good load for deer with .45/70 govt.?

[nightrunner]

what is a good load in the .45/70 for deer? factory ammo, not handloads.

do i need a 300, 350, or 405 gain bullet? and with a slug that big, a soft point should be fine right? no need for a hollowpoint?

thanks

[Rightwinger]

Both the Remy 300 and 405 grain JHPs are fantastic deer stoppers for this caliber. I use the 300s in my AR platformed 458 Socom and the energy transfer is pretty amazing with 90% retention of mass.

Looking at the Remy site they don't offer the 405 in HP but the soft point.

I used to shoot the .444 Marlin with soft points and they were great short and medium range rounds as well. I think either the 300 JHP or the 405 SP would do you. Sorry, I missed you did NOT want to handload at first.

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/centerfire/core-Lokt.asp

Edited May 25, 2008 by Rightwinger

[nightrunner]

i was actually looking at the buffalo bore +P ammo has higher velocity than others and option of 300-500gr. bullets. i have a marlin 1895 so it can take the +P ammo.

[Rightwinger]

Never priced Buffalo against the standard factory loads. If your not getting huge velocity gains (without losing your expansion) then IMHO its not worth paying for a name.

If you really want consistent loads you can trust, get into hand loading and roll your own. I just buy bullets and powder now for everything I own except my sons 30-30. I'll probably get dies for that sometime but we just don't shoot it enough yet to even generate enough brass to make it worth it.

Get a box of each and do some comparison of accuracy, weight retention (shoot into wet newspapers and magazines) and then weigh the costs of each. You'll know what you want then.

[Guest Mugster]

With a slug that big, it doesn't really matter for deer imo. You could shoot through them lengthways with that stuff. I've had good luck with the 240gr sp remington in .444 for what its worth. I might go with the smaller bullet. Might be a little flatter shooting and punish you a bit less.

[nightrunner]

thats why i was looking at the buffalo bores stuff. you get better velocity and energy in a larger bullet, granted you probably get more punishment in the shoulder but thats beside the point:D

buffalo bore:

300gr. Jacketed hollow point - 2350fps/3678ft.lbs.

350gr. Jacketed flat nose - 2150fps/3427ft.lbs.

405gr. Jacketed flat nose - 2000fps/3597ft.lbs.

430gr. Long lead flat nose - 1925fps/3537ft.lbs.

500gr. full metal jacket flat nose - 1650fps/2931ft.lbs.

Hornady LEVERevolution

325gr. flex tip expanding - 1875fps/3032ft.lbs.

Remington

300gr. semi-jacketed hollow point - 1810fps/2182ft.lbs.

405gr. jacketed soft point - 1330fps/1590ft/lbs.

[Guest grimel]

Hornady LEVERevolution. The best trajectory, more than enough umph for anything in N.A. and it's the cheapest factory ammo (at least at Gander Mt and online). Shoots good too!

[nightrunner]

i did read some reviews where the hornady leverevolution had the flattest shooting round for the .45/70

[Guest Mugster]

Probably what I'd do, is buy a pack of each and spend the day off the bench and see which one shoots the best in your gun. It could well vary by an inch or 2 or more at 100 yards. If you find a couple loads in that magical 2-4" group range, you'll have a couple choices.

I'll wager a cookie the remmy green box 405 gr SP will be the most accurate. Going to be an expensive proposition one way or the other....45-70 ain't cheap.

[nightrunner]

yes it is going to be expensive. the cheapest quality ammo i can find on the net is remington green box 300gr. for $31 for 20. but a gun shop about 30miles away from me has the same thing for 26.50 no tax

[Guest grimel]

yes it is going to be expensive. the cheapest quality ammo i can find on the net is remington green box 300gr. for $31 for 20. but a gun shop about 30miles away from me has the same thing for 26.50 no tax

Hornady LEVERevolution $28.46 at MidwayUSA.com

[KahrMan]

I will second Hornady Leverevolution. I shoot the 325 gr load in my Marlin 1895. Very accurate load. 2050fps and if you sight it in at 3" high at 100 yards it will be 4" low at 200.

[strob2000]

I would say any factory load in 45/70 would be plenty enough power for whitetails.

[Guest 70below]

I think the Buffalo Bore rounds would be a waste of money for deer. If you were going for Elk or Moose, I'd say give 'em a go. But any 45-70 rd you pick is going to blow a whitetail out of its socks. Anything that is going to over penetrate in my opinion is going to be a waste of energy, and with a freight train like the 45-70 you're going to have plenty of penetration. Go with something in the 240gr to 300gr range, those leverevolutions sound worth a try.

[Guest 70below]

kind of ironic....I just now got an email showing 45-70 leverevolution on sale here:

http://east.outdoormarksman.com/product_info.php?cPath=65_63_553&products_id=69142&warehouse=east

[Guest tngunman]

It doesn't matter

50!

[I_Like_Pie]

Oregon Trail Laser Cast 350 grain Lead Flat Nose Bullets

+

26.2 Grains of 2400 Powder

+

Non-Magnum Primer of your choosing.

=

1400 FPS and will go end to end through just about any animal within a 500 mile radius of here. Good at point blank 100 yards to get you a center mass shot from 0 - 120 yards.

[GLOCKMEISTER]

Hornady LEVERevolution..... +1

But any 45-70 could field dress the deer for ya too. :D:p

[Curiousgb]

Have you shot anything like the Buffalo Bore Ammo. My top load is a 350 Hornady over RL7. It hits 2000 fps and is just no fun. It will flat drop a deer but is painful. I prefer a Rem 405 over a moderate load of Varget. It is accurate and much more fun. I am sure it would kill anything in North America.

[J Smith]

Great thread,been looking for this info.

[Guest tokarev]

if you're not handloading for your 45/70 (WHAT? Your not? Why?) then just grab a box of Remchester 300 grain jhp's. They will take care of any deer in TN.

If you feel you may need more penetration, grab the 405 soft points.

What ya be shoot'n them 45/70's out of?