45/70 Hornady 300 gr. Did it do it's job?

J

jetman

New member


After a year of rolling around in limbo My boy found the killing bullet out of my elk last year. Just a reminder, I shot it WAY out over 400 yards. I was a bit concerned that the Hornady 300 gr HP didn't do the job. My boy and I gave the elk to a guy In a local town who took it to a different town and had his dad cut it up,I never gave it another thought. Well this guy's dad found What we think is the killing bullet . It went in the front shoulder through it and the heart and in to the other side shoulder and stopped lodge in the bone.I shot it 3 more times, coming at me not a side shot, before it fell but this one would have killed him if I had, had time to let him run. It started out at 300 gr and I put it on the scale and is is still 279 gr only a loss of 21 gr. I don't know the speed when it hit but it left the gun at just short of 2500 fps. Maybe the bullet did a better job then I thought.
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PS we didn't go calling the wind was called to blow 50+mph. HUMMM ?

We're going to go Wednesday.
 
Wow, 400 is a long poke for a 45-70. But, like everything, if the shooter does his/her part anythings possible...
 
Originally Posted By: stanlyWow, 400 is a long poke for a 45-70. But, like everything, if the shooter does his/her part anythings possible...
The old cow pokes shot buffalo and Indians at 1000 yards.

I reload and push the bullets as fast as the gun ( a modern Marlin ) can handle. On top of her I have a good scope a 4X9 Redfield so a 400 yard shot is very hard but very doable.
I have a load that brakes the 2600 fps barrier too a 250 barns, too cool!
 
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Good shooting.I had a Marlin like yours in 45/70.Good rifle.A friend wanted it real bad so I let him have it,then he died in just a few months.Always wondered what happened to the rifle.Nice Elk also.
 
Jetman:

What model Marlin is your rifle?

The Hornady 4th Edition loading manual lists a maximum of 2100 FPS with 300 gr. bullet in a Marlin Model 1895 in .45/70. Your estimate of that weight bullet having a muzzle velocity of "just short of 2500 FPS", if true, is way beyond the Marlin's safety design.

Your 250 gr. load at a confirmed or estimated 2600 FPS would also subsequently appear to be severely beyond the safe limits of even the Marlin 1895 action.

The Hornady manual contains an explicit declaration that the Model 1895 Marlin load data is for that rifle only and "should not be used in antique 45-70s or replicas of older designs."

It further notes that the pressure of these Model 1895 loads is at 40,000 c.u.p maximum, the same as the .444 Model Marlin.

Per that same manual, the Ruger Model #1 has loads for the .45-70 in the 50,000 c.u.p. level, but for that action, the Browning Model 78, and the custom Wickliffe rifle only.
 
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Originally Posted By: gunhausHodgden shows data at 2424fps for the Mariln with 300 gr bullets at around 39,000 psi. FWIW

Gunhaus:

You are correct; Hodgdon Manual #27 does show a load of 60 grains of H4198 with the 300 gr. Sierra HP bullet at 2420 FPS in the Marlin 1895 only. The other 2 loads listed with that Sierra bullet are at 2252 and 2326

With a Barnes all copper(?)[and longer]bullet in the 250 gr. weight and the OP's Marlin 1895, I would think a safe load is considerably less. And, 2424 FPS is NOT "...pushing 2500 FPS".

The 250 gr. load of the OP still seems to be beyond the ragged edge...although he is apparently still alive...
 
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The NEW Limits of the New Marlins is 43,000 cap.
My Hornady loads Crono at a solid 2495 fps. The 250 gr Barns are listed at 2600 fps ...
I have shot 400 yards before, I have to put the target at the very bottom of the scope, and hope it doesn't walk away.
 
Jetman:

I cannot argue with your results...that's an excellent elk on the ground. You are breaking new ground with the 45-70.

Keep shooting, and stay safe.
 
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