.45-70 hunting

[GooseGestapo]

I’m rather fond of the .45/70!
I have two. Both Marlin 1895’s.
One is a guide gun w/o ports. Other has 22” bbl.

I’ve loaded as hot as a compressed load of IMR4064 under a 405gr HARD cast bullet for 2,000fps but that is unneeded in the lower’48.
My favorite loads are either a RCBS 300gr RFN GC or a Lee 400gr RFN over a charge of #2400.

29.0gr with the 300 (322gr w/gas check). Or 20.0 under the 400.0

My 2016 “Remlin” w/400gr bullet over 20.0gr of #2400...

Three shots at 50yds! I reset it to +2.5”. It does wear a Bushnell 2-7x scope.
The 2001 mfd’ Guide Gun wears a 1.5-5X Leupold VariX II.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I hunt moose sometimes with a 45-70 Marlin Trapper. Moose can hang out in some pretty thick stuff. There are also bears in the pretty thick stuff…I use the 405 or 420gr lead at max velocity, try to hit the moose where it will do the least amount of meat damage…try to hit the bear where it will do the most…

That makes sense, one could step up the velocity on a cast bullet and get better results than with a jacketed expanding bullet. It would be hard to get a cast bullet, especially a hard cast to ever "blow up".

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I’m rather fond of the .45/70!
I have two. Both Marlin 1895’s.
One is a guide gun w/o ports. Other has 22” bbl.

I’ve loaded as hot as a compressed load of IMR4064 under a 405gr HARD cast bullet for 2,000fps but that is unneeded in the lower’48.
My favorite loads are either a RCBS 300gr RFN GC or a Lee 400gr RFN over a charge of #2400.

29.0gr with the 300 (322gr w/gas check). Or 20.0 under the 400.0

My 2016 “Remlin” w/400gr bullet over 20.0gr of #2400...View attachment 1123337

Three shots at 50yds! I reset it to +2.5”. It does wear a Bushnell 2-7x scope.
The 2001 mfd’ Guide Gun wears a 1.5-5X Leupold VariX II.

80 grains 3fg Swiss, 400 grain Speer JSP. 100 yards and peep sights.

72 Grains 3fg Swiss, 405/416 grain cast, 100 yards.

 

[IALoder]

I deer hunt here in IA with a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun in 45-70. I've shot deer with the 300gr 1850fps Federal Fusion load, and my own loading of a 300gr Hornady HP at 1950fps. Both are PLENTY for deer. The 300gr fusion dropped a hog in it's tracks in OK as well. Great hunting rifle for 150yds and in, swings very well in the timber. My longest has been 80yds, and the big ole tubby doe was DRT. My local Scheels, Fleet Farm, and LGS all have 45-70 ammo on hand. I've found the Hornady Lever evolution ammo to be very excessive on recoil, and either my gun doesn't like it (big groups), or it hits so hard I'm flinching.

 

[PapaG]

I am veery much looking forward to casting bullets, developing a suitable load, and hunting with my newest Handi-Rifle... the recently legalized by IDNR .....45-70.!View attachment 1122922 View attachment 1122923
I may need a little help from the thr brain-trust....!

I just picked up the twin to your Handi Gun, also 45-70.
Now, find out which of the three single shots, Henry 357, CVA 44, or the big thumper is tightest at my big plot 130 yard max.
300 grain flat nose or 385 round.
357, 158 FTX, 44, 240 FTX, 45-70, ???
the boys can fight over the two I don't choose. We each have a tag left.

 

[Weflyfast]

45-70 is a fine cartridge for whitetails - took this large doe a few years ago..... Never took a step-

 

[jmorris]

I have had an 1895 for decades now, it might be the most accurate lever gun I have. I can’t remember killing a single deer with it though. It’s killed a bunch of hogs, more than once two with one shot. Never did I kill any of them, too dead.

I haven’t used it much since I picked up a 458 socom upper but I am glad I had all of the reloading components.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I have had an 1895 for decades now, it might be the most accurate lever gun I have. I can’t remember killing a single deer with it though. It’s killed a bunch of hogs, more than once two with one shot. Never did I kill any of them, too dead.

I haven’t used it much since I picked up a 458 socom upper but I am glad I had all of the reloading components.

The 1895 can be scary accurate. Speer 400 grain JSP, 80 grains 3fg Swiss, 100 yards. It was also very accurate with the Hornady 350 grain round nose, and RL7. This target is with the black powder load. Two shot groups #1 and #2 were sight adjustments.

 

[Fyrstyk]

I hand load a 300 grain Remington JSP over IMR 4198 (I won't give the charge weight as it is too hot for lever action guns) in my Ruger #1S. I have yet to have a deer go more than 3 steps after being hit with that bullet. I don't feel handicapped at all using a single shot.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I hand load a 300 grain Remington JSP over IMR 4198 (I won't give the charge weight as it is too hot for lever action guns) in my Ruger #1S. I have yet to have a deer go more than 3 steps after being hit with that bullet. I don't feel handicapped at all using a single shot.

I'm thinking it takes three steps back into last week, with a load like that.

 

[Varminterror]

250yrds across winter wheat from a JM 1895 with factory 325grn FTX leaving the station at 1795fps. He was standing near a fence before the impact, jumped the fence and his legs buckled on landing - and there he laid. Slug was under the far side hide, only lost a little rib meat from either side, about 2” diameter of bruise.

 

[eastbank]

my marlin twins, top is a 1895 made in 1973 in 45-70 and the bottom is a 1894 sporter made in 1973 in 44 magnum. both are ex shootes with loads they like.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Wow, those "Lever-de-evolutions" feed in your Marlin? Long story, but I sold my JM to a close friend once, set him up with the reloads it likes, but he's in the store one day and buys a bunch of the Hornadys and some other "custom" ammo. The jerk behind the counter tells him: "oh no, you NEVER hunt with reloads!" Then he's telling me he's having all these jamming problems. I felt really bad, brought the rifle home, and took it totally apart, three times to find the problem. I took his ammo with me, and it was indeed jam-city. Could not figure it out. Then my eyes stray to some of my .45-70 loads on a shelf that always fed well/100%. Yep, I am a dummy. They all went through perfectly time after time. THEN I read the fine print on the box that states: "this ammo may not feed well in all rifles". Or something like that.

Happy ending, I bought the rifle back, did a nice hand rubbed oil finish on the stock, trimmed down the bulbous forend, and put a nice vintage butt plate on it. (had a big rubber recoil pad. Very very very Ugly) It is my third most prized rifle. (after my Jeager and Brown Bess)

That is a really really really nice buck/nice rack. Heavy beams! I'd be proud, very proud.

 

[eastbank]

thats what i shoot in 95 precent of my centerfire rifle and have been a reloader since 1958, reloading for a rem 722 in 244 rem and killing one of my first deer with them.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

thats what i shoot in 95 precent of my centerfire rifle and have been a reloader since 1958, reloading for a rem 722 in 244 rem and killing one of my first deer with them.

What is "that's"?

 

[eastbank]

sorry, reloads. i would have to pay alot of money if i were to shoot only factory ammo in my rifles and some of my rifles would just set as factory ammo is very hard to find.

 

[Ugly Sauce]

Yes, I've only shot reloads for a long time. Started some time in the '70's. I do have a bunch of .30-30 that I got out of a rental house, some nice FC stuff, so if I were to hunt with one of the 94's, the 99, or one of the single shot .30WCF I might use it. Or not, as I also have lots of 30-30 loaded up. !!!

 

[Ugly Sauce]

I’m rather fond of the .45/70!
I have two. Both Marlin 1895’s.
One is a guide gun w/o ports. Other has 22” bbl.

I’ve loaded as hot as a compressed load of IMR4064 under a 405gr HARD cast bullet for 2,000fps but that is unneeded in the lower’48.
My favorite loads are either a RCBS 300gr RFN GC or a Lee 400gr RFN over a charge of #2400.

29.0gr with the 300 (322gr w/gas check). Or 20.0 under the 400.0

My 2016 “Remlin” w/400gr bullet over 20.0gr of #2400...View attachment 1123337

Three shots at 50yds! I reset it to +2.5”. It does wear a Bushnell 2-7x scope.
The 2001 mfd’ Guide Gun wears a 1.5-5X Leupold VariX II.

I’m rather fond of the .45/70!
I have two. Both Marlin 1895’s.
One is a guide gun w/o ports. Other has 22” bbl.

I’ve loaded as hot as a compressed load of IMR4064 under a 405gr HARD cast bullet for 2,000fps but that is unneeded in the lower’48.
My favorite loads are either a RCBS 300gr RFN GC or a Lee 400gr RFN over a charge of #2400.

29.0gr with the 300 (322gr w/gas check). Or 20.0 under the 400.0

My 2016 “Remlin” w/400gr bullet over 20.0gr of #2400...View attachment 1123337

Three shots at 50yds! I reset it to +2.5”. It does wear a Bushnell 2-7x scope.
The 2001 mfd’ Guide Gun wears a 1.5-5X Leupold VariX II.

Three bullets in one hole?

 

[PapaG]

I’m on my fifth 45-70. First, a 1907 Rolling Block with Numrich Buffalo Hunter conversion. Best, 3 5/16” five shots at 200 yards, aperture sights. Marlin 1895 about 1979. No data. Ballard low wall I only shot gallery loads in. Buffalo Hunter. POS. Now, NEF Handi. Testing.
There were a couple trapdoors in there but….

 

[GooseGestapo]

Three bullets in one hole?

Yes, as stated, 50yds.
After I took the pic, I couldn’t stand it. Shot a 4th and 5th.
#4 went 1/2” left, #5 went through same hole as #1,2, and 3.
Two taped holes were sighters getting scope adjusted.
It’s a really good load...

 

[eastbank]

ruger # 3 ruger in 45-70, load heavy load of H-4198(not max load) with 300 gr hornady bullet at 1900-2000 fps. 3 shot group at 100 yards.

 

[KansasTrapper77]

250yrds across winter wheat from a JM 1895 with factory 325grn FTX leaving the station at 1795fps. He was standing near a fence before the impact, jumped the fence and his legs buckled on landing - and there he laid. Slug was under the far side hide, only lost a little rib meat from either side, about 2” diameter of bruise.

250 yards is impressive with a 45-70 but that is what the Hornady Lever-evolution is for. I made the “mistake” of using them at 30 yards. At that range they are quite explosive. Jacket and core separation, the whole nine yards. They sure knocked the deer down.

 

[.45Coltguy]

ruger # 3 ruger in 45-70, load heavy load of H-4198(not max load) with 300 gr hornady bullet at 1900-2000 fps. 3 shot group at 100 yards.

As they say, "Da proof is in da pudding". Nice shooting.

 

[Citadel99]

Son took my 1895 last week hunting and dropped a hog in it's tracks. We usually shoot the factory Leverevolution ammo from it and have never had jamming issues. Great gun. Have a Leupold 2-7 with the CDS on it so it takes the guessing game out of extending it's legs.

Mark

 

[PapaG]

Shoot! Forgot all about the Rossi Rio Grande hiding in the back of the safe. Ill put it up against the Handi in the off season and whichever shoots best becomes the 2023 deer rifle. Have to plug the Rossi, though. Single shot only.