Black Powder 45-70 for big game hunting?

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7.62Man

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Hi All,

I purchased a NEF handi rifle in 45-70 and paln on using it it for black powder hunting. I know that the 45-70 was used to hunt buffalo and worked or so the histroy book tells me.

I have a Lee 405 grain FP that I plan to pan lube and seat over a charge of ffg (70 grains?)

My question is this load enough for bear, moose?
 
I would certainly think it would be sufficient for bear and moose. This cartridge, loaded to case capacity with 2F Swiss, is quite potent. It is being used at 1,000 yards for BP target work. Is the "Handi-Rifle" meant to be fired with smokeless loads? Some rifling, intended to be used for smokeless, is not sufficient for BP loads.
 
I've used the 45-70 for years and reload my own. The heavy bullet is like a bulldozer. You can use it for any North American game at black powder velocities.
 
i think you should use a good blackpowder lube, spg or lyman gold, you will find you can shoot more than enough shots without cleaning for hunting, try it , if anything the more agressive rifling may cause some leading even if your bullets are sized properly, but still good for b.p. hunting ,,wade
 
For hunting you may want to try duplex loads as they burn much cleaner and require less(somewhat)cleaning of gun and cases. My usual duplex loads are 10% RL-7 under 90% 2ffg, the ffg drop tubed 3-4' with no empty space in the case. This is not legal in BP competitions such as sillywets but quite effective. Recoil and velocity is increased due to much more effective burn of the black powder.
 
As a further note.....IMHO...if my single shot wasn't made to shoot black powder and chambered in 45/70 or some such, I'd pitch(sell) it!!
 
7.62 Man It will shoot it the biggest problem outside of fowling is the rifling in your gun. If it is micro grooving make sure your bullets are fairly hard.
405Grn. will kill anything in North America.
Straight Black will work as will Duplex or even Synthetic Blacks (Pyrodox, 777)
Shoot the gun with what ever you choose to use. Learn what the gun tells you and tinker with your reloading till it shoots like you want it to.
A Good lube is a must.
Good Hunting Ken
 
id hafta agree, a 45-70 should kill pretty much any big game in canada. elk moose black bear should all drop from it easly. things bigger than that may not. (buffalo included in the killable of course lol)
 
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