45-70 bullets

[muleman]

I have a new to me Marlin 1895g coming home to roost soon. I'm planning to start with 4198 powder but what bullets are you all using. I'd love to use the 300gr PT (Hint) but Nosler doesn't make them.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[JD338]

Scott,

Congratulations on the 1895G 45-70. You are going to love it!
Go with the 300 gr BST for your 45-70.
I load mine with 59.0 grs H322 and I shot a .400" group at 100 yds with my 1895 Guide gun.

I also use the same bullet in the muzzle loader and it works well. In fact, my daughter shot a buck this afternoon with this bullet.
Here is the exit wound

JD338

 

[muleman]

JD,
Congrats for your daughter! Gotta love what the big bullets can do.
Who makes the BST? Do you mean the Ballistic Silver Tip?
Scott

 

[DrMike]

The 300 grain Ballistic Silver Tip is an excellent bullet for your 45-70, Scott.

 

[JD338]

Scott,

Yes, Nosler .458 cal 300 gr Ballistic Silver Tip.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

Scott, I know this is going to be blasphemy here on these boards, BUT, I really think the 300gr Speer HotCor is about the best 300gr bullet going right now for the 45-70. Available at a good cost, it is a bonded bullet and will work very well with H4198 and should work just fine with IMR4198. Nosler is killing me with their replacement of the PT with the BST... Just should be against the law to do that to us 45-70 gunners!

Anyhow, the Speer is very awesome so far. It expands well, hangs together very well, and you can't push it hard enough out of a 45-70 to make it come apart.

Congrats on the 45-70, I think you are going to like it alot. They are some very accurate rifles and just a ton of fun. Scotty

 

[Guy Miner]

Never did any great amount of killing with the .45/70, but I owned two different Marlins and shot them a lot for about nine years. Took a mulie doe at about 80 yards with a handloaded 405 gr Remington FNSP bullet. Very effective.

Here's a link to some .45/70 bullet tests done by members here at the Nosler Reloading forum, and yes, I think we all miss the 300 grain Partition:

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=16497

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=16543

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=16542

viewtopic.php?f=63&t=16517

Depending on what was being hunted, I'd be real tempted to stick with the 350 gr Hornady FNSP for most game, and the 350 gr Swift A-Frame for heavier stuff. The .45/70 also really shines with heavy, flat nose, cast lead bullets - I had great results from the 425 gr Beartooth "Piledriver Junior." My favorite powders for the .45/70 were: H4198, RE-7 and H322. All were good.

Enjoy!

 

[tecumseh]

I'm using a 350gr Hornady FP with RL-7 in my 1895g. I plan to use it next month on a hog hunt in southeast Georgia.

 

[muleman]

Thanks guys!
I picked up some speer 350gr hot core flat tips(only 45-70 bullets in stock) and ordered the CT SBT for load development.
When I get the gun I'll post picts!
Scott

 

[FOTIS]

. I'd love to use the 300gr PT (Hint) but Nosler doesn't make them.

Thanks,
Scott

YEAH! HINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :evil:

I wound not mind selling them in 20 round packs!

 

[Guy Miner]

"speer 350gr hot core flat tips"

FYI, that bullet has a reputation for penetrating really well, but not opening up well at .45/70 velocity. It's supposed to be pretty tough. I never got around to trying it.

Guy

 

[onesonek]

Dang,,,,Congrats to your daughter JD! Certainly looks like the 300 gr BT's works.
I think I will stay with cast,,even though I have yet to shoot anything (live), with mine as yet.

 

[SJB358]

"speer 350gr hot core flat tips"

FYI, that bullet has a reputation for penetrating really well, but not opening up well at .45/70 velocity. It's supposed to be pretty tough. I never got around to trying it.

Guy

I hear the same thing Guy, but this is my take on it. Even if that flat point mushrooms just the tiniest bit, it is still looking like one of the cast WFN's that work so well. I would love to run a few of them through the Guide Rifle into jugs, just to get an idea of what they will do. I have kinda forgotten about them, until you just mentioned them. They might be a really good bullet for the 45-70 actually, considering you don't need much expansion and the penetration shouldn't leave many bullets able to be recovered. Scotty

 

[FOTIS]

Correct!

The speer 350 is meant to be used in the 458 Winnie and up.

It will not expand reliably in the 450 Marlin/45-70

 

[RogueRiver]

I cast my own 365 grn Ranchdog bullets or lee 400 hb, or use rem bulk 405 grn.

 

[SJB358]

I cast my own 365 grn Ranchdog bullets or lee 400 hb, or use rem bulk 405 grn.

RR, what do you think of the 365 RD? I hear that is the best all around cast in the 45-70. Scotty

 

[onesonek]

Think I got the .45-70 covered
BRP mold 350, 425, and 465gr.

AM mold 405 and 470 gr.

 

[JD338]

Dave,

I like the looks of that 465 gr HC bullet. Its all business...

JD338

 

[BK]

I dig that AM 405...

Man, I do NOT need to start casting bullets!

 

[SJB358]

Man, I like your bullets alot Dave. Those 350-465's are just awesome. Can't wait to shoot a few of them. Scotty