Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Best 45-70 deer load, factory or handload

The factory 300 grain HP's from Winchester are pretty brisk recoil wise. Thinking maybe a flat nosed 300-350 grain cast bullet in the 1500 fps range.

I like two. The Hornady 350 grain JFP at 1650 fps over IMR-4198 and the Beartooth 405 grain cast over Varget or Reloder 7 at 1525. I was running the JFP at 1815, but it was torqueing my bad back too much. Backed it down. The only difference I have noticed is recoil and a little range. The Beartooth bullet will traverse several feet of hog lengthwise.

Long ago I used a Cowboy action load that used a 405 gr. WFN at a listed 1125 fps. It made the loudest "smak" on anything it hit! I never recovered one but traded the rifle for a really nice nickel model 19. Just ordered a new Guide Gun.

Pretty much any 45-70 bullet over 300 grains that will hold together at anything over about 1000 fps will handle any deer that ever walked. I used to use the plain old 405 grain Remington factory stuff at about 1200 fps with complete satisfaction.

I had a SS Marlin Guide Gun for a few years. I loaded for accuracy, not "snot." My rifle peaked with 52 grains of H4895, WW brass, Fed 210 primers, and 400 grain Speer flat points. Scoped (varied, 1.5-5x, 1.75-6x, 2.5-8x, and 3-9x at various times) with a WW Lever Guns trigger for control, it'd shoot 3 shots into 0.67" center to center at 100 yards. I figured velocity at around 1570 fps. Recoil was not bad but definitely elevated above factory a bit.

For low recoil and often very good accuracy, the 405 grain Remington factory load has been impressive. I've had it shoot sub MOA in two 1895 Cowboy rifles and a GBL.

Tom

My Henry likes 48gr of H4198 & Barnes 300gr TSX
Or if I want something a little bigger 49gr of H4198 & a Speer 400gr.
When I bought this gun I probably tried every 300gr bullet made with different powders, the above two loads shot the most accurate out of my gun.

57 grains of IMR 3031 pushing a 350 grain Hornady round nose was my go-to load in my previous guide guns. It gave me 3/4 3 shot groups at 100 yards with boring regularity. That was with a $19 Simmons 2.5X shotgun scope.

Paul, get your two face Nutt out of 45-70 discussion.


I think I will start with reloaded 7, based on friends advice and #s, behind a Hornady 350 interlock.

I had high hopes for the Remington 405 grain load but today it only printed a 3" group at 50 yards for me. I think I'll try the Winchester 300's next.

I just discovered the 45-70 330 gr RNFP HP (Gould Express) from Stateline Bullets over 48-50 grains of IMR3031. Accurate and doesn't beat you up.

I heard Remington has stopped selling components. But don't know if that is true.

The best 45-70 deer loads are the ones that say .30-30 Winchester on the box. No fuggin way I'm huckin 300-500 grain slugs at deer now that I don't hunt in shotgun zones anymore.

Mike, I went with Elmer's load of 3031 or H4895 and a 350 Horn.. I have mine loaded with 53 gr., but the next batch will have a couple or 3 grains less powder.. Cool rifle.. My has taken P. Dogs, whitetails, and antelope.. I need to use it more, but so many rifles so little time.. Enjoy!!!

People are not using these to limit range.

Some loads low 2000s, especially hornady's lever loads, not all that far from 30-30. Though most under 2000 fps.


It's American to go big.

Just like most all of your opinions.

Go fist yourself.

300 gr Hornady is what i load in my 45-70 Cowboy

I have some 300 HP Remingtons on the way. 350 Hornady FP, 400 Speer and 405 Remington component bullets, all on hand. Hoping myself to find an accurate deer load out of all of this stuff.

I think the 250 grain Barnes TSX would make a dandy bullet for deer if you want unleaded.

I was able to load some of the Remington 405s on top of a mild starting load of RL-7 but have not been out to shoot the 1895 yet.

Good info here.

John Haviland did an article recently about that bullet. His were cranking about 1400-1500; plenty of power if not super flat-shooting.

There's a reason that slug's been around for so long.

Do you know if it's true? Atlas I add the disclaimer, when I don't know. I could just be a prick to anyone who knows when I am wrong.

No, I don't know if its true. Which is why I didnt say it, along with all the other stuff I don't know to be true.

They do. My BPCR Browning loves them at 2,550 fps over Vihtavuori n-120, a Barnes Marlin '95 load. It blows daylight thru WT's.

My Marlin .45-70 doesn't like them as much as the BPCR, it likes 300 gr. JHP over 3031 and 4198 at around 1,800 fps. I'm going to use that combo this fall on hogs and WT's. Am trying RL-7, never used it before with these bullets. I have a box of Combined Technologies 300 gr. RN to try.

DF

So me saying I heard something, but not sure if true, and letting person decide,bis bad?

I know local store switched to winchester brass. I know midway is out of the Remington stuff I looked up.

So I think a good person mentions this, in case people want to stock up on something they like. They are free to do there own research.

But some how you think that is against the point of this place ? If the point is to be a dick, then yes, I should not have mentioned it.

Forgot I have a few of those too. A guy on the Nosler forum really likes them for deer.

No, I never said it was bad. Just very similar to your other opinions expressed here. You "heard about it."

As far as the "point of this place," it's to share information. The most useful of which is information the poster knows to be true.

Ahhhh? I wrote I heard something that you nay wNt to check out if it concerns you. I suppose I could wait until I get the corporate memo


You are upset, because I said around here I know a few people using 45-70, and no one smaller than 6mm. Tb
This really sent you into full protest vagina hat mode. An adult would say in my area or my circle of friends no one use 45-70 and 223 is popular. Personally I think you look like a fool saying outdated, when people on this site use them.

You come back saying I must be retard, because you know you are wrong, to lazy to crate an argument, or not smart enough to do so, so you just call the other person names.



I like that this site is not sensitive, but it is sure full if some real prises. But I welcome the freedom for you be upset, and glad we can allow you to be that way. It is probably good for you to get on the Internet and vent. I suspect you would get bitch slapped if you ever tried taking frustrations out on wife though.

Myself, I have a wide variety guns, and the only struggle is using them all, and buying more.

You come from different part of the country or mentality that behaves different. Who gets upset when people don't agree with you. Personally I think it is,a self esteem or confidence problem.

LOL, zerk, you been drinking? You crack me up though. seriously.

1) I'm not "upset." I'm just pointing out the fact that virtually every opinion you've expressed since you first logged on here was based on something somebody else told you. It's pretty entertaining actually.

2) I never said the 45-70 was "outdated."

3) I never called you a retard.

4) I suspect you would get bitch slapped if you were standing in front of me and said the stupid sh** you said above.

Have a nice rest of your evening.

I run 325 Hornady FTX with 52 grains of H322. Kills good. You can run them up to 2200 fps but I believe that goes beyond what the bullet is designed for.

I would have to go back and look. But one of the 223 but buddies have called me retarded. Lots of cry and protest from the group of 223 buddies, because I said around here 224 is a coyote gun and a deer gun, and I know a few people using 45-7for deer, and no adults using 223.

What have I said to bring out the protests? I Sai I am sure people do, and I am sure it will Lilla deer.

But there is a group of ah guys that is very upset, who blow ach other when one makes some statement that lack SD thought or even wit.

So you and the BB know what people use around here,and act like no one is using 4570 for deer, despite the threads on here.

Personally I think there is a lot of fluffing going on around here, and I am surprised on this type of forum, there are men fluffing.


Butit is clever to say i am not hunter ,never shot anything, and don't live where I say, my mother eats sh"t, but not not talk about hunting or ballistics. Excuse my typing, it is on cell phone cause u am actually at deer camp, and not behind a computer.

But keep reaching around and fluffing each other, every time one says ahh you stupid. Atlas make an effort to be witty. It is a sign of intelligence.

I hope I am.not being to subtle when I talk about your character, sexual preference, or intelligence. Judging from your momma comments, I may need to dumb it down for this site.

But if you enjoy it, put up some more pics of horses penises and men. Not my thing, but Google what you like, and fill this site up with what you like to see.

It was a midget and a miniature donkey...

LOL, zerk I think you need to stop mixing cough syrup with rubbing alcohol.

Zerk is defining the word Troll.

Good to know, you know your dicks.

Well so far I have a box of Hornady Leverevolution 325 gr. FTX and a box of Winchester 300 grain loads. I am ordering a 430 grain WFN mould also. For me I will propbably shoot up the Winchester loading for brass, save the Hornady for a special occasion and end up loading the cast bullet to two different levels 1300 fps and 1800 fps.

I'm recently using John Taffins favorite load, 52 gr. H-322. I grouped the 300 CT and the 300 Horn JHP at a hundred. They both were near MOA in my old Microgroove pre safety Marlin 1895, the Horn slightly edging the CT.

This load runs around 1,875 fps. Recoil isn't bad and those big bullets hit hard.

I've killed deer with the 300 JHP in the past, usually DRT. Haven't used the .45-70 other than in my primitive gun (BPCR), in some time. Want to try it again.

DF

I switched to 300 grain Hornady hollow points in the 45/70 for deer, and try to keep my hand loads at about 1650-1700fps. Expansion seems good, penetration is as well without excessive meat damage, and blood trails seem shorter on average than the 400-405 grainers I'd been using.

I'm using the HSM 430gr Hard Cast "Bear Load" this year for NY whitetails, because I can. Not needed, no real gain, but when you finally buy a Siamese Mauser in .45-70, you might as well load it a little hotter than your Marlin....