First elk with the .45-70

[ricebasher302]

I had a fantastic and rewarding end to an elk hunt in a very tough general area in Wyoming. Things were going pretty slow for my camp, but I happened accross a bull track Saturday morning, and after a 15 minute stalk, I caught up to this guy and a couple of cows in a tiny clearing in the timber. The only shot I had available was a quartering away shot from a very awkward position. Distance was about 65 yards, and the Skinner sight I have on the Marlin was fast, intuitive, and accurate. The 350 gr. Hornady FP (handload w/48 grains of IMR 4198) hit him in the back of the liver on his left side, through his stomach and through the back part of his right lung, coming to a rest under the hide behind his shoulder. He never took a step. An unnecessary follow-up to the back of the head anchored him where he stood. The bullets performed as expected. Weight retention was great and penetration awesome.

This was one of the most rewarding hunts I've been on, as the success rate in this area is very low, and it is almost entirely timbered. The elk are very smart and move only at night usually, so walking alot is almost mandatory. I'd have been thrilled with any elk, let alone a bull like this!

Thought I'd share it with you guys.

 

[TwoWheelFiend]

Nice elk, man!

 

[critter]

NICE elk! I love the old 45-70. It WORKS.

 

[X-Rap]

Love the 45-70 for a close range elk gun.

 

[Cosmoline]

Excellent!

 

[Robert]

Way to go! My Elk rifle is the 1895G. I use H322 to push a 405gr hard cast lead bullet. Good accurate load. Now if I can only get an Elk to step in front of it.

 

[ricebasher302]

Now if I can only get an Elk to step in front of it.

That can be a bit of a trick!

 

[T.R.]

Great bull, nice shooting, and good photos.

Thank you for sharing.

TR

 

[CSA 357]

nice elk! i love the 45-70 never got to hunt elk with it but i have taken truck loads of whitetail with the 45-70 with handloaded 300 gr hollow points

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

Well done. You hunted like a man, rather than using some huge scope on a huge magnum at 600 yards. Hope it tastes great...

 

[ricebasher302]

WTBguns,

Thanks for the good word. I kinda think the same way you do. Bowhunters target elk when they're stupid and out of their minds. Some rifle hunters glass for hours and shoot at extreme ranges like you say. I try not to judge and don't wand to sound self-righteous, but I feel like I had a pretty honest, fair-chase hunt. I wouldn't hesitate to take a 300 yard shot with my 7 mag, but man, this way sure was satifying!

 

[castingdonkey]

Thats a nice bull I bet your pumped up. I recall the huge ego boost I got when I shot my bigun. It was a bit of an ego shot not taking a bigun this year. I now have a choice to trophy hunt or put some cow in the freezer. According to the wife I will be going after a cow. Congrats, For the most part shooting an elk with any weapon at any distance is a rush, some a little more than others but the end result is a heavy pack.

 

[35 Whelen]

The OP is a lie, a fraud, and a hoax. Exeryone knows you can't hunt, much less kill, a mature bull elk with ANYTHING that doesn't shoot at LEAST as flat as a 300WM



Congrats on the nice bull, and kudos to you for doing it the hard way!

35W

 

[elkdomBC]

nice Bull, nothing like "up close and personal" on an Elk hunt !

good on yah with 45-70 ! one of my favorites, my other is the .348 Winchester

again, good Job, Good elk

 

[X-Rap]

Good on the OP for showing a guy can do it both ways without riding on some kind of high horse.
I would hunt every season if the law would let me and I had the money, from 15 yds to 500 be it bow, ML, Pistol, or rifle I will hunt if given the chance and have done enough to know that none of them are a free lunch.

 

[exbiologist]

heck yes, way to go!

 

[chas08]

Great job, and great Bull. Congratulations!!!! Have you ever chronographed that load?

 

[okiewita40]

Congrats on a nice elk. Way to go.

 

[Bula]

Very nice bull. Congratulations. Hey, what's that white stuff all over the floor? (kidding, it's still in the 90's here)

 

[ricebasher302]

Thanks guys. Any of you wanna help cut up this beast? It's alot of work for a non-pro like me!!! One hind quarter (skinned, lower leg removed) weighed 92 lbs! I've taken three elk now, and they're big animals, but a mature bull like this takes it a couple steps further.

I haven't chrono'ed that load yet. I was kinda rushed this season, and sighted in with this load, but I doubt I'll settle on it. It's plenty potent, but may not be my most accurate load. It's a mid-range Hodgdon load, which is pretty warm according to most. Guessing probably 1,950 fps???

That snow in the photo was the first of the year here and was melting fast. South-facing slopes were melted off. It was a miracle that I cut this bull's track and that he stayed in the timber on a northern slope. I'd have lost his track for sure if he wandered much further. Snow is almost a necessity in this area.

 

[wankerjake]

Nice bull!

 

[788Ham]

Congrats Rice, you did good young man! That rifle really anchors them when it hits, happy for you. You'll be eatin' better than I will be this winter!

 

[JustsayMo]

Great report and pictures.

The 45-70 is an awesome game getter. Performance on Bears and Elk has been "devastating" to use the words of those who witness the harvests.

I really like that Hornady bullet. Shoots very accurately in the 1895's I've shot it in. I haven't hunted with that bullet, choosing to go with a heavy 425 grain Cast bullets. Even at velocities in the 1400 fps neighborhood there is complete penetration - even lengthwise on one Bear.

 

[chas08]

Guessing probably 1,950 fps???

Thanks for the reply, a friend of mine wants to work up a load in the 1800-1900 fps range that might work good on both of our guide guns with a bullet in the 350gr weight. Your load may be a good place to start. Mine shoots the Hornady 300gr Leverevolution really well, so I've used it for the last couple of years. Once again, congratulations.

 

[45-70 Ranger]

Bravo! Nicely done sir. Your caliber of choice was well selected and needless to say, effective! Stalking is an art that you have put to use in proper fashion. The 45-70 is a personal favorite, never have I seen anything get up after being hit with a well placed round from this caliber.

Again, Bravo!

Wade