Just got a Henry 45-70 looking for the best load to take a moose with. Will hopefully be shooting 100yds an in. just curious some more experienced guys with the cartridge. I’m new to the 45-70 load have been loading other cals for year but now I wanna moose hunt with the 45-70. So would like to put together a preferred round from some guys that have tried didn’t loads. Thanks in advance

If you're keeping things within 100 yards then I prefer any 405 grain load

Cool thanks. 405gr fn hard cast should knock some things over

I just loaded up some 405gr cast and went to range. Groups were excellent at 50 and 100. Didn't shoot past 100 but at 150 ballistics calculator shows 14.5" drop.
Loading 27gr of AA 5744 which puts it around 1394fps. Forgot to take chrono so making a guess at velocity based on several others' load data.

I know I cannot WAIT to smack one with this thing next weekend though!!!

Some good info here: Marlin Owners Group

Shooting mine out of a Marlin Guide gun

I have taken and been in on the taking of a few dozen moose here in Alaska in the last 50 years and they are not bullet proof at all. But, hit them in the wrong place in thick timber and fading light and they will move out of sight quickly if pushed. Most of the moose shot by me, my family, friends and most Alaskan moose hunters are taken under 100 yards. Most of them could easily have been taken with iron sights.

I would start with new Starline 45-70 brass, H322 powder and WLR primers. I put 54 grains of H322 in my Starline brass, I used to use 56 grains until I read the burn rate for H322 may have changed and Speer dropped the 56 grain load from their loading book. I started loading for the 45-70 in the very early 90's and found H322 to work wonderfully with 400-405 grain bullets, but the Swift, and defunct Alaska Bullet Works bonded bullets are plenty for moose, as would be the 350 grain Hornady or Speer.

North Fork, and Barnes, Woodleigh and others all make "boutique" 45-70 bullets. They are costly. We always try for a double lung shot and prefer a bullet that makes two holes. I suspect a 405 grain hard cast would be good at making two holes, but for lung shooting moose, I will stick with and expanding bullet at the expense of penetration.

Recoil with a case full of powder and a 405 grain bullet is no fun from the bench. So most of my range shooting with the 45-70 is done with the dreaded Led Sled, shooting sticks or standing with a tight sling. Long live the great 45-70!