45-70 and Woodleigh 405 gr Bonded for Black Bear

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Lennyjoe

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Decided to head up to Canada in August for black bear and I’m taking the 45-70. I have a good load for deer with RL-7 and 350 gr Hornady Interlock but am moving to a Woodleigh 405 gr bonded bullet for the animal that could eat me. Gonna start with 3031 and maybe try 4198 if the 3031 doesn’t perform well. C.O.L. will be 2.550 to start and the bullet manufacture recommends 1700-2000 for best performance. Rifle is a Marlin 1895 with 22” barrel.

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Anyone have any experience with this bullet in the 45-70?

Hodgdon data for the 400 gr looks like I can get into the 1700 FPS range pretty easy but it might be a bit rough on the shoulder.
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Never used the woodleigh, but used a lot of the swift a frame 400s. With the swift some chambers were not cut for that bullet, so I'd check the woodleigh to. I would not get caught up on the speed much. Like 3031 the best for 45/70. I've pushed 400s at over 2200 and don't think they do much more then at 1500.
 
I like 52.5 3031 quick easy load, 52.5 happens to be what the Lee 4.0 dipper drops for me. So I can load a lot quick. Work good for 350. My Siamese mauser shoots every thing good, so you may have to see what the gun likes.
 
I have a Siamese Mauser also, and it loves the 350 RN bullet and 3031. I can't remember the exact weight of the 3031, but I can remember that it was 1600 fps according to the reloading book I used. I tried 1400, 1500 and 1600 fps loadings, the 1600 gave me 7/8 inch groups at 100 yards. I had it made in 1984 to go to Canada black bear hunting, no bear but a fun shooter. Mine was re-barreled by ER Shaw with a 26 inch heavy barrel. The whole rifle weighs about 10 pounds, so the recoil is not bad. I used to load the same 350 grain slug at 2200 fps but that was many years ago, that kicked a bunch.
 
I have a Siamese Mauser also, and it loves the 350 RN bullet and 3031. I can't remember the exact weight of the 3031, but I can remember that it was 1600 fps according to the reloading book I used. I tried 1400, 1500 and 1600 fps loadings, the 1600 gave me 7/8 inch groups at 100 yards. I had it made in 1984 to go to Canada black bear hunting, no bear but a fun shooter. Mine was re-barreled by ER Shaw with a 26 inch heavy barrel. The whole rifle weighs about 10 pounds, so the recoil is not bad. I used to load the same 350 grain slug at 2200 fps but that was many years ago, that kicked a bunch.
I would like to see that if you have any pictures, I'd like to build one to go with the 45/70 that's coated shooting, some rimmed round 6mm to 7mm here's my Siamese, it's one of the better navy arms, has Remington sights 22" barrel thinks it's about 9 pounds feels balanced tho. DSCN2094.JPG

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I have been using a re-barreled Ruger #1 for hunting for years. (26") Mostly, I have used the Remington 405 grain softpoint, which is probably not much different from the Woodleigh, except for price. My standard load drives it at a bit over 1800 fps. While I have gone as high as a bit over 2000 fps, I found that all that does is beat up the shooter. (not the objective) The 405 at 1800 will go all the way through a buffalo, so I figure that is more than enough.
 
I second the 405 at a MAX of 1850 (Maaaybe 1900) fps. It has a LOT of momentum on the business end and is very tolerable on the receiving end.

I will also say that I don’t think you won’t be undergunned if you stay with the 350 gr bullet for black bears. They’re pretty big up in BC and Alberta, but the 350 is a large bullet with excellent penetration as well.

Beyond the 1850 fps +\- velocity loads with the 405, you’re getting into areas of felt recoil in lighter lever guns that rival .458 Win 500 gr loads in a bolt gun.... without the .458 bump in performance.

My 18.5” GG likes loads with IMR 3031...and a second to IMR 4198. I haven’t shot the 1895 CB 26” enough to really figure out what that gun likes yet.

Good luck on your hunt and stay safe.
 
The beauty of the 45-70 that a lot of guys (even guys "in the know") miss is that it doesn't need velocity. I see a few fellas here constantly bad mouth the cartridge as over rated and under performing. Those same guys will say a 300 grain 44 mag @ 1300 fps is potent medicine and discount a 405 @ the same velocity as prehistoric nonsense . I have a lot of experience shooting stuff with the 45-70 and I'll tell you that nothing short of hard steel stops it, even at low velocity. The trajectory is steep (generally very similar to 22lr) , connect even at 200 yards with a 405 grain with an impact velocity of 1000 fps and you'll see great straight line penetration in a bullet that doesn't require expansion to disrupt a lot of tissue. Even with a high velocity more modern cartridge with much better SD it must hit vitals just like any other bullet, sometimes lobbing the big bullet in there takes practice but it's certainly capable of that and much more.
I'd say push that bullet to at least 1500 fps and go hunt anything you'd like, just make sure you can hit what you're aiming at.
 
.350 gr Hornady Interlock from a .45-70 will get the job done. I killed mine with a 130 gr .270 Win. They are not that hard to kill.

Good Luck

Jerry
 
Yes, especially with its rainbow trajectory, you need to practice hitting what you are aiming at. Judging range has always been a problem for me.
 
Yea I’m fairly confident the 350’s would work as well but I’m also interested in a bit interested in a deeper penetrating load for elk as well. My -06 with 180 grain Partitions have done well but most of my elk have been taken well under 100 yards when in Arizona.
 
Hi LJ,
I've been using the 405gr woodleigh in northern Australia for a few years now. Fantastic bullet. Smashes our big feral pigs and penetrates well through water buffalo. Also good for immobilising shoulders on buff, which takes a bit because they are seriously tough buggers.
I realise I'm late to respond but I've only just joined the forum.

Hey also check out woodleigh hydro bullets for your 45-70. They amazed me when one went the length of a scrub bull from chest to rusty sheriff badge. They are very pricey, but my goodness they perform well on heavy and dangerous game.
 
Thanks for the info. I’ve heard great things on the Woodleigh so that’s what I went with. Unfortunately our bear hunt was cancelled due to Covid travel restrictions. I’ll also use it for elk as I like to hunt the thick stuff for bulls so it should serve me well with them big guys as well. I get great groups with Reloader 7 out of my 22” Marlin barrel.
 
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