Which Bullet for .45/70?

[henry1]

Ok guys, I know what im using when it comes time to kill my last doe this year. My BC .45/70. My ? is what loads have or do you use to hunt with? I shot a one sided buck with it a few years ago but cant rem the pwder, the bull was 300 gr jrn (i think). But anyways, just wanted to hear what yall gota say about it. I am thinking about using some cast bullits that i bought this year for the purpose of harvesting. I belleive they are 300 gr also. I will have to check. (all my loading stuff is over at my buds house. but I will check when im over there)

Um I guess to keep you guys from pounding me with ?s shots will be 50 to no farther than 200 yds. Maybe not even that far. I will have to do some shooting/practicing if i wanta kill at 200. will be hunting mule deer does. and, i have  a williams peep, its not the orig. its a diff.one and now the name is slipping my mind. neway, think that covers it. Im excited to hear what everyone has to say!
Thanks!
Hank.

[henry1]

just thought i would move this to the top since its such a hot subject! LOL

[quickdtoo]

I'd go with the Nosler PP if you want the best, but they're not cheap at about $1 each, but they'll perform perfect over a wide velocity range, 2300fps down to 700fps impact velocity. That means if you start em out fast, they won't be devastating close, but will still perform out there at your max range if you push them 2200-2300fps. The inexpensive choice would be the Speer Uni-cor, costs a lot less, but will hold up better than the other  inexpensive 300gr choices(Rem and Sierra) if you want to push them hard enough for a 200yd MPBR.

The Barnes 250gr and 300gr TSX would also be good choices, but they're $1 each too.

Tim

[Slufoot]

henry1, I have come to the conclusion from reading lots of posts on the internet about this subject that in a 45-70 for deer it doesn't really matter what bullet you use as long as you can put it where it needs to go
I have shot several deer with my Marlin 45-70 over the years, just got a handi about a month ago and have taken a deer with it also. I have used the Hornady 300 JHP, Remington 300 JHP and the Remington 405 JSP in handloads to take deer and I have taken one deer with my Handi using a Winchester 300 JHP factory load. I really like the Remington bullets, they're less costly, shoot great and do a number on deer. The Remington 300 JHP bullet shouldn't be pushed much over 2000 fps, it will still get your deer with authority but expect lots of meat damage. The last deer I shot with the 300 Rem bullet was an eight pointer and he was about 80 yards and broadside to me, I had the bullets coming out of the muzzle at 2250 fps. I hit the buck right behind the shoulder and he went down instantly. I walked to the buck and rolled him over and I swear you could have stuck your head in the exit hole.
I shot several deer with this bullet loaded to 2000 fps and really liked the way it performed at that velocity. I have switched the Marlin over to the 405's at 1750 fps, this bullet gives alot less meat damage, shoots great and is the best deal going in a heavy JSP bullet.
My Handi is going to be my 300 grain gun and the Marlin will be the 405 grainer.
I have read of several people have great success with cast bullet loads from their 45-70 rifles. Just pick a bullet designed for the 45-70, work up an accurate load and go get your deer.
All of the deer I have taken with my 45-70's (about 10-12) have been 100 yards or less.

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

[LaOtto222]

With cast bullets, I think you are better off with a heavy bullet (500 grains or so) that is hard cast, has a wide, flat point. You do not have to push them real hard, they will not expand much, but will push all the way through without much meat damage and will give plenty of shock power with the flat point. The down side is they should be limited to shorter ranges. The lower velocity (1300 fps - 1500 fps MV) and flat points will give you a rainbow effect at 200 yards. There is certainly some thing about a slow moving heavy cast bullet that seems to kill beyond reasonable thinking.

[Mad Dog]

What quick said.  You can't beat the 300 gr. nosler part.  I am taking my guide gun with me to south africa, next July for a plains game hunt, and will be using them in my own hand loads.  Here is a load that a fellow turned me on to, and I have actually chrono'd this load, and it is about 1900-1950 fps out of my 18 1/2" guide gun barrel.

WW case
Fed. 210 primer
51 gr. H4198
300 gr. nosler OR 300 gr. hornady FPHP
full length resize/lee factory crimp

The load is very accurate in my GG, and if you look it up its in the lower pressure loads for a .45-70.  You can practice with the hornadys, and use the noslers for hunting.

Mad Dog

[henry1]

Nice Thanks so much guys. What kind of groups should I expect? I have never really shot my BC for accuracy. Its more of a "hum...wonder if i can hit that clump of sage way over yonder" No, I have shot paper with it once! Oooh, that burns, yall think thats bad? I guess its just fun to plink with. I have shot some homemade steel targets and like i said i did shoot a deer with it a few years ago. So I supose its accurate enough to do the job. I would however like to get out and try some of these new loads to see what i can get for accuracy. Thanks Again!
Hank.

[quickdtoo]

H&R 45-70 barrels are capable of great accuracy with a variety of loads, it's just a matter of working up the right combination.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,102319.msg1098277453.html#msg1098277453

[henry1]

Hey them are some good groups! Thanks for posting em Quick! Thanks!
Hank.