Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 200 or 250 grain cartridge for .45-70

how come no one makes a 200 or 250 grain load? I wish I had reloading equipment i would get the hornady flex tip 250 grainer and push it out to 2500-2600 fps

Hornady doesn't make a 250 gr bullet in .458 - you must be referring to the 250 gr FTX pistol bullet in .452. The FTX rifle bullet is 325 gr.

That would be in essence a marble.

thanks fischer, didn't realize that. Well i suppose you could handload the 325 up to 2200 or so FPS.

I nice 200 or 250 grain bullet pushed really fast would effectively turn the .45-70 into a 400 yard gun w/o having to use a range finder

Not really. A bullet of that diameter at that weight would have the ballistic properties of a brick. It would shed velocity quick enough that I doubt it would be useably flatter at that range, maybe up close but not that far away.

Once it got there, it would have a hard time penetrating.

I think Hornady gummy-tip is gonna be your best bet for long range in a .45-70 with a flatter trajectory, but I would still prefer a heavier bullet at 400 yards. That's just me.

Proper range estimation is going to be the key to shooting a .45-70 at longer ranges, due to the trajectory, but it can be done.

The 45-70 isn't a 400 yd gun without a range finder with any bullet.
It gives its' best performance with bullets from 4-500 grs at any yardage, and those heavier bullet stand a better chance of getting to the target than the liteweights.
Go get a 45-70 and grab yourself a handful of actual experience.....

Barnes makes a 250gr TSX.

Shooting a 45-70 to 400 without accurate range data, and a means of applying accurate corrections to your sight, is not a realistic expectation.

All of the above. Added, that is why the OLD BP 45-70 rounds with a 405 or 500 gain slug WAS so accurate and effective at very long range. BP is about the most consistent propellant anywhere. The sights and range data have been doped out for 137 years. They shoot well (ask the BP competitiors as the buff hunters are all long gone) hit like a freight train.

Disagree, a MODERN .45-70 like my 1895 marlin can handle much faster speed bullets than the factory 405 remington cartridges. I have a box of buffalore bore 405 grainers @2000fps and a box of 300 grain hollow points @2400. The 300 grain hollow points drop 2" at 150 yards and 8" at 200 yards. If I got a 250 grain bullet or 200 grain bullet and pushed it to 2500-3000fps it should be flat out to 200-300, maybe not 400, but it'll definately make it a 300 yard gun w/o rangefinder

Bullspit.You need to gather yourself a handful of practical experience.

I've used one (M1985 in 45-70) for years.

Physics is Physics....ballistics is ballistics.

That light a bullet in that caliber ain't gonna fly good. it'll go out there and fall flat on it's face. And, once it hits something, it's not going to do a great job, as far as penetrating.

You would be better served with a heavier bullet, plain and simple.

You are going to have to know the range, and have a good sighting system. For a fact.

The 45-70 is not a 400 yard MPBR rifle.

It is quite capable of taking game at that range, if'n you know how to do your job.

If you are trying to eliminate range estimation, you are looking at the wrong caliber.

If yer mind's made up, (and it seems like it is bent on disregarding some very good advice) then have at it, and post a picture of the first moose you drop with one shot at 400 yards without accurate range data, and without sight corrections. Hey, I'm giving you lots of room for error -- a moose is a BIG target and easy to hit.

I exaggerated 400 yards, I really am aiming to get it to stay flat at 200-300 yards which I think is definately doable with a 250 grain bullet.

If the 250 grain bullet is way too light then why does barnes make it's TSX (TRIPLE SHOCK X) in .458 for the .45-70?? This bullet is 100% copper, retains 100% of it's weight, and is a hollow point that opens up and creates razor edges that helpt it penetrate, and it's somehow elongated to the lenght of a 300 grain bullet.

Anyway, thanks for all the advice guys hope some of you folks out there didn't sweat too much getting pissed at me haha

I love ruffing up some feathers

I will create a high power 250 grain load for my .45-70 that will shoot flat and it will work.

And the .45-70 is .458" or bigger . My Marlin .45-70 likes .460" bullets .

God bless
Wyr

Are the figures you quoted in a previous post the advertised factory figures, or they data you have arrived at by shooting? I run a 300 grain Speer UniCor at a little over 2200 fps, and the 300 grain data you supplied is pretty close to what I have found.

The TSX is longer due to copper being lighter than lead.

The 250 grain TSX is still going to fly like it has the brakes on. It'll go like hell out of the muzzle and slow down quick from there. And I think it will work great out to 200 yards, and it's penetrating properties will be very similar to the better 300 grain cup-n-core bullets. I've shot a bunch of those, and harvested deer with them, but I would be hesitant to use them on anything too much bigger at longer ranges than the aforementioned 200 yards. I'd want more weight. But, what you are trying to do should work for deer or black bear.

Having said that, someone will come on with posts and pictures of huge animals killed at long range with 300 grain bullets, with through and through penetration.

An interesting read is the SandyHook tests.

Most Marlins seem to like the .460". You running Beartooths?

Hey Vic

A couple of my shooting buddies and I would take the 45-70s out with 445 grain cast bullets and walk the bullets out to 400 and 500 yards shooting rocks and such.
Once we got the Lyman reciever site adjusted we hit the rocks with regularity. Yes, it was like shooting a morter and between launch and impact we had time for a sip of Coke and maybe lighting a smoke. Yes, it's a bit of a stretch, it does take a while for the bullet to get there.
I may have to go do that this fall at the shooting range.

Jim

someone from another website gave me some barnes loading data for the 250 and 300 grain triple shock X.

says there are 2 loads with the 250 grain bullet that can get it up to 2550fps and just over 2610fps for the strongest safest load in a marlin. They also have a load for the 300 grainer that has it going up to 2440fps... that would put it at almost 4,000ft pounds

Whatever you do junior, don't buy a chronograph, not sure you've got the mental ability to handle the dissappointment.

Polska, If you're determined to really hotrod the 45-70, I'd suggest you get a Ruger #1 (for your personal safety).