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Is there a reason to prefer either the round-nose or the flat-point versions of this bullet for a 45-70 Marlin 1895?

I've shot both, but only at targets so far. Any reason to prefer one over the other for elk or mule deer?

Thanks, Guy
I had one of them not feed.... I ended up burning them up via single shot loading.
Can't remember which one. The Hornady 350 JFP does work
Okay. Both feed just fine from my 1895.

Not sure there's much to choose between, they seem awfully similar.

Guy
either will shoot tail to nose on anything in North America. the round nose was made for 458 so fotter for thought. took 3 hogs with 1 shot a few years back, smallest was about 125# the biggest 230#.
Originally Posted by domit
either will shoot tail to nose on anything in North America. the round nose was made for 458 so fotter for thought. took 3 hogs with 1 shot a few years back, smallest was about 125# the biggest 230#.


Awesome! smile

I torched off some 45-70's from my Marlin 1895 this morning. Some fairly sedate 405 grain cast lead bullets and a few 350 gr round nose Hornady bullets handloaded to around 2,000 fps. smile Both were fun. I'd suspect that either would do really well on big game.

Regards, Guy
Yesterday I loaded more of those 350 gr Hornady Round Nose Soft Point bullets over a hefty charge of IMR 3031. Then I introduced two of my much younger buddies to the 45-70, one had never shot a lever action before! Such a doggone good day!

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]
You couldn't wipe the smile off that guy's face. Nice 95. Be Well, RZ.
Originally Posted by Rustyzipper
You couldn't wipe the smile off that guy's face. Nice 95. Be Well, RZ.


Yup that's me. I tend to grin a lot when I've got a lever action rifle with me. smile

[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Guy
I always heard flat nosed bullets only in tube fed magazine rifles. Me and a buddy shot the round nosed version for years before the flat nose version showed up. I filed my noses flat and my buddy left them as a round nose. With todays technology I would like to see more small primer pockets with quality brass made for tube fed lever guns. I'm sure some engineer could come up with a good primer for them. I think some one did offer small primer pockets for 45-70 brass,

I kind of like flat nose and round nose bullets and believe they give up little out to 250 yards, which is easily covering 95% of Alaskan shots. I also think they "smack" harder on impact then pointy bullets. We have a Mod. 94 Big Bore .356 Win. and .348 Ackley Improved Mod. 71 and a Marlin 45-70 we plan on trying to use on moose and bear this year. All with flat nosed bullets.

I think the 350 grain Hornady is a good all around bullet for most big North American critters. I now load the Kodiak Super Bonded bullets from Alaska Bullet Works because Alaska has plenty of big bears running around chasing the moose we hunt. Hopefully they will be produced again in the future.
The original factory load for the 450 Marlin used a 350 gr flat nose Interlock. They worked well on moose in AK....and I also used them on kudu in Namibia with success.
Originally Posted by akpls
The original factory load for the 450 Marlin used a 350 gr flat nose Interlock. They worked well on moose in AK....and I also used them on kudu in Namibia with success.


I remember that about the load. I read an article about a moose hunt with the early 450 Marlin Guide Gun, using the 350 grain flat nose Hornady bullet. The writer was impressed.

Guy
For hunting I've always heard flat point was the way to go. I don't have first hand knowledge though.

IIRC the flat point is supposed to penetrate straighter with a lot more tissue damage.
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