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45-70 On Deer
griz
Member Posts: 425 ✭✭
Anyone here tried any of the low pressure factory 45-70's on deer? These would be the ones loaded for the old lever guns and springfield trapdoors at about 1250 muzzle velocity.
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I've got a .58 cal civil war replica muzzleloader with a 510 gr bullet I plan on using hunting this year. I chronographed the bullet, it's moving about 1000 fps with my most accurate load (60 gr of FFFG... yes I know in theory a .58 would do best with FFG but I won't argue with accuracy) and even that I have no doubt will not only KILL a deer but absolutely prove devestating.
Its not totally about the energy...it is momentum. Energy uses the velocity twice, and is biased toward higher velocity. Momentum is velocity times bullet weight. The Taylor Knock Out factor applies nicely here where it also takes into account bullet diameter, then divides by 7000(some say to make it a more managable number of two or three digits, but consequently there are 7000 grains in a pound too.). There is a very interesting article about popular hunting rounds and the TKO factor in the most recent issue of Fur, Fish and game magazine. As far as the TKO goes, the 45-70 with the 405 grain load rates better than the 300 Win. Mag. for dangerous game...easily.
Best
Great ctg for deer if you learn to live with it's limitations.
Anyone here tried any of the low pressure factory 45-70's on deer? These would be the ones loaded for the old lever guns and springfield trapdoors at about 1250 muzzle velocity.
Haven't personally tried it, but as already mentioned, the "ordinary" 45-70 used to be a standard load for BISON, which weigh between 900 and 2000 pounds.
Enough for a 200 lb deer? I'd hope so!
If you want more reassurance, compare:
"Low pressure" .45-70 fires 400 grain .45 caliber bullet at 1250fps.
"Ordinary" .44 magnum fires 240 grain .43 caliber bullet at 1450fps.
"Ordinary" 2-3/4" 12 gauge shotgun fires 1 ounce (eg 437 grain) .72 caliber slug at ~1450 fps.
So if you think a .44 magnum round or 12 gauge shotgun slug are enough for a deer, then you ought to be good to go with a "lowly" .45-70.
Only caveat here is that the relatively slow velocity means you're going to get a rainbow-like trajectory with fast dropoff at long distances. If you're going to take a shot past maybe 100-125 yards, you'd be best knowing the range exactly as well as the bullet drop to compensate.