Author Topic: 45-70 load (Read 1042 times)

Alaskaman · « **on:** May 21, 2005, 12:07:11 PM »

I received a call at work from my son and the first words out of his mouth were "Yahoo dad I'm going home!" This statement took me by complete surprise because since he graduated from college (for the second time) he has been living at home with his mother and me for the last four months. He then told me that he had accepted a job offer as a commercial pilot flying in Alaska and that he still considered Alaska his home because he was raised there. Since he is going to be out hiking and fishing in the Alaskan bush I've decided to buy him a Marlin 1895 stainless guide gun as a surprise gift. I've been reloading for a long time, but I have never loaded the 45-70 Gov. cartridge. I can't decide weather to load the cartridges for it using a lead hard cast gas check bullet or to load them with a jacketed soft nose. If the gun was going to be used for hunting deer it would be one thing, but the primary purpose of this gun will be for bear protection. Any advice from some of you that have experience with loading the 45-70 Gov. cartridge would be appreciated.

DakotaElkSlayer · « **Reply #1 on:** May 22, 2005, 04:31:09 AM »

For bear protection, I think hardcast would be definately the way to go. Jacketed bullets are made for soft tissue for the most part while hardcast bullets punch holes through bone.

Jim

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** May 22, 2005, 07:45:19 AM »

heavy hard cast

inluvwithsara · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2005, 05:39:52 AM »

Amen to the heavy Hardcast...400grains or more in weight...
Heck, I use Unique with a filler wad and am getting great results...(on paper)

oso45-70 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 04, 2005, 04:41:37 PM »

Alaskaman.

Get you some 525gr Bear Tooth pile drivers and put a healthy dose of
4198 or 3031 and start them out at about 1600 fps or some where in that range,,BEAR BEWARE............Joe...............

mr.frosty · « **Reply #5 on:** June 04, 2005, 05:11:39 PM »

heres a link to beartooths pile driver
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/index.htm

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 04, 2005, 09:09:47 PM »

Starline brass, 405gr Kodiak bonded bullet, and H322 for 1900fps of bear bashing power. I perfer a good expanding bullet for quicker terminal results, a bear can do a lot of damage with a few holes punched in him. With these bonded kodiak bullets penetration won't be a problem and the extra soft tissue damage can't hurt.

tanoose · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2005, 01:43:14 PM »

There are some factory loads that would fit the task also try Grizzly ammunition they have a 420 and a 460 hard cast load and buffalo bore has a great 430 grain load.