I killed 2 or 3 deer with PMC CB loads in my 1895 CB. One was at more than 100 yards and it it fell dead. 405 grain bullets don't have to fly fast.

 

What George said, lots of energy behind that big bad boy.

 

Has anyone used 45-70 cowboy loads for hunting? I have two boxes of PMC 405gr hard cast flat nose at 1250fps and wonder what kind of results I would have for short range hunting, probably less than 50yds. I hunt in SC for deer and hogs. the hogs so far have ranged from 40-175lbs but there is always the chance for much larger porkers. I have some stouter loads that I usually use but wonder about the potential for the cowboy loads.

Buffalo in the west were wiped out for the most part by similar loads.So you know its effective for hunting most anything in North America.

 

Thanks for the replies, going hog hunting next week we'll see how they do.

 

They worked for me. Its not easy for a deer to stop 405 grains of lead.

 

I just load up a pretty similiar round myself, and shoot targets at 250 yards with. It's slow.. but like they said 405 grn bullet will hit with a wholop!! Like You this is my first year that I am planning on hunting deer with that round. I'm expecting DRT

 

Cowboys had to eat too! ;D

 

Cowboys had to eat too! ;D

Lol, this is true.

 

I just load up a pretty similiar round myself, and shoot targets at 250 yards with. It's slow.. but like they said 405 grn bullet will hit with a wholop!! Like You this is my first year that I am planning on hunting deer with that round. I'm expecting DRT

Theres a 200 yard gong at a range I belong to in NH. Was 2 years ago I think that my son & I were up there. He clanged it with a dead on hold with my 7MM08 & asked if I could hit it with my 45/70. All I had was that 2400 load so I started tossing them at it. It was hanging by a 12" chain & the pole was another 6 or so inches higher. After I got it figured out I could hold just above the post & whack it regular. But it took a long time to get there. BOOM,,,,,,,, then you see it swing & hear the clang a split second later. I swear I could almost get a second one off before the first reached it.

 

I just load up a pretty similiar round myself, and shoot targets at 250 yards with. It's slow.. but like they said 405 grn bullet will hit with a wholop!! Like You this is my first year that I am planning on hunting deer with that round. I'm expecting DRT

Theres a 200 yard gong at a range I belong to in NH. Was 2 years ago I think that my son & I were up there. He clanged it with a dead on hold with my 7MM08 & asked if I could hit it with my 45/70. All I had was that 2400 load so I started tossing them at it. It was hanging by a 12" chain & the pole was another 6 or so inches higher. After I got it figured out I could hold just above the post & whack it regular. But it took a long time to get there. BOOM,,,,,,,, then you see it swing & hear the clang a split second later. I swear I could almost get a second one off before the first reached it.

I know..lol I bet you COULD!! Takes it forever.... But I like to shoot it. SHoot all day with no recoil pad, never will make the shoulder sore.

 

While it's true that 405s were used for hunting bison in the west, it's also true that the bison were in wide open territory. If a bison was wounded and started running, I'm guessing you'd be able to track it much easier than in the woods. Additionally, no one ever asks how many of the bison shot by 405s were one shot kills.

I'm glad the OP posted this question because I'm considering using 405 CBs for hunting as well.

 

While it's true that 405s were used for hunting bison in the west, it's also true that the bison were in wide open territory. If a bison was wounded and started running, I'm guessing you'd be able to track it much easier than in the woods. Additionally, no one ever asks how many of the bison shot by 405s were one shot kills.

I'm glad the OP posted this question because I'm considering using 405 CBs for hunting as well.

You should read the Frank Mayer piece on Buffalo "Runners"
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/five/buffalo.htm

 

Wow that was very interesting Warhawk. Thanks for the link.

 

Swany,
Cowboys only ate beans! Didn't you ever watch BLAZING SADDLES? ???

Hip

 

thats why their saddles were ablaze!!

 

You should read the Frank Mayer piece on Buffalo "Runners"
http://www.pbs.org/weta/thewest/resources/archives/five/buffalo.htm

Warhawk, Great site, thanks! ;D

 

Thanks for the replies, going hog hunting next week we'll see how they do.

Took a 325 lb sow and two boars in the 250 lb range, with identical handloads out of a 26" CB the Sow was 100 yards one boar was running at me at 25 yards the other was chargeing out of brush at ten feet none took more than one shot and none moved more trhan a foot after being shot. well the one at ten feet slid about two or three in the Mud on his nose

 

Thanks for the replies, if I get to use them on game this year I will post. For some reason they shoot to the left of all my other loads, so the commitment of re-zeroing is required.

 

I know this is a Old Thread but I'm Planning on Deer Hunting Some this season with my Rossi Rio Grande 45-70 and I'm goana try some HSM 405 gr Cowboy Loads out!

 

They should work just fine. Make sure you do some shooting with them at different ranges so you know how much they drop.

 

Handgun hunters take plenty of game (including bison) with lighter loads and lower velocities....

Welcome to John Linebaugh's Custom Sixguns - About John Linebaugh

 

I think the .45-70 is well proven with 405+ gr bullets & 1250fps velocity. They will penetrate a long ways, I believe it boils down to shot placement. If you need a stopping cartridge for dangerous game you might want more velocity, but for normal game I think a 405gr bullet at over 1200fps will do the job.
If you put it in the right place the game will go down, maybe not bang flop, but it'll go down.