Detailed info for you 45/70 and big bore lever gun fans

NW Colorado, Public land 5X6 Bull

Marlin 45/70 Gov't Guide Gun, Burris Scope (Warne Quick Release mounts, XS Back Up). Safety delete and SS follower are only other tweaks.

350gr Ranch Dog FPGC @ 1650fps
Cast from Air Cooled WW's with a little tin...Alox tumble lubed

35 yds, First Shot broadside through neck, second angling away, third angling also...all penetrated fully left 1/2" entry wounds and approx 1 1/2" exits. Neck shot was probably enough but they are tough animals. After 35 minute wait, I approached and found him about 30yds from initial shot. He was angling uphill away from me, Swaying and leaking bad...I slipped the last one right behind his last rib and it came out his chest. Liver was jelly...dropped him for good on the spot. Tough damn animals. Great hunt.

Good job!

Awesome!

Thanks for the story and pic. I just love that cartridge/ lever gun duo and plan on getting one myself hopefully for Christmas... hint.

Good to see the old 45/70 still taking down elk.

Nice pic..congrats on a nice bull with a great rifle !

Great story. I cant wait to take something with my guide gun.

How do you like the scope?

I actually really like the scope and the Burris allows the lowest mounting due to its design so that's why I chose it over the Leupold. I find my hunting style lends itself to shots less than 100yds in most all situations so this allows easy acquisition and quick shots. The scout set up grew on me and now I really like it. You can use both eyes open which I really like.

Good job!!! Fun, ain't it?

My first bull elk was same approx size as yours. Good shooting with a great old time cartridge!

Sherwood

great post and picture!
I really like those 45 caliber lever carbines, in fact I just purchased a 450 marlin BLR as my elk timber hunting rifle,after I was offered more than twice the price in cash for my 38 year old marlin than I paid for it new,so I upgraded, your experience just points out each situation differs,and animals react differently
Im amazed that elk stayed functional nearly that long, Ive used the NEI 355 grain and RCBS 405 grain cast bullets in both my 45/70 and reduced loads in my 458win on elk and while like you I had the bullets exit, the elk I shot dropped fairly quickly.

I'm glad I checked in "down here" tonite. I've got an old 1895 that was made the first year they came out, 1972.I bought it used in 3 or 4 years after that.

I've killed a lot of deer and hogs with it over the years,loading 300 gr, hp and 350 RN but never tried any cast bullets.A few years back I scoped it with a 1X4 Leupold and could tell the accuracy had fallen off.I had a Williams receiver sight on it until then.I had the barrel shortened to 21 in. and [ of course ] re-crowned.It shot OK again with the Hornady 350's.I quit the hollow points because they expanded too much to exit on big hogs.

Last year I tried some 320 gr Cast Performance in my 444 Marlin and was disappointed in their lack of accuracy and penetration.I've loaded cast bullets in my revolvers before, but this was my first use in a rifle.

But...... my friend Bob Haley in Seymour, Tx. assured me that he could cast some 385 gr. RN for my 45-70 that would shoot thru any hog alive,so I just picked them up today and loaded a half dozen with IMR 4198.I doubt I chronograph them, but I should get 1700 fps at least.

Your experience with the elk makes me think I might not be wasting my time.

Great job! I carried my 1895 all season but ended up snake bit in the end. Maybe next year my luck will change.

I'd like to do that with my Guide Gun, but did not realize elk were that tough. 4 rounds to get the job done?

[quote=1minute]I'd like to do that with my Guide Gun, but did not realize elk were that tough. 4 rounds to get the job done? [/quote

Must have been a fluke, because I have killed two with one shot each.One down the brisket, another double lunger.Did the same thing with a 44 mag carbine.

Good job though. You will be forever addicted now.

Just curious though. If it was a CO hunt, where is your hunter orange?

All animals are different...and hindsight is always 20/20 but it wasn't a caliber or power issue as this elk couldn't even shuffle his feet to move before the final shot dropped him and my second 2 shots were pretty hasty through the brush so I don't know if either was a "killing shot"...if you (or anyone else) are questioning if the 45-70 is enough gun, rest assured it is. Elk are tough and big animals. I'll be trying my Hornady 350's next time and hopefully be able to report their performance.

Saddlesore...I had taken the orange off

Great write up and pics. I have not hunted my 1895 but hope to soon.
I recommend to younger and newer hunters that if at all possible the first shot is uptight behind the shoulders. Your experience with the neck shot is very common, with more disasterous results in some cases.

Great post thanks for sharing.