Hunting Grizzly with the 45-70

pounder said:
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
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If those are the bullets you got from me, they're 480s . . . if you use .45/70-420 gr data, I hope you're shooting them in a .458.:nest:

Anyway, I concur. A hardcast WFN is the correct choice.
 
Get the hardest heaviest bullet with the widest meplat (frontal area of bullet) I'd not go under 450grains as you won't be killing it with hydrolic shock with the slow moving bullets you are saddled with. I don't think grizzly bear's were what the inventor thought of when introducing it. It was for shooting people first. Then far away , non-threatening buffalo.
 
Weatherby2 said:
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��
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I love the 45-70. A lot. But there are some things to consider when planning this out. A very important consideration is the fact that the nature of the tag is that you're not going to draw another one for a long while. Maybe never. Second the country you are likely going to hunt in could be either close cover or more open country where the 45-70 is easily outclassed by more modern cartridges.

Now, if you're dead set on using the 45-70 I would use the 380 cast bullet. It's got the mass to ensure good penetration thus giving you better outcomes if you take a shot that is less than perfect. The FTX is a good bullet but too light and not stout enough for the task at hand, in my opinion. Now, keep in mind that I tend to be a heavy-for-caliber guy and I prefer a bullet with some bones to it so that influences my choice.

Most important thing to do it, in my opinion, take a backup rifle. After a few days you may find that you are unable to close the gap to where you can take the shot with the 45-70. It would be nice to have a fall-back position if the terrain and bears do not cooperate. I never go anywhere without a backup rifle so hedging your bets would be something to consider.
 
If you choose to use cast bullets make sure your rifle fires these accurately. I have never had good results with cast bullets in a Marlin 45-70. Too many fliers and key-holers.

I do not trust cast bullets so I have dismissed these for hunting purposes and stick with jacketed bullets. Also if you choose cast bullets make sure the alloy used is of the appropriate hardness to hold together and penetrate.
 
Slamfire said:
If you choose to use cast bullets make sure your rifle fires these accurately. I have never had good results with cast bullets in a Marlin 45-70. Too many fliers and key-holers.

I do not trust cast bullets so I have dismissed these for hunting purposes and stick with jacketed bullets. Also if you choose cast bullets make sure the alloy used is of the appropriate hardness to hold together and penetrate.
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Odd you'd say that. In mine, the most accurate are the Hornady 325's in factory loads. I have not been aboe to get anywhere near the same accuracy with handloads and the FTX (5 shot onle ragged hole vs, 3"-4" at 100), but with powder coated pure lead from a Lee 405 gr. HP, I can get almost as good.
 
Swift A-Frames seem to perform as advertised. These were fired from a 45-70 Handi-Rifle and were recovered from Elk. Impact speeds as shown. But not the penetration I would have expected.

A big Grizzly is built way more stoutly. :eek:

400gr_Swift_1400fps_1800fps_e1_zpssmlyjdjg.jpg


A%20Frames%20Swift_zpswbyd8pgh.jpg
 
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Stay away from the Hornady, the 390 should work fine but I still prefer an expanding bullet, cast or not. I had my best luck with Remington 405's, Barns original 400 and woodleigh 400fp.All were loaded to 2000 fps. I never recovered any of them, there is no animal in the world I wouldn't take on with the Woodleigh
 
Slamfire said:
Does this bullet have the integrity for use on a huge Grizzly?
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Wouldn't know - not many grizzlies around Ottawa, but our ancestors used pure lead in their smokepoles (they say there are a lot of cougars around Gatineau, but the 2-legged kind). When I have shot critters with pure lead, the boolit did hold together well, and expanded very nicely - maybe too much to get deep enough penetration on a grzz. The only reason I used pure lead is that is what I had for casting. I was really just pointing out that in my GG, cast is the most accurate I've been able to handload. I will be getting some WW in the next week or so, and will get back to you on accuracy with those when I try them, but that may be quite a while.
 
Hornady 458 350gr RN bullets fired from a Marlin 45-70 and recovered from Bull Moose. Impact speeds as shown. Again, not the penetration I would have expected. Expect even less penetration on a huge Grizzly.

Hornady350grRN_r_zpsi1xc2trg.jpg
 
A heavy 458 flat nose solid would seem to be the appropriate bullet to use in a Marlin 45-70 on big Grizzly however BC hunting reg's don't permit these -

"It is unlawful to hunt or trap with a rifle using a full metal jacketed non-expanding
bullet, or a tracer, incendiary, or explosive bullet"

Page 17 - http://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/sports-recreation-arts-and-culture/outdoor-recreation/fishing-and-hunting/hunting/regulations/2016-2018/hunting-trapping-synopsis-2016-2018.pdf

Actually an explosive bullet - say a 20mm Vulcan cannon round - would be much more appropriate if allowed! :p
 
Slamfire said:
Hornady 458 350gr RN bullets fired from a Marlin 45-70 and recovered from Bull Moose. Impact speeds as shown. Again, not the penetration I would have expected. Expect even less penetration on a huge Grizzly.

Hornady350grRN_r_zpsi1xc2trg.jpg
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I dunno - mosse have pretty tough hide and a lot of muscle. They're not hard to kill, but I've always suspected it's because they're not always hyped up on adrenalin. Compared to a deer, a moose is kinda like Pa Kettle on Valium.
 
I shoot 405 gr Oregon trail silver cast bullets in my 45/70 now. I've used plain old 405 gr Remington flat nose bulk bullets in both my 45/70 and my 458wm with great results even at 2400 fps mv.
Woodlieghs are another great option
Learn where the bears vitals are and I'd suggest a shoulder shot to break the heavy bones and send the fragments into the vitals. Another option I like is the high shoulder shot which takes the spine out usually. Either way they don't get far with out front legs
 
it s funny i have that discussion not that a week ago with a fellow member at home .. guess what we are trying some ftx 325 grains to see how they hold in milk jug filled with water ... and we will try with a 458 win mag and a lott so we can push them too ... and you know all how i love the hornady bullets ... did i already says they are good for plinking ....

on another note not what caliber or bullet i will use for grizzly but some around are using for bison and it worked so far so a grizzly is not as big, nor a width or as tough as the front part of a bison ...
 
I hear the 30-06 is a better grizz gun than the 45-70. Grizz are apparently susceptible to shock, so a faster smaller bullet would provide quicker kills than a big slow one. Yeah the 45-70 will kill, but how far will the bear go after getting shot before it's done for?...
 
Suther said:
I hear the 30-06 is a better grizz gun than the 45-70. Grizz are apparently susceptible to shock, so a faster smaller bullet would provide quicker kills than a big slow one. Yeah the 45-70 will kill, but how far will the bear go after getting shot before it's done for?...
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A 30-06 is a better anything gun than a 45-70.
I think the 45-70 is very powerful pistol cartridge.
 
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