45-70 for deer hunting

[longrangehuntr]

Can I use a 45-70 for deer hunting?

 

[MTBULLET]

yes, works great.

 

[longrangehuntr]

where do you shoot the deer at and what kind of damage does it do to the meat?

 

[Fred Ea]

where do you shoot the deer at and what kind of damage does it do to the meat?

Try to shoot them behind the shoulder at all times if possible and it will not destroy any meat, but if shot through the shoulder, it wil pretty much ruin the meat in both shoulders. Won't be any tracking job with those big holes either.
FE

 

[bigngreen]

I've never tracked deer farther than one's shot with my 45-70, 405 and 350gr round nose just punch through as deer don't have the mass to open the slower bullets, I found the best bullet out of a 45-70 was a 300gr hollow point.

 

[Crop Damage]

Try the Hornady LeverRevolution ammo. Its awesome. Like shooting deer with a truck.

 

[junior71]

Works great! I have shot a couple at 200 yrds even.

 

[MTBULLET]

the 45-70 is a good deer cart., just shoot 'em where you'r 'sposed to. ANY deer shot in the wrong place will probably need "tracking" no matter what you hit it with. I prefer the 525 gr. postel, cast 20/1 for ALL 45-70 hunting, works well.

 

[RT2506]

It depends on which rifle make you are using for the 45-70 as to the velocity/pressure range you can load to. If you are using something like a Marlin 1895 model you can step things up quite a bit over most factory ammo that is made for use in the old Springfield trapdoor rifle. The Sierra 300 gr HP with their suggested accuracy load of 49.9 grs IMR-4198 will get you 2100 fps and it will SMACK a deer. I have shot a few deer with my Sharps in 45-70 with cast flat nose 405 gr Lyman bullets and black powder and Accurate 5744 smokeless powders in the 1400 fps range. It will drill a hole clean through them from any direction but unless you hit the head or spine you will have to trail them up. With the proper bullet, heavy 500 gr or so, the 45-70 even loaded with black powder which will give you around 1200 fps will handle anything in North America and most of Africa. A freight train does not have to be moving very fast to put a hurting on you.

 

[CogburnR]

I like my 45-70 on deer.

I use the 300g hollow point remington at around 1950fps out of my 1895CB. Drops deer fast!! Shoot in the heart lung area and the deer will probably be within 20 yards with a blood trail that a blind man could folllow.