Author Topic: optimum bullet weight for 45-70 Vote (Read 858 times)

Scibaer · « **on:** February 25, 2008, 11:54:14 AM »

Select from one of the options. this poll answers the question above.
the basic idea is to see what you 45-70 shoots think the best all around performing bullet style and weight is , for practical matters the best bullet.
the 300 gr. or the 330 gr. or the 405 gr. in hollow point or flat nose.

if i forgot one you like, or you want to make a suggestion, make a reply to the post
The focus here is hunting, not necessarily target shooting or plinking.
Glenn

EsoxLucius · « **Reply #1 on:** February 26, 2008, 06:23:14 PM »

For deer, black bear and hogs the 300 grain Speer UniCor hollow point at 2150 fps or so is pretty darn good.

For bigger stuff I would go with a a 420 grain large meplat hard cast.

Scibaer · « **Reply #2 on:** February 27, 2008, 01:32:17 PM »

So far the 405gr. fn cast bullet has it, by a wide margin.
keep them votes coming.

GregP42 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 27, 2008, 08:57:04 PM »

One of my favorites is the Lyman 457125, it is a 500gr round nose. I also like a 420gr or 520gr flat nose paper patch in my 45-70's

Greg

n5odj · « **Reply #4 on:** February 28, 2008, 01:42:29 PM »

Heck, I shoot a 45-70 for that big ol' chunk O lead. 405 flat nose gets my vote.

And for that matter, about 1500 fps is quite plenty for anything I'll shoot with it.

Robert in Tennessee

drdougrx · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2008, 03:56:08 PM »

Sorry hard cast guys....350gr speer sp is my choice. Use it on everything and needs a dirt nap.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #6 on:** February 29, 2008, 01:12:20 PM »

there was a lot of testing done with the .45-70 and the all around winner was a 405gr chunk of lead, works for me too.

StrawHat · « **Reply #7 on:** March 01, 2008, 03:36:38 AM »

The 405 grain bullet won the military trials after the troopers complained about the 500 grain bullets .

The tests conducted in the early part of the last century found the 330 grain HP, Lyman/Ideal 457122, Gould bullet, to be about optimum for hunting.

I have one of the molds and have to agree it is a beaut.

It has also been a consistently accurate bullet from a variety of 45-70s.

warrior1 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 01, 2008, 03:53:16 AM »

the buffalo hunter likes the 405 cast stoked with 3031,although i just may give blackpowder
loads a chance next time out. the marlin another story,i cannot get cast to shoot in the micro groove barrel. i just may send it back to marlin and have a ballard rifling barrel installed. dan

Savage · « **Reply #9 on:** March 01, 2008, 04:40:03 AM »

A scope on a Buffalo Hunter rifle!!! Doesn't that violate the laws of man and nature?

Savage
Oooooops! Just looked closer. it's a Handi. Scopes ok!

Cheesehead · « **Reply #10 on:** March 01, 2008, 04:48:55 AM »

The Hornady 350 grain round nose is my personal favorite. Very accurate in my 1895 and terminal performance on deer is amazing.

Cheese

jowl · « **Reply #11 on:** March 01, 2008, 04:54:31 AM »

with the 300 gr you get a flatter shooting gun with a lot of stopping power.

youthpastorjon · « **Reply #12 on:** March 01, 2008, 06:20:58 AM »

I would think that it is hard to say that one is the best. The reason is what you use will probably differ depending upon what game you hunt with it. I mean would I ever use 500 grain on a whitetail? That seems to be overkill

Scibaer · « **Reply #13 on:** March 01, 2008, 09:05:21 AM »

Yes, the outcome will depend on what you do with your rifle, and a few other factors. yes, a 500 gr. bullet is overkill for a whitetail and i'd prolly never shoot a deer with the 500gr. either.
i have scopes on all my guns, for me they make better hunting tools that way. it does seem a bit sacreligous, i'll admit.
i like the looks of that lyman 330 gr. bullet myself . 330 to 350 seems like a good compromise in weight and terminal performance.
i just am taking a look to see what you all think, and use and for what.. im smart enough to know that i dont know, you know ?
glenn

Scibaer · « **Reply #14 on:** March 02, 2008, 11:49:00 AM »

well, the 405 seems to have it by a wide margin. although i suspect a fair portion of the 405 vote have to do with tradition as well as performance, and i can understand that.
i agree that a 330 or 350 is happy medium and should work well and be flatter shooting on anything ( i'm ) likely to hunt.
the arguement could be reduced to flat, round or hollowpoint bullets in any weight.

rbergum95 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 02, 2008, 12:16:20 PM »

i voted for the 405 gr cast FP but i think you forgot one. the 525 gr WLNGC. that one will put a hurtin on anything you point it at, chipmunks, deer, buffalo, large carnivorous dinosaurs, democrats, you know anything "undesireable".

ron

Swampman · « **Reply #16 on:** March 02, 2008, 12:35:16 PM »

I don't think there's a better bullet for the .45-70 than the Remington 405 grain jacketed bullet. That wasn't a choice, so I went with the 405 Cast FN. I'm not sure why the lighter bullets were created.

Scibaer · « **Reply #17 on:** March 03, 2008, 03:55:25 AM »

Yeah i didnt list all the choices. im not so sure that i could have, i did leave open an option for a write in, which you guys did.
im sure there are alot of choices that will devistate anything they hit, but it seems that the 405 grainers seem to rise to the top.
every caliber has its optimium bullet and it looks like the 405 may be it.
ofcourse i am interested as to why, not only what. im not sure why the lighter bullets were created either, other then to address the arc flight path of the heavyweight bullets.
thanks for the votes, and your opinions..
keep 'em coming

Scibaer · « **Reply #18 on:** March 07, 2008, 01:03:19 AM »

Poll

what would you concider the optimum bullet weight and style for the .45-70 ?

Author Topic: optimum bullet weight for 45-70 Vote (Read 858 times)