Hunting Grizzly with the 45-70

I'm not too worried about bullet performance with a BHN of 18-20 with this particular bullet there will be slight deformation and probably close too 100% weight retention and having shot many many bear (with other calibers) I have yet to run into one wearing a Vest. Accuracy is my main concern! The reason I started this thread is because my particular rifle shoots the FTX very accurately but having determined poor performance on large game my search continues:(
 
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I've told this story before.... my dad has killed grizzlies with his Parker Hale 303 British when we lived in Whitehorse three decades ago. Winchester 180gr or CIL 215's.

I'm sure a 45-70 would drop one.
 
...I wanna use my (Marlin) 45-70...

OP, you are aware of its limitations so any commentary as to why when there are other choices? Just to prove it can be done?

Bullet speed and energy drop off very rapidly coupled with a rainbow trajectory (416 RM for comparison).

45-70, 425gr

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416 Rem. Mag., 350gr TTSX (mild load)
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There are very few animals on the face of the Earth I would be afraid of facing with a 45-70, if I had the right bullet. The only limitation I would worry about is distance. It is not a sheep or pronghorn rifle, but anything else - there are not a lot of firearms with more knock-down power. Any critter that gets hit by an ounce or so of lead is going to feel it.
 
There are very few animals on the face of the Earth I would be afraid of facing with a 45-70, if I had the right bullet. The only limitation I would worry about is distance. It is not a sheep or pronghorn rifle, but anything else - there are not a lot of firearms with more knock-down power. Any critter that gets hit by an ounce or so of lead is going to feel it.

I'd choose it for sheep and pronghorn over grizzly and polar bear.
 
There are very few animals on the face of the Earth I would be afraid of facing with a 45-70, if I had the right bullet. The only limitation I would worry about is distance. It is not a sheep or pronghorn rifle, but anything else - there are not a lot of firearms with more knock-down power. Any critter that gets hit by an ounce or so of lead is going to feel it.

Distance is only an issue if you compare it to something else with more reach. Both pronghorn and sheep and goats have been successfully hunted with archery gear... it is just a matter of accepting the limitations of your chosen equipment and staying within those limitations... having bowhunted for the past 40 years, I not only accept the limitations of archery gear, but I relish them.
 
Yesterday I had my 45-70 Remlin with 1x4 scope at the range.
With the Barnes 400gr. flat nose original bullets.
I was surprised how acuarte it was at 100 yds.
 
Yesterday I had my 45-70 Remlin with 1x4 scope at the range.
With the Barnes 400gr. flat nose original bullets.
I was surprised how acuarte it was at 100 yds.

That is a pretty small objective... hopefully you get a shot between noon and 1 pm on a sunny day.
 
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