45-70 Loads for Plainsgame?

Borealis Bob · Post by **Borealis Bob** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 8:37 pm

Been lurking for a while and just signed up; looks like a great group of folks.

I've read a bit of the levergun safaris you have had, and wonder what loads are good in a Marlin 1895CB? Did a search, but something is amiss as I was getting extraneous threads on Obama and other items.

I'm in the final stages of planning a hunt in the Limpopo province in '09 and am thinking it would be fun to bring the lever along to compliment my 35 Whelen. I've only shot cast in the Marlin, and have not bloodied it yet.

Game likely to be on the list is Kudu, zebra, warthog, gemsbok, wildebeest, and possibly eland. Is hard cast the way to go, or should a guy plan on something along the lines of a jacketed 400 gr. FN?

I appreciate any, and all, input.

Thanks, and hope to contribute somewhere down the line.

Bob

RAC · Post by **RAC** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:02 pm

I used a 405 gr Alaska Bullet Works Bonded Bullet in South Africa in March 2006. Game killed: wildebeest, waterbuck, bushbuck, warthog, and blesbok. Load was R7 and 1800 fps out of my 18 1/2 barrel. Blasphemy to some here, but I would recommend the bonded bullet over the cast.

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 9:05 pm

86er ought to speak up shortly. He'd be the one I'd really listen to as he's playing with that size game all the time. I think you'd be just fine, but It's only speculation on my behalf.

RAC · Post by **RAC** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:03 pm

kimwcook wrote:86er ought to speak up shortly. He'd be the one I'd really listen to as he's playing with that size game all the time. I think you'd be just fine, but It's only speculation on my behalf.

IIRC, I was the one who turned him on to the ABW 405 gr Bonded Bullet.

Marlin .35 · Post by **Marlin .35** » Tue Feb 19, 2008 10:06 pm

If it were me, I would go with a Cast performance WFNGC bullet in the 400 plus grs. These bullets hit really hard and are surperbly accurate!!!! Good luck in your search!!! Art

maddog · Post by **maddog** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 6:17 am

My son and I will be going to the limpopo in July for a plains game hunt. The gun I am taking is my .45-70 guide gun. I am taking my own handloads. Here is what I am using.

WW cases
Fed. 210 primers
51 gr. H4198
300 gr. nosler part.

This load gets me 1950-1975 fps.

It should do the job out to 200 yds. Have been advised that avg. shots ar +/- 100 yds.

Here is who we are hunting with
www.cruisersafaris.com/

Mad Dog

JimT · Post by **JimT** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 8:38 am

Mr. Davis was with us on last year's Safari. He used the Hornady LeveRevolution factory ammo. It worked just find on Wildebeest and Warthog.

He also took a Bison here in the States using it. He got complete penetration side to side on the Bison.

jengel · Post by **jengel** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:32 am

One of the things that I have only recently come to understand is the "Extreme" powder line from Hodgdon. I have been using H335 in my 45-70 and I think that I will change to H322 due to the temperature extremes that I shoot my 45-70 in. This year, I have shot it at deer in 17 deg to prairie dogs at 100 deg. I think that the Extreme line of powders will be more consistent and safer in hot weather.

Borealis Bob · Post by **Borealis Bob** » Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:27 pm

Thanks for the tips...keep 'em comin'.

Bob

86er · Post by **86er** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:58 pm

Ever since RAC turned me on to the Kodiak Bullet I have not used anything else with the exeption of the PUNCH bullet that is in a different catagory altogether.

The 405gr Kodiak will produce consistent results from 1400-1900 fps impact velocities. I have taken over 50 animals from 100 pounds to cape, water and american buffalo and the bullets have been flawless.

I recommend the heavier bullet over the 300gr variety. The 400 gr class holds its velocity and penetrating ability over a longer range because it remains stable. I have seen a few instances where the 300gr class bullets did not perform as I expected or require.

The cast bullets are good. They will expand in the animals you named. Usually you loose the front shoulder to the metplat as it smears away. You may get through and through penetration. I don't prefer them for bushvelt hunting because the premium jacketed bullets have proven more reliable for anchoring shots. The cast will kill but will not kill "on the spot" as consistently on game in the 400+ pound range.

If you have any specific questions or would like to discuss further I am happy to correspond or speak directly with you.

1886 · Post by **1886** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:45 pm

You have to listen to the guys that have been there and done that. I have not shot a single animal with the .45-70 but I would think the Nosler 300gr partition driven to 2100-2300fps would be devistating on plains game. 1886

salvo · Post by **salvo** » Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:48 pm

Got a URL for Kodiak Bullets?
Googled with no luck.

Borealis Bob · Post by **Borealis Bob** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 7:47 am

86er...

Thanks for the input...just what I was looking for. I appreciate the offer for more information and might take you up on that.

Salvo...

There doesn't appear to be any website for these folks, but try them at Alaska Bullet Works 907-789-3834. I'm going to call them today for info.

Thanks to all.

Bob

86er · Post by **86er** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 9:43 am

You can discuss Kodiak bullets with Mike Rintoul at (503) 556-3006. He loads them and has tested them extensively.

Rhino357 · Post by **Rhino357** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 10:30 am

OK is it just me...........or is that is the COOLEST phone # you have ever seen!

And even COOLER it's (503).

Ron

edsguns · Post by **edsguns** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:01 pm

JimT wrote:Mr. Davis was with us on last year's Safari. He used the Hornady LeveRevolution factory ammo. It worked just find on Wildebeest and Warthog.

He also took a Bison here in the States using it. He got complete penetration side to side on the Bison.

I totally agree with what Jim said here. Here's a link to Midway ammo and it also has a bunch of reviews on that 45/70 LeverEvolution round, if you click on the "read the reviews" link right under the average customer rating in stars. Just for comparison, the LE ammo for the .450 Marlin is a full 350fps faster than the 45/70LE, and the 45/70LE is 25fps slower than Corbon's 300gr Barnes "X" bullet loading.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... t=11082005

handirifle · Post by **handirifle** » Fri Feb 22, 2008 1:37 pm

I read of one brown bear hunt in AK with the 450 and LE ammo. The guy ended up shooting his bear at about 12 yds, and it killed the bear with one shot, but, it made a massive entry wound and did not exit.

To me, that means at very close range the bullet over expanded, and MIGHT have been close to coming apart. I say MIGHT because it obviously didn't in that case, but I'd feel better hunting with something a bit stronger design.

Never used them but this was what I gathered from that article.