45-70 Factory Ammo Recommendation

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Walleyewhiz

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Picking up a JM stamped 1895 in 45-70 tomorrow. I haven't got brass, dies, or powder, so reloading is going to have to wait until after hunting season. Therefore, my question is what factory ammo would you buy if you had a moose tag in your pocket?
 
I just picked up some Remington flat nose soft point 405 grains for my new Marlin 1895 SBL. Haven't shot a moose yet but I plan to. Very manageable recoil and plenty accurate. No cycling issues at all. I would recommend getting set up to reload though unless you like spending 3 bucks a pull. With my reloads and cast bullets my cost is well under a buck a pull.
Good hunting!
 
hoytcanon said:
Hornady Leverevolution 325 FTX.
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x2. These are tack drivers in my 1895 GBL. Recoil is nothing. Amazed how accurate this round can be up to 100m. 50m and under I have super tight groups. I have a very low mounted Nikon 2-7 Prostaff. If you scope a lever in 45/70 I highly recommend this scope. I can barely fit a piece of paper under the lowest part of the scope. Shocking actually how accurate this rifle is.
 
Have you fellows who recommend the Hornady FTX ever shot moose with them? I hear mixed reports about that bullets performance IN game. They do shoot well on paper for me in three different rifles, and have flat trajectory, but i have never used them on game. My concern would be premature bullet breakup and poor penetration in moose. Same with the various 300 gr. HP bullets.

from a internet site when I searched: "the FTX is an incredibly spectacular medium game killer producing very dramatic wounds, several inches in diameter. Unfortunately though, the increase in velocity takes the FTX bullet outside of its design parameters and penetration is only mild and as such, should never be used on large animals."

I have never heard of those problems with the Remington 405 gr. factory loads. So based on hearsay and limited experience the Remington 405's is what I'd recommend.
 
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Honestly Walleye, make friends with someone with a press and dies. We're everywhere and you won't be limited to pathetic factory ammo choices. Buy some good 405gr cast bullets from Bullet Barn and a pound of IMR3031 and you're off to the races.
 
hoytcanon said:
Hornady Leverevolution 325 FTX.
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If you have a Marlin 1895, Win 1886 or NEF in 45-70:

The Hornady factory 325 grain FTX ammo is crazy accurate in my Guide Guns.
We're talking < 1" 3-shot groups @ 100 yards.
HSM "Bear Load" 430 grain hard cast lead flat points.
Buffalo Bore ammo is now available in Canada.

The 405 grain Remy and Federal factory ammo designed for the trap door guns is way too anemic and doesn't do the caliber justice.
 
Longwalker said:
Have you fellows who recommend the Hornady FTX ever shot moose with them? I hear mixed reports about that bullets performance IN game. They do shoot well on paper for me in three different rifles, and have flat trajectory, but i have never used them on game. My concern would be premature bullet breakup and poor penetration in moose. Same with the various 300 gr. HP bullets.

from a internet site when I searched: "the FTX is an incredibly spectacular medium game killer producing very dramatic wounds, several inches in diameter. Unfortunately though, the increase in velocity takes the FTX bullet outside of its design parameters and penetration is only mild and as such, should never be used on large animals."

I have never heard of those problems with the Remington 405 gr. factory loads. So based on hearsay and limited experience the Remington 405's is what I'd recommend.
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I witnessed a test a buddy of mine did this summer with the 325 FTX. Shooting into 20" of sold green poplar blocks, every bullet held together and mushroomed perfectly. I would have no hesitation using them on moose after seeing them perform..
 
BigUglyMan said:
Honestly Walleye, make friends with someone with a press and dies. We're everywhere and you won't be limited to pathetic factory ammo choices. Buy some good 405gr cast bullets from Bullet Barn and a pound of IMR3031 and you're off to the races.
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Couldn't agree more , straight walled case = so many reloads on the same brass + you can really amp up the loads ( don't believe everything you read and start slow ) . 45/70 factory loads are so weak to allow for many old rifles still out there .you can easily approach 458 winmag power or have a mouse fart load .
Bullet Barn all the way - great people
 
Longwalker said:
Have you fellows who recommend the Hornady FTX ever shot moose with them? I hear mixed reports about that bullets performance IN game. They do shoot well on paper for me in three different rifles, and have flat trajectory, but i have never used them on game. My concern would be premature bullet breakup and poor penetration in moose. Same with the various 300 gr. HP bullets. Honestly-no, I used them on paper and the groups were more than acceptable plus the felt recoil suggested to me that they were travelling quicker than any of the other factory loads I tried.
from a internet site when I searched: "the FTX is an incredibly spectacular medium game killer producing very dramatic wounds, several inches in diameter. Unfortunately though, the increase in velocity takes the FTX bullet outside of its design parameters and penetration is only mild and as such, should never be used on large animals." Internet info is questionable at best, truth usually lands somewhere in the middle- my opinion.
I have never heard of those problems with the Remington 405 gr. factory loads. So based on hearsay and limited experience the Remington 405's is what I'd recommend. I couldn't find any factory 405's on the shelf but of all the factory loads I tried I thought they all left a lot to be desired so I would have figured the factory 405 to be no different....
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I would agree with anyone who recommends handloads with this cartridge; of all the cartridges I've played with and handloaded (more than a few) this is the best one to show dramatic improvements over factory ammo.
 
I agree with the reloading advantage especially for this cartridge. OP asked for factory saying he is going to reload but it's close to hunting season and he doesn't have the components. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND not getting reloads off just anyone. Even for pistol I reload thousands a year but if I am running low before a match I'd rather grab some factory before grabbing reloads off someone.
 
Gunoholic said:
If you have a Marlin 1895, Win 1886 or NEF in 45-70:

The Hornady factory 325 grain FTX ammo is crazy accurate in my Guide Guns.
We're talking < 1" 3-shot groups @ 100 yards.
HSM "Bear Load" 430 grain hard cast lead flat points.
Buffalo Bore ammo is now available in Canada.

The 405 grain Remy and Federal factory ammo designed for the trap door guns is way too anemic and doesn't do the caliber justice.
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I have used them in 1895's, Handi's and BC'S and No.1's... they have proven to be an accurate load with plenty of punch. I don't use the factory loads anymore, rather load the 325 FTX with my favorite powders.
 
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