45-70 Question

[holahead]

I got a question about useing the 45-70 for those who know more about it than me. I have a place that I want to hunt that is real thick. I have had a trail camera there since last year and have real good buck there. I also will get pics of deer everyday when I got the camera on. The spot is real thick and has two old logging roads that are grew up so the roads now are only about four feet wide. The only place to put a stand is where one road runs in to the other. I would have a shot from about as close to five yards out to a max of fifteen yards. I was going to use my 12ga Pardner when I hunt there but I was thinking about useing my 45-70. So my question is useing a Remington 405 gr factory round would my bullet open up right at those ranges? Also would this be a good choice for this set up? I really would like to use my 45-70 so what do you fellows think? Thanks in advance.

[blackpowderbill]

I see no reason for Rem's 405 gr bullet not to function. It is designed to open at 45-70 velocities. It should be devestating to any deer that wanders into its path at that range.

[Badnews Bob]

Thats the type places I hunt in reagularly. The .45-70 works great in there thick, don't worry about the bullet opening up, It'll take out a deer with no problem at that kind of range.   .45-70 and .357 max are my favorite rounds for the thick stuff.

[towpro]

If you can, put your stand up a couple weeks ahead of time and sit there for a little bit. Look around for branches that might be in the way then get down from the stand and cut them.  This is common in archery to cut "arrow lanes".  Can't hurt.

[tykempster]

The best place for a bullet to expand is right in front of the muzzle! 

[EsoxLucius]

It is designed to open at 45-70 velocities.

This is actually not true if Springfield Trapdoor velocities were meant.  The .458" 405 grain Remington JSP was not necessarily designed to open at 45-70 velocities intended for the Springfield Trapdoor.  If it were then this bullet in their factory ammunition offering would actually expand well on game animals.  The published muzzle velocity of the Remington R4570G load is 1330 fps.  However, when chronographed this load is more like 1100 fps from a 22" barrel.  Tests in wet newsprint shows that this load penetrates well but does not expand.  This should not detract from its use as it is still a well documented deer killer.  A .458" hole from this bullet with its relatively flat nose and low velocity still produces good wound channels.

When driven to the maximum (just under 2000 fps) in the Marlin 1895 45-70 the 405 grain Remington JSP still penetrates well, but also opens up to twice its original diameter.  Bullets recovered from wet newsprint also show a high weight retention.  However, in practice on game at the maximum velocities it can shed its jacket, which causes secondary damage, leaving the core to continue penetrating.

[oleman]

 Holahead

   My hunting partner and I started using the .45/70 for primitive weapon season here in Ms. My friend has shot 3 deer at 100 yds or less and I have shot one at about 40 yds. Not one of the 405 g. Remington bullets expanded ( both of us use Handi's) nor was there a blood trail on any of the four. Having said that, a .45 cal. leaves a hellava hole, but the bullet holes were the same coming out as going in. All four deer were found, but the lack of blood on the ground has caused my friend to switch to the Hornady 325 gr. rubber tip. He has not shot a deer since the change though. I have not changed yet. Has any one else seen these kind of results?

    Oleman

[LONGTOM]

I had the same results using the 405 Remingtons so I switched to Winchester 300 JHPs and have had great results. I have taken deer with my BC and my Handi from as close as 25 yds to as far as 265 yds all with the same results, straight down.
Not one deer out of the 13 I have taken with this load has ever taken a step.
Close range I go for either a head or neck shot and at long range ( 150 or farther ) I go for the shoulder.
They were not all instant kills.
Four I had to finish with my hand gun but none got up from the first shot.
They expanded well at all ranges.
My BC shoots them at 1.5" to just under 2" at 100 yds and my Handi will keep them right at 1" to 1.5" for three shots.
Hope this helps you decide what to use.
Try them and see if your gun likes them.
Mine do but some don"t.


LONGTOM

[cobraa]

i find the Remington 405gr JSP bullet performs the best with this load Remington Brass, Remington  9 1/2 large primers, 40grains of Reloader-7  and i shoot them in a Marlin 1895XLR 45-70 S/S 24"  1/4 to 1/2 " groups at 100yards.. this load will kill any dear from 2yds to 200yds no problem at all.

[John Boy]

Consider the Lyman 457122 cast HP bullet .... http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=370703

[Swampman]

That cast bullet will be like a FMJ on deer.  You can't beat the Remington 405 grain factory load.  No recoil, and it's whacks them good.

[BBF]

You can also switch to the Rem 300gr JHP