Cocked & Locked
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I've shot two deer thus far this season with my .45-70 Marlin Guide Gun. I used handloads with 49.5 grains of IMR 3031 under a Remington 405 grain JSP bullet.
Both bullets exited the deer, leaving exit wounds the diameter of a 25-cent piece.
Deer #1 was shot 70-75 yards behind the shoulder. He went only about 10 feet, but no blood spill where he stood, just when he went down...not unusual.
Deer #2 was shot at 40 yards behind the shoulder and dropped (unseen) about 50 yards away. No blood trail or blood on the ground where the deer was standing, nor did it leave a blood trail.
Deer #2 would have probably been very difficult to find if shot in the late evening as it started running one way then obviously (not at the time) changed directions.
I'm used to hunting with a .270, .30-06, or .300 mag. Those calibers make an exit hole about the same size as the .45-70, but there is an outburst of blood where the deers stand, and usually a heavy blood trail.
Is this typical of the heavy slow moving .45-70 405 grain round? I like hunting with it and it is definitley lethal and is a penetrator. I just would like a little more tracking advantage if needed late in the evenings.
exit hole on deer #2 In thoughts or opinions?
Both bullets exited the deer, leaving exit wounds the diameter of a 25-cent piece.
Deer #1 was shot 70-75 yards behind the shoulder. He went only about 10 feet, but no blood spill where he stood, just when he went down...not unusual.
Deer #2 was shot at 40 yards behind the shoulder and dropped (unseen) about 50 yards away. No blood trail or blood on the ground where the deer was standing, nor did it leave a blood trail.
Deer #2 would have probably been very difficult to find if shot in the late evening as it started running one way then obviously (not at the time) changed directions.
I'm used to hunting with a .270, .30-06, or .300 mag. Those calibers make an exit hole about the same size as the .45-70, but there is an outburst of blood where the deers stand, and usually a heavy blood trail.
Is this typical of the heavy slow moving .45-70 405 grain round? I like hunting with it and it is definitley lethal and is a penetrator. I just would like a little more tracking advantage if needed late in the evenings.
exit hole on deer #2 In thoughts or opinions?