Paper patched bullets - the only way to go

[jpuke]

I went to the range the other day to get ready again for deer season.  Rifle was a Marlin 1895 in 45/70, load was a 420 grain paper-patched RCBS 45-405-FN over 48.5 grains IMR 3031. 

This target was shot at 50 yards.  Scope is a Leupold 2.5x Ultralight (Heavy Plex).  I think the load could do even better if I had a finer reticle but I'm happy. 




Next target is the same load, same scope setting at 75 yards



I've use this bullet on 3 deer so far and I love it.  Perfect 45 cal hole for the entry and a half-dollar sized exit.  All three deer ran after being shot but bled out very quickly and there was virtually no meat loss.  I went back to a 30-06 last year to try Barnes bullets and though they worked well, I didn't like the meat loss.  Going back to the 45/70 this season.  I think that you can't beat a paper-patched bullet for performance or economy.

[Nobade]

You don't say what alloy you're using. How hard are those bullets? My own Marlin 1895 will do that good or better with that same bullet and load, made from air cooled wheelweights and gas checked. But if I want to make them from straight lead for hunting then paper patching is the only way to go for accuracy and to not lead the bore. I did end up cutting the gascheck shank out of my mould, mainly for that reason. If I load them light it's not needed, and loaded heavy I paper patch them and again it's not needed.

If you really want to see some destruction, cast some of those out of pure lead and drill them for a 1/8" dia. or so hollow point. Exit holes the size of a softball and nothing much left inside. Yuck! 

[jpuke]

The alloy is close to 30:1 (10 lbs pure lead + 1 lb. 50:50 bar solder) and it expands beautifully.  I use the paper-patch so I can use putty soft lead and still crank the velocity up a bit.  Lube for the patch is what Paul Matthews recommends -  55% Beeswax + 45% Vaseline, I think, maybe it's the other way around.

I used to shoot this same bullet in a Ruger #1 (never should have sold that gun) with 52.5 gr IMR 3031 and the velocity was 1830 fps.  I still have to get this Marlin load chronographed but I'm hoping it's in the 1650 fps range.

[Nobade]

Wonderful hunting setup! And you're certainly on the right track, paper patching the soft lead bullets. I think you'll find that load is much closer to 1800 fps than 1600 fps. Whatever it is, it's plenty!