Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Need help on a 45-70 load for upcoming boar hunt

Several co-workers and I are going on a boar hunt in April. I will be taking my 1895GS loaded with 440LBTs from Cast Performance. My friend is taking his 11 year old son who will be using a NEF handi rifle in 45-70. The problem is that my friend wants to stick with factory loads. He says he son is recoil shy. I have told him not to use the factory 300gr bullets (Federal & Remington) on 300lb boar. What is your opinion on Remington's factory 405sp load? I can easily duplicate this load but I have neveer used this bullet on anything larger than deer. Has anyone used the Remington 405sp on boar?

I haven't ever used one on a Boar, but I'd think they'd certainly do the job. Folks routinely kill them with handguns in 44 Mag. and the 405 certainly is more powerful than that.

Does your friend really want to have his son use a relatively light gun in this heavy-recoiling caliber? The 405 is one of the lower recoiling factory loads but it will still produce a healthy amount. Gosh, wouldn't a 25-06 in say a Remington 700 ADL, be a much better choice? I'd think even a 30-30 repeater would be better.

His son picked out the gun right before this deer season. He doesn't seem to mind the factory 300gr loads and shoots the rifle well.

They will work...

Here is a large boar killed with a 44 Mag and 290-grain Beartooth LFNGC bullet.



It only leaves the barrel at 1552 FPS. I shot it at 90-yards. I prefer to shoot these critters through both lungs right behind the shoulder. I'm not a fan of head shots as I've seen too many get away on frontal or quartering head shots. A lot of bone to deflect a bullet and they will do just that. Here is the blood trail that bullet left...

Easy answer... teach them both how to reload. Then do extensive penetration testing , milk jugs, wood posts... whatever. We need all the future rifle loonies we can get<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
BTW, on the off chance that the HP over expanded on a bad angle...have you thought about the Hornady 350 gr soft point?

The 300 grain Winchester load will get it done.

I have not killed a hog with the Remington 405 factory ammo, but have killed several deer with it. None of the deer I shot went more than a couple of steps, and all were complete pass throughs. I would bet my bottom dollar that big slow bullet will get the job done on even big hogs too.

I would use either the factory partition load, winchester I think or the 405 Rem.

Yes, I have thought about this bullet and have sevral boxes on hand. I did not consider it because I believe this bullet will not expand as well at low velocity. If I loaded this round to potential then the handi rifle would be too much for the poor lad. I was thinking of the 405sp or the 400gr Speer bullet because they work better a lower velocity.

I did consider the 350gr Hornady FP for my own load, but I decided to use the Cast Performance 440LBT. Thanks for your input.

BBF This load might not be up your alley but it is very accurate in my 1895SS 300gr. partition on top 63grs. of Benchmark.