The 300 grain Hornady HP will work under the right conditions, broadside non angled shots, but there are so many better choices.

Ive used the 45-70-a lot-on elk in timber on my property and adjacent National Forest. Ive used 500 grain pure lead paperpatch at around 1250 fps, 405 Remington soft points at 1500 fps, 430 grain hardcast at 1600 fps, 420 grain soft cast at 20-1, and the Hornady 350 gr FN at 2000 fps. Everything Ive used worked very well at ranges to 163 yds, with only one bullet recovered, pictured below.

This bullet, a 350 grn Hornady FN, struck a small bull (maybe 400 lbs live weight?) behind the left shoulder at a steep downward angle at 163 yds. Impact velocity was +- 1480 fps. The bullet took a rib going in, both lungs, and shattered the humerous below the offside shoulder. The bullet was found in the bone fragments beneath the hide at that location. The recovered bullet measured .719" and weighed 313.9 grns, just under 90%. Rifle used was an early Marlin 1895. My belief is that my 430 grn hardcast would have broken those bones and exited.

I will be using a Trapdoor Springfield (from 1886) in 45-70 on elk in a couple weeks, shooting a cast pure lead 457121 475 grn bullet with 66 grns of 3FG.

Regards,
Manny





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Last edited by mannyspd1; 10/14/23.