Who's hunting a 45-70? Lever guys (and others) respond!

gmctech said:
I've used my Marlin 1895 from gophers to bear and everything in between. I use Hornady Lever Evolution 325 gr FTX and that packs all the punch I've needed thus far.... if you get one make sure you buy it in person as I had to sift through three at Cabela's before i found one that didn't look like it was put together by kindergarten kids.... Pay close attention to the checkering... I saw one that looked like it had been used for 20 years new in the box. But after you find the gem you'll be very pleased with the 'ole buffalo gun...

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It is often said the remlins were poor for a couple years, but not are fine
When did you buy?
 
T/C Contender carbine 14" barrel.

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T/C Contender carbine 22" barrel.

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I've shot a few deer etc with my Marlin 1895GS but don't have a pic of it with deer I did pack it into the thick bush loaded with 525gr Beartooth Piledrivers after my B&C interior grizzly a few years ago though.

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fingers284 said:
The really nice thing about ANY 45-70 is that you don't have to load it "wild" to get the job done...400 gr. at 1200 fps will dump anything in North America that isn't living in a zoo.
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It is not a "need to" thing... it is a "want to" thing...

The .45/70 loaded to the MAX is a toothless baby compared to my .45/120 loaded to the MAX...

And I still do that on occasion... like to loosen fillings prior to a dentist appointment...
 
My dad shot his moose the last 2 years with an 1895 GBL with bullets I cast and loaded for him.

I figure it's about time I used my 45-70 and some home cast bullets to bring home something. Maybe a spring bear...
 
I picked this newer model one up last year used and am very happy with it . I have only just shot the Hornady Lever Evolution 325 gr FTX out of it . Accuracy was good and the recoil isn't that bad .This one is just for hunting so I wont be shooting it for fun that much anyhow. I thought I would try the TRS red dot on mine and so far I like it .

 
BigUglyMan said:
How's your daughter, by the way?
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Married and gave us our first grandchild last October... Bought him a gun already! lol. He's 6 months old now.
He'll likely be big enough to shoot a 45/70 in time.


Back on topic, what can be expected from a 300 gr JHP, at around 1800 - 1850fps? I think that should be fine on deer, but will that deliver enough penetration on moose up to 150 yds?
Or maybe better to go with a 400gr and different bullet.



If I get one of these things, I hope I don't like it too much.
Could end up getting expensive, by looking at all the pics coming in... :runaway:
 
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I shoot cast out of mine. They drop at 418gr and are out of 25:1 alloy so they're not particularly hard. I get some leading but realistically I'm not worried about it because it's a hunting rifle. If it sees a couple dozen shots in a practice session that's the most you can expect from an outing. So it takes a bit longer to scrub out, big deal. I suppose I could back the speed down to 1700 or thereabouts and likely have no problems but in the end lead isn't impossible to remove from a barrel. Now if I was having to scrub it out a couple of times a week I'd probably get tired of it but then I'd just cast a harder bullet, gas check bullets or find cheap jacketed bullets to use.

418gr bullets at 1950 get your attention, but they'll also penetrate like the dickens and as Hoyt pointed out, there are plenty of other things that buck harder than a hot loaded 45-70.
 
Back on topic, what can be expected from a 300 gr JHP, at around 1800 - 1850fps? I think that should be fine on deer, but will that deliver enough penetration on moose up to 150 yds?
Or maybe better to go with a 400gr and different bullet.
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You don't need a fast bullet to punch thru a moose or any game for that matter... I've punched thru a mature mule deer clean thru both sides and the heart with a 405gr hard cast.... Over trail boss... Think pistol velocity... Granted it was around 50-75 yards but still....

 
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Picked up the prohunter last year and took it whitetail hunting this past November. 325 gr Lever revolution made short work of this guy. :) 20" barrel is sure nice to pack around.

RC
 
I normally load the Hornady 350 grain Interlock bullet over either IMR 3031 or Varget, for a relatively modest 1700 fps. mv. Performance on game up to and including moose has been very good. This bullet can be loaded hotter, but see no reason to. For jacketed 400-405 grain bullets, I will likewise load to about the same velocity. Also a good performer.
 
Hotwheels81 said:
You don't need a fast bullet to punch thru a moose or any game for that matter... I've punched thru a mature mule deer clean thru both sides and the heart with a 405gr hard cast.... Over trail boss... Think pistol velocity... Granted it was around 50-75 yards but still....
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I realize speed isn't everything, but bullet type and construction play a part too......moose are a lot thicker thru the body than deer, plus a little heavier hide. So you're saying a 300gr JHP will get through to the vitals on moose?
 
popcan said:
I realize speed isn't everything, but bullet type and construction play a part too......moose are a lot thicker thru the body than deer, plus a little heavier hide. So you're saying a 300gr JHP will get through to the vitals on moose?
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Well.... Your going to be hitting that moose with approx the same energy than a .45 colt has at the muzzle with the same bullet weight... Ya I get a sneaking suspicion it'll get the job done... I know several members here have great success inside 100 yards with .44 mag lever guns shooting JHP's and cast bullets at moose.... I wouldn't hesitate to poke one with a 300 at 1800 while it still has 1200ft lbs at 1300fps...
 
I hunt a Browning 86 repro,run heavy loads through it ...I've been using the Hornady 350's running around 2100 but have become somewhat disillusioned in that there has been jacket separation on the last couple big moose I've shot ,I'm thinking about ordering some hard cast ,gas checked 390's from the bullet barn .

I have no inclination to use anything else other than my 45-70 for big game ,if you're a "hunter" who likes to stalk withing 150 yards and not a "target shooter" who glasses and try's slip one in at 500... you can't go wrong ,withing its range ,with proper loads it can handle anything you'll run across with confidence .
 
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