45-70 - 400 gr Speer or 350 Horn? - 03/20/12
Hi folks,
I'm revisiting my 45-70 loads. I've shot the 400 gr Speer for years in my 1895 Marlin as have 2 others in our bear hunting group. One thing I've noticed is that sometimes the 400 gr Speer's doesn't exit on bigger bears (300+lbs). I've only shot 1 bear with the 400 gr Speer and it performed well but was a smallish bear (~200 lbs). I've shot lots of 400 gr Speers into things - clay banks, phone books, boards, etc. They expand to the size of a quarter which I think impedes their penetration. My long time 45-70 load was 49 grains Re 7 under the 400 gr Speer. In hindsight, it was likely a little warm. Recoil would get your attention.
I also shot a bear with the 350 Hornady RN about 20 years ago and wasn't hugely impressed with its performance - basically drilled a caliber hole through the bear.
I called Hornady this AM and they said the 350 FP would expand down to velocites of 14/1500. Speer did not recomend their 350 FP but were pretty high on the 400 for obvious reasons.
I shot some of the Horn 350's this past weekend to the Hodgdon max of 54 grains H 4198 and broke 2200 ft/sec. They were "brisk" as folks like to say. A little too brisk for me in the sub 8lb Marlin.
My rifle shot well at 51/52 grains H4198 and was in the 2050 - 2100 velocity range. Even given the anemic BC, they still arrive at 100 yards traveling 1700 ft/sec.
What has been your experience with both the 350 Hornady FP and 400 Speer on bigger game - elk, bear, moose? Especially when shoulder bones get involved.
I'm revisiting my 45-70 loads. I've shot the 400 gr Speer for years in my 1895 Marlin as have 2 others in our bear hunting group. One thing I've noticed is that sometimes the 400 gr Speer's doesn't exit on bigger bears (300+lbs). I've only shot 1 bear with the 400 gr Speer and it performed well but was a smallish bear (~200 lbs). I've shot lots of 400 gr Speers into things - clay banks, phone books, boards, etc. They expand to the size of a quarter which I think impedes their penetration. My long time 45-70 load was 49 grains Re 7 under the 400 gr Speer. In hindsight, it was likely a little warm. Recoil would get your attention.
I also shot a bear with the 350 Hornady RN about 20 years ago and wasn't hugely impressed with its performance - basically drilled a caliber hole through the bear.
I called Hornady this AM and they said the 350 FP would expand down to velocites of 14/1500. Speer did not recomend their 350 FP but were pretty high on the 400 for obvious reasons.
I shot some of the Horn 350's this past weekend to the Hodgdon max of 54 grains H 4198 and broke 2200 ft/sec. They were "brisk" as folks like to say. A little too brisk for me in the sub 8lb Marlin.
My rifle shot well at 51/52 grains H4198 and was in the 2050 - 2100 velocity range. Even given the anemic BC, they still arrive at 100 yards traveling 1700 ft/sec.
What has been your experience with both the 350 Hornady FP and 400 Speer on bigger game - elk, bear, moose? Especially when shoulder bones get involved.