250 OR 300 tsx Barnes for 45-70?

[FOTIS]

Looking for the ultimate 45-70 bullet since our beloved 300 gr Partition is gone.

Has anyone used these? Accuracy? on game performance? loads?

Anything would be great.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I'm very pleased with the performance of the Barnes 300 XFN or whatever they call it. Launched at 2,000 ft/sec by H4198, it proved to be the most accurate bullet in my 1895 SBL. They typically double in diameter as the petals fold back. I shot a large blackbear on the diagonal with the bullet smashing through spinal bone. The bullet was caught by the off-side hide. A 250gr would give less penetration so I wouldn't bother with that bullet weight.
The Barnes X bullets are expensive but their terminal performance make them well worth the money. There are lots of other bullets for plinking and paper punchin'.

 

[FOTIS]

Good to know Charlie. Thank you for the report

 

[JD338]

Fotis,

I would stay with the 300 gr TSX.

What 45-70 are you shooting these days?

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Why a TSX Fotis? Just wondering, if your looking for the ultimate 300 grain bullet, the 300 grain Speer is just as deadly as alot more premium bullet (read expensive) bullets out there. If I was going all out and wanted a real premium, I would think the 300 grain North Fork would be a whopper from the 45-70.

 

[FOTIS]

Fotis,

I would stay with the 300 gr TSX.

What 45-70 are you shooting these days?

JD338

Might as well spill the beans


Irene's Christmas/ 20th year anniversary gift to me
We were married 24 Dec 1992 in Araxos Greece.


viewtopic.php?f=9&t=22118

 

[SJB358]

Makes sense to me buddy. Give those Speers a try though. I don't think you would be let down and you cannot beat the price or accuracy, if you aren't shooting cast. Although, a 405 grain cast bullet seems like it just "fits" the 45-70 really well.

 

[FOTIS]

Makes sense to me buddy. Give those Speers a try though. I don't think you would be let down and you cannot beat the price or accuracy, if you aren't shooting cast. Although, a 405 grain cast bullet seems like it just "fits" the 45-70 really well.

Will do sir!

 

[Waldo]

I know this is a bit off topic but I use a 45/70 on Sambar deer down here in Aus, they are a big bodied solid deer and have taken 3 from 3 with Rem 405g hand loads over the last year and a bit. One shot into a large solid stag entered front right shoulder and I dug it out of his left rear leg as I carved up steaks, it had mushroomed to close to an inch at it widest point!
Have also loaded up some Woodleigh 405g'ers but are still working my way thru the balance of the Rem's I have.
Just my opinion if shooting the 45/70 throw big pills that is what it excells at, just my opinion of course.
Cheers,
Waldo

 

[SJB358]

I know this is a bit off topic but I use a 45/70 on Sambar deer down here in Aus, they are a big bodied solid deer and have taken 3 from 3 with Rem 405g hand loads over the last year and a bit. One shot into a large solid stag entered front right shoulder and I dug it out of his left rear leg as I carved up steaks, it had mushroomed to close to an inch at it widest point!
Have also loaded up some Woodleigh 405g'ers but are still working my way thru the balance of the Rem's I have.
Just my opinion if shooting the 45/70 throw big pills that is what it excells at, just my opinion of course.
Cheers,
Waldo

Thanks for the heads up buddy! Sambar are about like our Rocky Mtn elk.. That sounds good to me. Whats your load with the 400's?

 

[Ridgerunner665]

Believe it or not...the best 45-70 bullet is solid lead, not copper.

The Ranch Dog designs are great...the 350 grain is about perfect though. If you don't cast your own...I believe you can buy them from The Bull Shop.

http://bullshop.gunloads.com/


45-70's and solid copper just don't mix...its unAmerican. I've fired several thousand rounds of 45-70's and copper just doesn't "fit"...heck, I can't think of a single jacketed bullet that is currently in production that is even close to a good cast bullet....45-70's were designed to shoot lead (big chunks of it) and they do it well...just my opinion, but its based on some experience.


Beartooth Bullets are also top notch...Marshall Stanton is a very good guy, willing to answer any questions you may have.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

This is a 100 yard group from a Marlin...the load is 50 grains of H322 under a 405 grain Beartooth Bullet in Remington brass with a CCI BR2 primer...MV is 1,900 fps....I shot this with peep sights (Skinner)...when you subtract the bullet diameter, it is just barely over 1 MOA. This load will STOMP anything from mice to moose within its range (which depends on the shooter...could be anywhere from 50 to 300 yards)...you could reduce it by a couple of grains if you don't want to push them that hard...or use H4198 (46-48 grains) for a little less recoil

This is a 50 yard 5 shot group (peep sights)...using reduced loads with the Ranch Dog 350 grain bullet, I forget now if I used 12 or 13 grains of Unique (I think it was 13) but the MV was 1,175.

 

[Alaska]

Nither Barnes

The Speer 350gr FN is excellent as well as the 350gr Hornady.......at 45-70 speeds no need for a prem bullet

The 350gr Hard Cast FNGC is excellent.....in the Marlin at 2000FPS.

 

[Charlie-NY]

It's not the solid copper bullets in the 45-70 that seem unAmerican. It's the pointy, gummy tips hanging out of those fat cases that get my goat! But heck - they sure shoot good.

 

[SJB358]

Great groups and awesome pictures.. I am a cast and jacketed guy, but the cast is ridiculously accurate and you can't beat the looks of them giant, thumb sized pieces of lead!

 

[Waldo]

I know this is a bit off topic but I use a 45/70 on Sambar deer down here in Aus, they are a big bodied solid deer and have taken 3 from 3 with Rem 405g hand loads over the last year and a bit. One shot into a large solid stag entered front right shoulder and I dug it out of his left rear leg as I carved up steaks, it had mushroomed to close to an inch at it widest point!
Have also loaded up some Woodleigh 405g'ers but are still working my way thru the balance of the Rem's I have.
Just my opinion if shooting the 45/70 throw big pills that is what it excells at, just my opinion of course.
Cheers,
Waldo

Thanks for the heads up buddy! Sambar are about like our Rocky Mtn elk.. That sounds good to me. Whats your load with the 400's?

I use AR2207 and aim for a velocity of around 1750 - 1800fps (don't have a chron just work of published data, prety sure it's about 45-46g off the top of my head (but check that one out in the manual). Performance of the 405 Rem on the Sambar I have shot with it has been awesome.
Cheers,
Waldo

Agree with comment below gummy tips in 45/70 just look wrong!