Marlin 1895 45-70 for Long Range

[JD338]

I've been helping my friend again this year with crop damage deer hunting. I decided to take the Marlin 1895G 45-70 out for a sit and fill a tag or two.
I have shot this rifle with the 300 gr BST at 2200 fps out to 250 yards with MOA accuracy.
I also have a stash of 300 gr PT bullets so I thought I would give one a try.
I shot the first doe at 55 yards with a solid lung shot. She went about 110 yards across the bean field and dropped inside the woods.
About 15 minutes later more deer came out into the beans. I lasered a big doe at 160 yards. I put the cross hair of the Leupold VX-3 1.75-6x32mm on the top of her back and sent a 300 gr BST on its way across the bean field. It was a DRT kill.
I followed the blood trail from the first doe across the bean field and couldn't believe how heavy it was. Something to be said about 45 caliber holes in game.
The 45-70 turned in an impressive performance both near and far.

JD338

 

[FOTIS]

Heck yeah Jim!

 

[ShadeTree]

Good deal Jim! Good hunting with a great old cartridge. You helping a buddy out and get to take some game in the process. Win/win.

Do you think the Partition was a little stout for deer in this case? Or wasn't the one that ran 100 yds hit with a Partition?

 

[salmonchaser]

Love to see stories on the old 45/70. Well done.


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[JD338]

Thanks guys.
ST, the first doe that ran was hit by the 300 gr PT. The bullet definitely expanded and exited through the ribs on the off side. Exit hole was about an inch around which allowed a lot of blood to leak out. Both pictures show entrance wounds.
Fotis- That's the rifle I bought from you. It's a tack driver. My best group went .400" at 100 yards with the 300 gr BST. The picture of the gong is at 250 yards.

JD338

 

[mjcmichigan]

That’s a fun job defending the bean fields. Love the 45/70. Took it out last year with Nosler BT, but didn’t get a shot.

The beautiful thing about this hobby, you learn how to make a bullet work for you.

A farmer asked me to help him defend his bean field. The twist was houses were built on both sides of the farm, so he really wanted all bullets contained. His 3006 would blow through and make him nervous. Loaded up some 85gn SGK HP in 243win over 51gn RL26. Chrono’d at 3400fps.

5 of the 6 deer killed only had entrance wounds. 3 DRT, 2 managed 5-15 yards. 6th has an exit would and went 40 yards.

Amazing what happens when all that energy is unloaded in the vitals.

Thank you for the 45/70 report. I’ll take it out for rifle season.


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[FOTIS]

Thanks guys.
ST, the first doe that ran was hit by the 300 gr PT. The bullet definitely expanded and exited through the ribs on the off side. Exit hole was about an inch around which allowed a lot of blood to leak out. Both pictures show entrance wounds.
Fotis- That's the rifle I bought from you. It's a tack driver. My best group went .400" at 100 yards with the 300 gr BST. The picture of the gong is at 250 yards.

JD338

Don't I know it! :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

Great shooting Jim. The old 45-70 pounds em!

 

[wvbuckbuster]

Good opportunity to try it out. Results look good. Always liked the looks of the big bore Marlins just never got around to giving them a try. Dan.

 

[Guy Miner]

Excellent!

Those big bore Marlins often produce surprisingly good accuracy. And ya.. There is something impressive about a bullet that starts out at .45 cal before it expands....

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

That's pretty cool Jim. Always liked the 45/70. It's about the last rifle I still need in my safe at this point!

 

[JD338]

That's pretty cool Jim. Always liked the 45/70. It's about the last rifle I still need in my safe at this point!

It would make a great rifle for elk in the black timber. With a hard cast bullet it would penetrate an elk from stem to stern and those big holes leak out a lot of blood.

JD338

 

[SJB358]

That's pretty cool Jim. Always liked the 45/70. It's about the last rifle I still need in my safe at this point!

It would make a great rifle for elk in the black timber. With a hard cast bullet it would penetrate an elk from stem to stern and those big holes leak out a lot of blood.

JD338

I'd love to hunt elk with the 300 PT. I have a bunch of the darned things and they are like a darned train when they hit stuff.