Hunting Grizzly with the 45-70

Weatherby2

Weatherby2

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Good day folks. Well I was lucky enough to get a spring grizzly draw and I wanna use my 45-70! It shoots pretty good with everything i've put through it and I've rounded it down too 2 choices one being the 325gr Hornady FTX and the other being a Cast 390gr FP gas checked bullet from the bullet barn. What one would you use and why??? And Go😬
 
I would avoid the FTX, If I was going for griz I would load the Hornady 350 RN or flat nose, second choice a hard cast, I haven't tried the 390 but have had good results with the BB 450. Just don't underestimate the effectiveness of those 350 RN's they are superb killers!
 
Many years ago I took one small-medium grizzly with my Winchester 1886 and a Speer 400 gr flat point at 1600 Fps, range est 125 yards. Bear was standing on hind legs looking at me, more curious than aggresive, a centre chest hit did not exit. The bear dropped, turned and ran, probably went 200+ yards, fortunately not towards me. One shot kill, yes, fight stopper, no. Took moose with the same load, usually one shot, always under 175 yards, also two with 486gr hard cast lead bullet, these have great penetration, very little expansion, in effect a solid. The Hornady 350 gr round nose bullets I tried were designed for the 458 Win mag, jackets too heavy for most sane 45-70 velocities although I shot one moose and one black bear with these bullets in a .458x2" at about 2050 fps with great one shot kills. Also worked great in a long throated Ruger #1 45/70 at a chronographed 2400 fps. Speer makes (or did) a good 350 gr semi spitzer flat point with a medium jacket and Nosler has their ever reliable Partition. Bullets are made differently for for the 45/70 than the ones for the .458 mag and they are not interchangeable for reliable use on game, especially potentially dangerous game. The same goes for hard or soft cast bullets. Match your bullet to your game and your velocity. Good luck. J.
 
Assumed to be a Marlin 45-70. Assumed to be a huge and unagitated Grizzly. Not really my preferred rifle of choice but say - for some wildly profound far-fetched reason that I'm at a total loss to possibly imagine what it could be - it's the only rifle I had at my disposal, then I would be using 400gr Swift AF/FN bullets at about 1900 fps MV.

I would endeavor to stalk it real close to get a broadside shot to nail it right through the kill switch. Bang! Flop! :eek:

(disclaimer: individual results may vary :p )
 
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I've used the 325 FTX's on one Black Bear , about 300 lbs , and have seen two white-tails taken with them . While they worked well , I can't say I'd call myself a huge fan . All three bullets were heavily fragmented and penetration wasn't complete . I usually use hard cast 405's at about 1600 fps in my 45/70 while hunting . I really like the 45/70 as a hunting round , but I've found it isn't the hammer that some believe it to be . It will kill reliably , but it isn't in the same class as a 375 H&H or other cartridge in that class .
There's nothing wrong with using your 45/70 for Grizzly , just use a good bullet like the ones suggested above , push it to 1800 fps or above and keep your shots inside of 150 yards . Good luck this spring and keep us posted .
 
390gn hard cast deep penetrator better chance to leave two hole !
ftx is not a good bullet for large game(brown/grizz/moose/elk) but for whitetail or black bear is a good one leave good entry hole but no exit
 
I have carried a Marlin 45-70 for bear protection ( polar ) for alot of years, loaded with 420 hard cast , the FTX is a deer bullet. You want to break bone to put the bear down,I don't believe the FTX is up to that task.
pounder
 
I would go with the heaviest bullet your shoulder can handle. The heavier the deeper the penetration. Then learn to shoot it well.
Find Mar stars website and search this number FMB-025
 
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The FTX has been great on deer in .358 Win, .44 RM and .45/70, but it is not what I would choose for a grizzly, but then again neither is the .45/70... not that it won't work, but occaionally SHTF and you don't want Murphy taking a hand on your grizzly hunt... things could get... well... grizzly.
 
Definitely go with a bullet that will hold together and penetrate. A Remington 405gr FNSP wouldn't be my choice because these tend to flatten out which limits penetration. This Remington 405gr penetrated only just over a foot through a Bull Moose (raking shoulder shot, impacted at ~1600 fps but severed the spinal chord - bang! flop!). Not sure if the 400gr Barnes Original FNSP would be any better?

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