where a 300-grainer at 1,800 fps or a 405-grainer at 1,300 fps will do just fine, thank you.
but if i take a mind to stoke up some 350-grainers at 2,100 fps, why i just reckon i'll do it. :roll:

[quickdtoo]

Just wanted ya ta know there is a hot factory load available that doesn't take a second mortgage to buy a couple boxes like Buffalo Bore or Garrett ammo. The PMC ammo is less than $20 a box or about the same as Rem and Win ammo lest you buy it on sale.

[Mac11700]

What about the Winchester Supreme load with the  CT Nosler Partiton...? I thought they still made that one??? Isn't the velocities pretty good  with it...I don't shoot factory stuff for my 45-70...but I thought it was around 1900 fps with it? It should make a super load for the Handi...at least I think it would :wink:

Mac

[quickdtoo]

It has the same 1880 fps that the standard load produces, just has premium bullet. The PMC load is listed as 2025 fps with a 350gr Sierra bullet.

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrdetail.aspx?symbol=SPG4570&cart=NDUtNzAgR292ZXJubWVudA==

http://www.winchester.com/products/catalog/cfrdetail.aspx?symbol=X4570H&cart=NDUtNzAgR292ZXJubWVudA==

[rickt300]

Why after a few range sessions? Because by then he will have learned to sit up straight and rest the rifle high enough that recoil rock him back instead of digging into him as he is hunched down and leaning too far forward. The PMC 350 IS A bit much to learn this lesson on. I like shooting my 45-70 offhand and at game but I need to be conscience of my shooting form with heavy loads.

[quickdtoo]

Heh heh, the first time a shooter pulls the trigger on a .45-70 handi, he'll learn that, no need for a bunch a trips to the range! :eek:

[elyod56]

i have chronied two factory loads in my 45-70 handi. The 1st is the remington 405 gr. softpoint at a leisurely 1200 fps. the winchester 300 gr hollowpoint was the second and averaged 1700 fps and probably would be more appropiate medium game hunting load. when you do decide to reload try the 405 gr. hardcast lbt .  :-)

[quickdtoo]

Heh, heh...that 1200 fps reminds me of the old 45-70-405 black powder load, in fact is was faster out of the old springfield trapdoor at 1350 fps, course it had a 33" barrel!!

The Springfield rifle weighed about 9.6 pounds, had a rifle barrel 33 inches long with a bore diameter of .450-inch, three grooves and a right hand twist and groove depth of .005-inch. It fired the then standard Service round consisting of the 405-grain bullet in the rimmed straight case 2.1 inches long with 70 grains of black powder giving a muzzle velocity (MV) of 1,350 feet-per-second (fps). With the same weight of bullet and a charge of 85 grains of powder, the MV was 1,480 fps.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/targets/sandyhook.htm

[fish280]

i ain't a tyro, boys. i've shot a few score rounds o' 45-70, and thousands of heavy 12 and 16  gauge loads in little, teensy, lightweight h&r single shots. i think i know hat i'm geting into if i go for the 45-70. and i do know just a little about shooting off sandbags. :wink:

[tbmaker]

I'd strongly vote for Winchesters 300gr Nosler partition and the PMC 350gr loads. I don't like what those hollow points do, I don't need more expansion from a 45 caliber bullet. My Marlin really likes both loads, MOA no sweat, and I don't notice any recoil difference. Both have flattened deer really nice. PMC was harder to get so I switched back and forth pending on supply and PMC is 10.00 cheaper a box.
Also you could try Federal's new 350 gr Speer Hot core load, haven't tried that one yet, good bullet though.
Pick a load and let'er rip.
I bought my 45-70 mainly for bear hunting, but it's too much fun so I carry it every where.

[Cottonwood]

should i try first?

should i buy the NEF, i'd like to get a little deer hunting in with it in january. i will not have time to crank up handloading for it, nor the range time except to get sighted in.

thanks.

Very good choice here... wish you luck on your hunt.  I can not recomend a factory load since all I have ever shot are reloads.  

[Joel]

When I first started shooting my 45/70 I bought a box each of Rem, Fed and Win 300 gr JHP's.  Both the Fed and Win grouped into <1" at 100 yds; the Rem were literally all over the paper.  Rifles will do that.  Shot a doe and a large buck with the Win, both at under 50 yds and the bullets worked fine.  No sign of any bloodshot meat at those velocities; both bullets expanded nicely and neither deer ran more than 25 yds.  Velocity of the Fed and Win was 1660 fps over my cousin's chrono; didn't bother with the Rem.  I personally think that between 1600-1700 fps is the best velocity for any of the 300 gr JHP's I've tried at the no more than 100 yd ranges I shoot; including Hornady and Speer in handloads, although I finally settled on 1840 fps(book value) for my standard load. Don't know why, didn't really need more than the factory loads provided.

[fish280]

ended up going with an '06 instead. fair is fair for the whitetail and for me: gotta use a scope for early and late anyhow as my 53-year-old peepers simply won't keep up with a sharp front sight in fading light (even with a rear peep). hunting time is so limited as long as youngest son is wrestling i gotta have every minute of every day we can invest in the woods. 't'would be a shame, anyhow, to mount a scope on the handi-dandi handi in iron sight configuration. thanks for all your tips, though.

[glock29]

I'd go with the PMC heavy stuff as a minimum.
I personally handload 350gr Hornady RN bullets over a HEAP of H4198.
This load is good for around 4000 ft/lb energy at 2300 fps.
No deer can stop this load...overkill ? Yes, but I can take deer from any angle & expect FULL penetration. It really whakks 'em dead !