45/70 habitat

[KIMBER45]

Going hunting the next couple of days on an old farm that has turned into nothing but saplings, green briar and honeysuckle. That is where the 45/70 with 405 gr. bullets shows it superiority.

[jedman]

  Dont count on it to be a " brush buster " there is no such thing.      Jed

[ncloader88]

  Dont count on it to be a " brush buster " there is no such thing.      Jed

True, but it would definitely perform better than lighter and faster bullets if there were any slight obstructions. One should never intentionally shoot through through ANYTHING of course, but there could always be a twig or vine in the way that is out of focus or hard to see in low light.  Although 405 grains of 45 caliber lead does not give you the ability to shoot through brush, it serves as great "brush insurance"

[KIMBER45]

  Dont count on it to be a " brush buster " there is no such thing.      Jed

True, but it would definitely perform better than lighter and faster bullets if there were any slight obstructions. One should never intentionally shoot through through ANYTHING of course, but there could always be a twig or vine in the way that is out of focus or hard to see in low light.  Although 405 grains of 45 caliber lead does not give you the ability to shoot through brush, it serves as great "brush insurance"

+1

[petemi]

Good luck.  Der ain't nuttin like da .45-70 n da .405

Pete

[cwlongshot]

Not for nothing and right up front I am not a proponent of shooting thru anything San air.

BUT a very extensive test took place some years ago shooting thru a made up "forest" of dowels and many if not all hunting calibers. They placed targets directly behing the "forest" as well as yards behind it. they recorded the results. Guess what calibers proved best? The ones that had the highest RPM's!!! The traditional "brush busters" do NOT care as well! 

I do not remember the mag that did the tests. It was quite a eye opener...
 
CW

[blind ear]

Not for nothing and right up front I am not a proponent of shooting thru anything San air.

BUT a very extensive test took place some years ago shooting thru a made up "forest" of dowels and many if not all hunting calibers. They placed targets directly behing the "forest" as well as yards behind it. they recorded the results. Guess what calibers proved best? The ones that had the highest RPM's!!! The traditional "brush busters" do NOT care as well! 

I do not remember the mag that did the tests. It was quite a eye opener...
 
CW

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I remember such a study and what stood out to me was the fact that with a target 2 feet behind the brush there was a 90% chance of a total miss even with buckshot. I don't remember the fireing distance from the brush. ear

[gcrank1]

Just because of that I make sure I dont hunt in a forest of dowels......... .
It was an interesting test, but not typical of any particular hunting area that I know of. I guess they wanted to make sure the bullets were deflected by at least one dowel, which may, or may not, be representative of the twig you may hit. I have a fairly thick mixed wood forest and a scope sure makes a good difference for me, but I do have to stay conscious of 'looking' for the obstructions rather than just focusing on the target. For years now I havent had a bullet deflect by being able to shoot between the twigs and branches.

[KIMBER45]

Both my friend and I got deer this weekend using 45/70s. He is undergunned because he shoots only 300 gr. bullets. My dream shot would be a head on shot using the 405 gr bullet. I'm curious as to how much penetration would occur. Has anyone using 405 gr. bullets done this  ?

[quickdtoo]

Here are some deer (and possum) kill pics with 300gr 45-70 and 405gr FP 45-120, IIRC I'm pretty sure the 405gr are Rems.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,188713.msg1098939793.html#msg1098939793

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,162441.msg1098728675.html#msg1098728675

[rdlange]

My rationale for a 45-70 in heavy cover is knock down expectation so I don't have to crawl through the brambles following a blood trail, or at least more blood trail to follow.

[Shu]

The test you are refering to was done by Ross Syfried at Guns and Ammo. The big slow moving bullets did better than the light fast ones but a round ball was even better.
 
As stated there really is no brush busting bullet.

[blind ear]

Both my friend and I got deer this weekend using 45/70s. He is undergunned because he shoots only 300 gr. bullets. My dream shot would be a head on shot using the 405 gr bullet. I'm curious as to how much penetration would occur. Has anyone using 405 gr. bullets done this  ?

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I read an article where a guy shot a cape buffalo with a 45 70. A 500 gr bullett @ 1500 fps. Went in the sholder and exited through the hind quarter. I don't know. ear

[quickdtoo]

Here's Vince Lupo's Cape Buffalo hunt with Garrett 45-70 factory ammo(540gr @ 1550fps, Marlin 1895), both shots exited, the second lengthwise thru the bull! 

Tim


http://www.garrettcartridges.com/luposafaris1.html

Then finely came the day when we were going to go after my main quarry, a Cape Buffalo! We hunted hard for him for three days and finely spotted him about 140 yards away. We closed to about 80 yards but the changing wind direction told us that it was now or we would have to try another day! But my time was running out. I took steady aim as he crossed broadside, left to right, and sent a 540gr Hammerhead into his right shoulder knocking him down, almost immediately he was up, turned and faced me with a look that I shall never forget, and launched himself straight at me. Within seconds he covered about 20 yards when he met a second 540gr Hammerhead hitting him below the chin in the neck area and driving him back on his butt and down for the count! We cautiously approached him, heard his death bellows, whereupon I delivered an "insurance" shot at about 15 yards. He truly was a great "Old Dagga Boy" with hard solid 13-inch bosses and a beautiful set of deep curling horns. My first shot broke both shoulders and exited as did my second shot which exited the rear of the bull.

[jpshaw]

My rationale for a 45-70 in heavy cover is knock down expectation so I don't have to crawl through the brambles following a blood trail, or at least more blood trail to follow

Ditto on that.  Thought about bringing my Primitive Season .444 (Don't have a .45-70) on my grown up cutover.  Once you leave the chopped out trails it's machete time even to cover 20 yards.

[Jimbo47]

My rationale for a 45-70 in heavy cover is knock down expectation so I don't have to crawl through the brambles following a blood trail, or at least more blood trail to follow

Ditto on that.  Thought about bringing my Primitive Season .444 (Don't have a .45-70) on my grown up cutover.  Once you leave the chopped out trails it's machete time even to cover 20 yards.

These replies to the so called brush buster are spot on!
I clear shooting lanes but I don't shoot through brush.   I want something that is going to knock the animal down where they don't get up, or at least don't go but a few short yards after impact in the heavy brush.
Took an eight point a couple days ago at 50 yards.   Shoulder shot dropped the buck in his tracks using a 400 grain Speer jacketed soft point bullet pushed to around 1400 fps.   No massive damage to the front shoulders as you would expect find with a high velocity lighter round.

[quickdtoo]

Took an eight point a couple days ago at 50 yards.   Shoulder shot dropped the buck in his tracks using a 400 grain Speer jacketed soft point bullet pushed to around 1400 fps.   No massive damage to the front shoulders as you would expect find with a high velocity lighter round.

Congrats!! Was it with a Handi? I don't see it in the Fall 2012-Feb 2013 H&R Success posts sticky! 

Tim

[Jimbo47]

Thanks Tim!    I looked for that success story thread but didn't look up the sticky section. 
It's added in there now!