Texas and Alberta have always been very close. I have always loved spending time in Texas and all the Texans I have had up here have thoroughly enjoyed their time in Alberta. Whatever version of heart shot, none of us would have a problem with it.
45-70 Bullet for Bison Hunt
- Thread starter CMP70306
- Start date
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I am newish to the 45-70 world. The leverevolution stuff is good and accurate, but for bison I would go hard cast lead.
I have been reloading IMR 4198 w/ 350 RNFP from Acme Bullets. Getting really good results so far. Tested at 50 yds, had them touching. Next trip Will be 100+ yds.
I may go to a heavier bullet eventually for bison (one of these days), but for now I am looking to use the 350 for hogs.
Will be interested to see where you end up on loads and also the result of the hunt!
I have been reloading IMR 4198 w/ 350 RNFP from Acme Bullets. Getting really good results so far. Tested at 50 yds, had them touching. Next trip Will be 100+ yds.
I may go to a heavier bullet eventually for bison (one of these days), but for now I am looking to use the 350 for hogs.
Will be interested to see where you end up on loads and also the result of the hunt!
Pittsspecial
Well-Known Member
Distance, wind (including weather) my ability are all variables at a specific moment. Head shots are preferred IF the individual situation presents itself. No wasted meat. I practice at probable distances duplicating all weather conditions. (rain,snow, x -wind using the load I intend to hunt with. I tape a distance card on the right side of my stock upside down listing the distances in yards in relation to the hold over settings. I like the 500 gr paper patch. Confidence....Just MHO
Pittsspecial
Well-Known Member
Distance, wind (including weather) my individual ability are all variables at a specific moment. Head shots are preferred IF the individual situation presents itself. No wasted meat. I practice at probable distances duplicating all weather conditions. (rain, snow, x -wind using the load I intend to hunt with. I tape a distance card on the right side of my stock upside down listing the distances in yards in relation to the hold over settings. I like the 500 gr paper patch. Confidence is everything....Just MHO
rustyshackleford
Well-Known Member
I think H4198 and RL-7 are THE powders
I would use a 300RUM for that 220gr ELD-X if I was going
I just read four pages of replies to your thread. I just got into the 45-70 game a few years ago when I bought a vintage 1895 Marlin in 45-70. I did a lot of research on the .45 caliber bullets and bullet performance. I'd taken the rifle black bear hunting on a couple of trips, however used the 35 Whelen instead. Last year I decided that I was going to use the 45-70. I decided on using either a 300 grain Hornady hollow point, or the Barnes 300gr TSX flat based hollow point. I liked the Barnes TSX, however was uncertain about what its performance was going to be like because of the large hollow point. Because of the uncertainty of the Barnes performance I decided to back the Barnes up with the Hornady bullet if needed. I was presented with a broad side shot at 60 yards and took the shot with the Barnes bullet. The bear hunched up, then turned and started to walk away at a very slow pace. I knew that the shot went where I wanted it to go, yet that bear was walking away like in slow motion. It went about 20 feet and then fell down, I figured the bear was down for the count. After about a minute the bear tried to get up and fell down again. I'm like stay down as I don't want to have to shoot you again!! After another minute I am figuring this hunt is over, but.... then the bear tried to get up again getting its rump off the ground and almost standing and it feel a second time. After about another minute the bear started to get up again, and at this point I tried to spine the bear with the Hornady bullet because I feared that for some reason either the shot didn't go where I "thought" it went or the Barnes hollow point bullet failed to penetrate. The Hornady bullet traveled from between the two rear quarters and came out the nose; so at this point this bear was really dead. So... this 170 pound black bear (by the way it has been reported that black bears are easy to kill) sustained a perfectly placed shot with a bullet that worked better than expected take two rounds to get the bear to stop moving. I know this is a long story, however only written to make a point that not all bullets work as they are supposed to, not all game is as "easy" as projected/reported and not all hunting shot placements go where they are intended to go due to conditions that no hunter could possibly anticipate.
I would recommend a modern day approach and use a monolithic bullet either the Hammer or the Barnes TSX bullet. I have attached a photo of the exit hole of the 170 pound black bear that I took this past season with the 300 grain Barnes TSX hollow point. And...I would love to have the opportunity to do a bison hunt and would definitely take the 45-70 and hunt with confidence with the round. And... no matter what bullet choice you make good luck with the hunt, and please bring back some photos of your hunt and share them with the group.
I would recommend a modern day approach and use a monolithic bullet either the Hammer or the Barnes TSX bullet. I have attached a photo of the exit hole of the 170 pound black bear that I took this past season with the 300 grain Barnes TSX hollow point. And...I would love to have the opportunity to do a bison hunt and would definitely take the 45-70 and hunt with confidence with the round. And... no matter what bullet choice you make good luck with the hunt, and please bring back some photos of your hunt and share them with the group.
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Varmint Hunter
Well-Known Member
Most adult black bears are fairly light, 150lb - 200lb IMO. A 300lb blackie is a BIG one. On the other hand, I have not shot a bull moose that was under 1,000 lbs. I'd use more horsepower on a moose.
Just sayin'
Just sayin'
I have shot lots of Moose, Elk, deer and a ton of bears with a 45-70. You don't need more horsepower, a Hornady 300 grain hollow point will kill Moose just fine, as will my favourite, the 350 grain Hornady RN and the 405 cast or jacketed.. A Moose is not hard to kill and ralative density, the bear is more difficult to penetrate. The only 45-70 round I have ever recovered from any animal was a 300 grain Horn hollowpoint that went through both shoulders of a large Moose and was caught on the hide on the far side. I had pumped a second quick one into him about an inch further back and it exited.
Thank you for all of the responses, I was out of service range all of yesterday on a tuna trip so I didn't really get a chance to read them until tonight.
After reading your suggestions and experiences I think what I'm going to do is to buy some paper patched bullets and test to see how they shoot in my gun. If they work well I am going to buy a mould and try casting some using my late grandfathers old smelting gear from when he used to make his own fishing sinkers.
I'll practice with some other lead to get the technique right and then load some using his lead to check accuracy and take with me on the hunt. I doubt he would have ever dreamed that his stuff would be used to take a bison but I'm sure if he was still here he would thoroughly enjoy the trip.
I convinced my brother to carry my back up rifle for me, i don't plan to use it but I n the event something goes wrong I'll have my custom 300 Win Mag to fall back on.
After reading your suggestions and experiences I think what I'm going to do is to buy some paper patched bullets and test to see how they shoot in my gun. If they work well I am going to buy a mould and try casting some using my late grandfathers old smelting gear from when he used to make his own fishing sinkers.
I'll practice with some other lead to get the technique right and then load some using his lead to check accuracy and take with me on the hunt. I doubt he would have ever dreamed that his stuff would be used to take a bison but I'm sure if he was still here he would thoroughly enjoy the trip.
I convinced my brother to carry my back up rifle for me, i don't plan to use it but I n the event something goes wrong I'll have my custom 300 Win Mag to fall back on.
So I have a question for those who have hunted bison before, what did you do with the head and hide?
My plan was to get a shoulder mount done, have the skull cleaned and the hide tanned as a couch blanket but I wasn't sure how much of the hide a shoulder mount would take? Based on the pictures online it doesn't look like they use anything past the hump for the robe.
Also since we are on the post hunt side of the topic does anyone have any good recipes for bison?
My plan was to get a shoulder mount done, have the skull cleaned and the hide tanned as a couch blanket but I wasn't sure how much of the hide a shoulder mount would take? Based on the pictures online it doesn't look like they use anything past the hump for the robe.
Also since we are on the post hunt side of the topic does anyone have any good recipes for bison?
Pittsspecial
Well-Known Member
Exactly right; the idea is to use precision and .........save the great meat.
aalyea
Active Member
Got a half robe from residual after superb shoulder mount. Skull done as well and a silver knobbed cane from "down under".
How big would you say the half robe is? And did you just have it tanned or do they do any type of bottom treatment like they do with a bear rug?
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