Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Why a 45-70?

I think you'll find that a load of 36 grains of 3031 and a 405 grain cast FN bullet will be a pleasant load to shoot in the Ruger No.1 or the 1895 Marlin It gives about 1300 fps give or take, and will blow through a hog or elk like so much cheese.

The trick is to have an IMPACT VELOCITY around 1200 to 1220 fps which keeps the nose from flattening on impact and allows the bullet to penetrate. It gives a big hole in and a big hole out and a dead animal without destroying a lot of meat.

My pet load in my Marlin is either the 457193 Lyman FN at 420 grains or the 457121 Lyman FN at 480 grains and 70 grains of 3f black powder. You're looking at 1250 fps and LIGHT RECOIL with the black powder. With the 480 grain bullet, you shoot through both shoulders of a 1600 pound bull bison at 84 yards, DRT. With the ladder sight, the 480 grain bullet is good to 500 yards and beyond in the Marlin. Just sayin'...