Hunting Grizzly with the 45-70

Camp Cook said:
I'll give you relevant when I was a teenager I read a book called "I Nuligak" a true story about an Eskimo living in the 1800's if I remember correctly.

He somehow acquired a rifle chambered in the new high powered round 22 Short.

He would shoot polar bears between the shoulder blades paralysing them worked better than trying to spear them.

Like the earlier post showed he had balls...

Edit to add = on my last grizzly hunt yes I had my 21" barreled 375RUM along as well but I mostly carried my single shot 21" barreled T/C Contender carbine chambered in 375JDJ = 260gr Accubonds @ 2300fps.

I would have aimed for a max 150 - 200 yards double lung shot.
Click to expand...

Nuligak, aka Robert (Bob) Cockney was a former co-worker's grandfather. I haven't read the book but the documentary was really interesting. Up there "First Contact" wasn't all that long ago.
 
This conversation has obviously deviated from the original question, as most do.....

My take (never shot a grizz, but it's hard to argue learned experience and math)

.45/70 will kill a grizz if you are at an acceptable range, chose the right shot and execute well..... but why?.... a grizz is a rare draw for residents and a very expensive outing for non residents..... if you are a rifle hunter, and have that kind of coin, why the hell would you pick a .45/70?......

As for bow hunting, I get it...... it forces you to get within nosebreath of your game and choose the correct shot.....

The killing mechanism is completely different as well.....
 
Brad,

not trying to sell the Yukon but the residents here can get a grizzly every 3 years with no draw just OTC tag ... note that doesnt mean they will take one evey three years ... even if you can meet more than one during hunting trip ... sometimes you find them when you do not want ... that is why i really like the 375 ruger alaskan rifle model or a 9.3x62 if you can shoot them well of course ...

bow or rifle i never aimed to break shoulder i prefer the double lungs ... easier with a bullet to break the shoulder but still prefer the double lungs ... pneumothorax is an end whatever it s happening ...and faster than a liver wound ....
 
One could hunt Grizzly every year in BC, many of the draws are a sure thing, getting there may involve either boat or plane charter though.

There's even a box to check that you'll accept a substitute hunt on the LEH form for Grizzly. There are zones where not 1 person is willing to give the gov't $6 to apply for a Grizzly tag.
 
Last edited:
Superbrad said:
.45/70 will kill a grizz if you are at an acceptable range, chose the right shot and execute well..... but why?.... a grizz is a rare draw for residents and a very expensive outing for non residents..... if you are a rifle hunter, and have that kind of coin, why the hell would you pick a .45/70?......
Click to expand...

That's easy for us folks that have hunted & target shot with with it for many years and just plain love the chambering. They be many good reasons the 45-70 has been with us for 144 yrs. Its' a sweetheart of a round to work with when one gets "magnumitis" out of their beans. It'll keep on doing the job for many years yet on the big & small stuff.
:)
 
I have four 45-70's...

Load from 250gr - 550gr...

I know the round and I know what it can do...

Those that are spewing against it have probably no experience with it...

If you have experience you know what it can do and wouldn't hesitate to use it on grizzly...

Just saying...

I worked remote wilderness areas in BC for 7 years every year I applied for a grizzly tag I got a grizzly tag...
 
For those of you who have never seen the Inuit hunt polar bear and think it is impossible to place a 22 between the shoulder blades, allow me to explain. When the Inuit see a bear they want, they turn the dogs loose on them. The dogs surround the bear and attempt to bite the testicles, the bear will sit to protect his balls and wheel around on his ass to fight the dogs. The Inuit them move in and spine the bear from behind at very close range while the bear is 100% occupied with the dogs. I have no doubt that even a 22 short can at least temporarily incapacitate the bear with a spine shot from a few meters.
 
Camp Cook said:
I have four 45-70's...

Load from 250gr - 550gr...

I know the round and I know what it can do...

Those that are spewing against it have probably no experience with it...

If you have experience you know what it can do and wouldn't hesitate to use it on grizzly...

Just saying...

I worked remote wilderness areas in BC for 7 years every year I applied for a grizzly tag I got a grizzly tag...
Click to expand...

x2

And I don't even like the 45/70 that much.

Where is this nonsense coming from? Laugh2
 
c-fbmi said:
For those of you who have never seen the Inuit hunt polar bear and think it is impossible to place a 22 between the shoulder blades, allow me to explain. When the Inuit see a bear they want, they turn the dogs loose on them. The dogs surround the bear and attempt to bite the testicles, the bear will sit to protect his balls and wheel around on his ass to fight the dogs. The Inuit them move in and spine the bear from behind at very close range while the bear is 100% occupied with the dogs. I have no doubt that even a 22 short can at least temporarily incapacitate the bear with a spine shot from a few meters.
Click to expand...

What happens when the bear is a female? :)
 
c-fbmi said:
For those of you who have never seen the Inuit hunt polar bear and think it is impossible to place a 22 between the shoulder blades, allow me to explain. When the Inuit see a bear they want, they turn the dogs loose on them. The dogs surround the bear and attempt to bite the testicles, the bear will sit to protect his balls and wheel around on his ass to fight the dogs. The Inuit them move in and spine the bear from behind at very close range while the bear is 100% occupied with the dogs. I have no doubt that even a 22 short can at least temporarily incapacitate the bear with a spine shot from a few meters.
Click to expand...

I read about an old Inuit who preferred the 22 magnum for polar bears. Would shoot it in the lungs broadside. The bear would barely react to the hit and just continue along, then the lungs would collapse and the bear will keel over. Just takes time.

But the testicle biting dog story is way better. :)
 
Gatehouse said:
I read about an old Inuit who preferred the 22 magnum for polar bears. Would shoot it in the lungs broadside. The bear would barely react to the hit and just continue along, then the lungs would collapse and the bear will keel over. Just takes time.

But the testicle biting dog story is way better. :)
Click to expand...

Same holds dead true with a few .22lr from a Nylon 66 in the lungs as well. Best strafing gun I ever owned.;)
 
Just a friendly suggestion - get a good chunk of bone from Sunday's dinner, say from a t bone steak, prime rib roast or a ham bone and see if you can damage it with a .22. If you can't find shorts try standard velocity or target long rifle, either one has a heavier bullet and higher velocity than the lowly short. I seriously doubt a short would even penetrate the hair, hide, fat and gristle to hit the bone, let alone break it and the spinal cord. Please be careful of ricochets and report back so we all know about the effectiveness of the short on large bones. And of course another comparative test with the 45/70 would be appropriate.
 
we used 22s to kill cattles at the farm when i was a kid and that is including big cows, beef and bulls.

i have witnessed only 3 kills with polar bear, it was problem bears and they used 7mm mag with 160 grains bullet but they said 22 and 222 was used also ...
 
c-fbmi said:
For those of you who have never seen the Inuit hunt polar bear and think it is impossible to place a 22 between the shoulder blades, allow me to explain. When the Inuit see a bear they want, they turn the dogs loose on them. The dogs surround the bear and attempt to bite the testicles, the bear will sit to protect his balls and wheel around on his ass to fight the dogs. The Inuit them move in and spine the bear from behind at very close range while the bear is 100% occupied with the dogs. I have no doubt that even a 22 short can at least temporarily incapacitate the bear with a spine shot from a few meters.
Click to expand...

A friend of mine is an Inuk polar bear guide. When he's hunting for himself he uses a 257 Roberts. When he needs a "big rifle" he takes his 25-06.

Ponder on that for a bit.
 
BigUglyMan said:
A friend of mine is an Inuk polar bear guide. When he's hunting for himself he uses a 257 Roberts. When he needs a "big rifle" he takes his 25-06.

Ponder on that for a bit.
Click to expand...

A fellow I knew from Corral Harbor had exactly the same sentiment, normally he used a .22-250, but a .25-06 was his big gun. That said, .458s and such are beginning to catch on for bowheads.

IMHO, sport hunters should not attempt to use the examples provided by subsistence hunters as a guide of how things should be done.
 
For those of you asking for my reload info here is a link to Beartooth 525gr Piledrivers data.

I load these with H322 @ 1600fps in my 18.5" 1895GS.

http://beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/archive_open_sight.htm/21

Good read = http://www.fortyfiveseventy.com/bullets/beartooth-piledriver-bullets/

I use this load for 425gr Beartooth Piledriver Jrs or comparable bullets = I see on the internet that others use it as well but with different primers.

Starline case
Win LR primers
47 grains H322
Beartooth Bullets Piledriver Jr

OAL at 2.52"
1679 fps, SD of 10 fps.

Of course I am not liable for anyone using this data.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom