« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi  (Read 890 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline brandonk_10

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10
2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« on: September 28, 2009, 04:56:51 AM »
Well after about 10 years of applying I finally drew a kill tag for a bear.  I probably could have gotten one sooner but I was waiting for my brother to get one so we could go together.  I thought you guys might want a report on how the rifle and load performed.

We decided to hunt over bait rather than with dogs.  I was really curious how my .45-70 would perform on bear so I decided that was the gun I was going to use.  I loaded up some Remington 405 grain soft points in front of a fairly stiff charge of IMR 4198.  This guy came in about a half hour before dark and was about 50 yards away slightly quartering away.  I put the crosshairs directly behind the front shoulder and squeezed the trigger...and I have no idea what the bear did after that.  All I saw was muzzle flash and a scope hitting my eye.  The recoil really is nothing to laugh at!  Well I got up to the bait and he was laying about 15 yards from where I shot him.  After skinning him I found that the bullet went through three ribs, clipped the top of the heart, blew up a lung, and exited the opposite front shoulder.  There wasn't hardly any expansion and the penetration was pretty impressive.  I actually would have liked a little more expansion but I guess a dead bear is a dead bear.  I would definitely use the .45-70 for bear again.  Oh, and the Handi put the bullet right where I aimed.  ;)

Logged

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43304
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2009, 05:06:19 AM »
Welcome aboard and congrats, thanks for sharing!!  ;)

Tim
Logged
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline Westbound

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 307
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #2 on: September 28, 2009, 06:34:11 AM »
Sounds like a good load, a good shot, and a great looking bear.

Congrats!!
Logged

Offline petemi

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (73)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7386
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #3 on: September 28, 2009, 06:47:30 AM »
Ya done good.......the .45-70 too ;D :D ;)

Pete
Logged
Keep both eyes open and make the first shot good.
The growing Handi/Sportster/Pardner/Topper Family:  .22 WMR, .22-250. 223, Two Superlight 7mm-08s and one .243, .30-30,  .308, 32-20, 18 inch .356/.358 Win., Two 16.5 inch .357 Max., 18 inch 38-55 BC Carbine, 16.5 inch .445 Super Mag., .45LC, 16.5 and 22 inch .45-70s, .50 Huntsman SS, .410, 20 ga., 12 ga., 20 ga. Pardner Pump, Versa-Pack .410 - .22
[size=7.4 pt]PLEASE DONATE TO THE GBO SERVER FUND  We're closer to the goal but not there yet, we can still use more donations, thanks

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,191112.msg1098959491.html#msg1098959491

Offline PHATINJUN

  • "Seeker of the Red Mist"
  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (144)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4076
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #4 on: September 28, 2009, 01:12:38 PM »
Congrats on the success. And welcome aboard Kurt
Logged
Deceased 2/16/24
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/machesney-park-il/kurt-heckman-11671764

Sportster17M2,20"Nickle410Tamer,26"410,
WTUTI12ga,WTU25-06,M158 22RemJet, 24"Ultra.204Ruger24"UltraFluted.204Ruger
M157Mannliker.22Hornet,24".223UltraFluted,   24".223Ultra,7X64BrenekkeUltra,22-250AIUltraFluted            7.62x39,22"303Britstub.32H&Rmag, .32303BritstubHuntsman,24" SS.50calHuntsman 58calHuntsman 12gaHuntsman
NEF RevolversSSModel73.32H&Rmag                     Blued Model73.32H&R mag The herd is shrinking!!
                                 "SOLI DEO GLORIA"

Offline LaOtto222

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3828
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #5 on: September 28, 2009, 01:23:05 PM »
Welcome aboard and good shooting. nice pics too - I always like pictures ;D
Logged
Great men have vision and resolve to make dreams come true.

Offline peternap

  • Trade Count: (5)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 385
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #6 on: September 28, 2009, 01:40:02 PM »
Quote from: LaOtto222 on September 28, 2009, 01:23:05 PM
Welcome aboard and good shooting. nice pics too - I always like pictures ;D

Great Bear Brandonk...nothing like a 45/70

LaOtto, you might not like pictures after an hour with me. I take a thousand or so a week ;D

Logged

Offline Lazermule

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 418
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #7 on: September 28, 2009, 01:48:27 PM »
Welcome and Congrats!  Looks like a nice bear.  I shot one as well this past weekend with my 45/70 handy.  All my butcher said was that I was using plenty of gun judging from the wound channel.  I'm pushing a 300 grain Barnes X at 2400 fps.  The bear was 300 lbs.



Lazer
Logged
LAZERMULE

If I would have asked the people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse....-Henry Ford

Offline OBXPilgrim

  • Trade Count: (5)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 204
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2009, 02:35:37 PM »
"I actually would have liked a little more expansion"

Uhhh, I think that's the key with calibers that start with a "4" (or more).  Everything else needs to expand up to what you started with.  Not sure what more expansion would have gained - bear was dead 15 yards away, right?

Congrats on a nice kill.

Logged

Offline blind ear

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4156
  • Gender: Male
    • eddiegjr
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #9 on: September 28, 2009, 03:08:32 PM »
"they are trying to get to where you started" I like the way you put that OXBPilgrim. I haven't thought of it that way before.
Logged
Oath Keepers: start local
-
“It is no coincidence that the century of total war coincided with the century of central banking.” – Ron Paul, End the Fed
-
An economic crash like the one of the 1920s is the only thing that will get the US off of the road to Socialism that we are on and give our children a chance at a future with freedom and possibility of economic success.
-
everyone hears but very few see. (I can't see either, I'm not on the corporate board making rules that sound exactly the opposite of what they mean, plus loopholes) ear
"I have seen the enemy and I think it's us." POGO
St Judes Childrens Research Hospital

Offline The Hermit

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 722
  • Gender: Male
  • Security is the ability to take care of yourself.
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #10 on: September 28, 2009, 03:44:30 PM »
Thanks for sharing with us, welcome aboard. A lot of us are partial to the 45-70 Handi as you can see.


    The Hermit
Logged

Offline brandonk_10

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 10
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #11 on: October 02, 2009, 04:56:11 AM »
I guess the reason I was hoping for more expansion is there really wasn't a blood trail to speak of.  There were only a couple small drops and I can't help but think what would happen if I DIDN'T make a solid hit.  I was also kinda hoping to knock him down right there.  ;)  It really is amazing how much energy these animals can absorb.  But like you guys said, a dead bear is a dead bear.  I'm definitely happy with the performance, I'm just always open to improvement.

Lazer, I would definitely like to hear more about those Barnes's and what kind of performance you got out of them.
Logged

Offline peternap

  • Trade Count: (5)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 385
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #12 on: October 02, 2009, 09:55:24 AM »
Quote from: brandonk_10 on October 02, 2009, 04:56:11 AM
I guess the reason I was hoping for more expansion is there really wasn't a blood trail to speak of.  There were only a couple small drops and I can't help but think what would happen if I DIDN'T make a solid hit.  I was also kinda hoping to knock him down right there.  ;)  It really is amazing how much energy these animals can absorb.  But like you guys said, a dead bear is a dead bear.  I'm definitely happy with the performance, I'm just always open to improvement.

Lazer, I would definitely like to hear more about those Barnes's and what kind of performance you got out of them.

I've never shot a bear with anything, that left much blood trail. That includes 12 ga slugs.
Bears have thick coats even in summer and the coat just acts like a sponge. The fat on fall bears also tends to block bleeding. Thankfully, they usually run in a straight line.
Logged

Offline teddy12b

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3078
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #13 on: October 02, 2009, 10:25:18 AM »
Congrats!
Logged

Offline Lazermule

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • *****
  • Posts: 418
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #14 on: October 02, 2009, 01:11:49 PM »
Quote from: brandonk_10 on October 02, 2009, 04:56:11 AM
I guess the reason I was hoping for more expansion is there really wasn't a blood trail to speak of.  There were only a couple small drops and I can't help but think what would happen if I DIDN'T make a solid hit.  I was also kinda hoping to knock him down right there.  ;)  It really is amazing how much energy these animals can absorb.  But like you guys said, a dead bear is a dead bear.  I'm definitely happy with the performance, I'm just always open to improvement.

Lazer, I would definitely like to hear more about those Barnes's and what kind of performance you got out of them.

Brandon,

I have been happy with the Barnes in every caliber I have loaded them in (204 Ruger, 25-06, 7mm-08, 7mm Rem Mag and of course the 45/70).  I also load the Hornady 300gr HP over the same load of VV133.  Over that charge, the Barnes seems to show a bit more pressure signs and my shot was a pass through so I can and will probably tone the charge down a bit.  I also want to experiment with Varget as a propellant as well as it is a new found gem for me in other applications.

The bear I shot was a "bang flop" scenario and he expired right there in a pool of blood.  Had he taken a step anywhere, there most certainly would have been a blood trail.

On the range, the POI on the Barnes is about 1 inch lower than the Hornady and if memory serves me right and they both group pretty well but the Hornady is a bit tighter.

Logged
LAZERMULE

If I would have asked the people what they wanted, they would have said a faster horse....-Henry Ford

Offline BBF

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10042
  • Gender: Male
  • I feel much better now knowing it will get worse.
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #15 on: October 03, 2009, 07:48:37 AM »
At first, reading about the performance of the Rem. bullet had me puzzled and alarmed since it is loaded at very low V from the factory and I have a bunch of them here. They appear to be pure or almost pure lead with a thin jacket and should have opened up. Then I read on that the bullet exited.
         AH SO !!
 You judged the "mushroom" performance on the wound channel not on the bullet itself presuming you did't find it on the ground.

Phew !! all is well and serene again. :D

Last but not least.  CONGRATS, One shot, one dead animal, I like it ,I like it!
Logged
What is the point of Life if you can't have fun.

Offline workin man

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 53
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #16 on: October 03, 2009, 06:57:21 PM »
Nicely done! You mentioned a poor blood trail, but you also mentioned the bullet got a bit of the heart. If the heart stops pumping, no blood is flowing = poor or no blood trail. I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

Jim
Logged

Offline countryrebel

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 108
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #17 on: October 03, 2009, 07:32:28 PM »
Congrats to both of ya. Nice Bears.
Logged

Offline cwlongshot

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (158)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9907
  • Gender: Male
  • Shooting, Hunting, the Outdoors & ATVs
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #18 on: October 04, 2009, 01:36:50 AM »
WELCOME & CONGRATS on the bear!!

 My first bear also fell to the 45-70!! 

I am surprised at the bullet performance. I gave up on heavy loads with the rem 405 as I found it too soft. But many here have used it with great success at top velocities, go figure. I like the 400 Speer, that's what I used back then. First shot broke both shoulders @ about 15 yards. She fell right on the bait. Started shaking all over and balled right there in front of me.. quite a site!!!



CW
Logged
"Pay heed to the man who carries a single shot rifle, he likely knows how to use it."

NRA LIFE Member 
Remember... Four boxes keep us free: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.

Offline D Humbarger

  • Trade Count: (2)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 196
  • Gender: Male
Re: 2009 Wisconsin Bear Hunt - .45-70 Handi
« Reply #19 on: October 04, 2009, 01:51:20 AM »
Well done!  Congratulations.
Logged
Try to look unimportant.   Your enemy might be low on ammo.

Only Handi so far is a 375 JDJ.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »