[supertodd]

So I recently got a guide gun and 7 boxes of ammo for $400. 4.5 boxes of Fed. w speer 300 grn, 3/4 box of rem 405's, and a box of rem 300hp. I already reloaded for 45-70 for my contender so I have a supply of Bulk rem 405 bullets, and I cast Ranchdog 350 grn gc bullets out of wheelweights(362 grns). I have 5744, rel7, rel15, 3031, blc2, varget, biggame for powders that I can think of off the top of my head. I like 5744 and reloader 7 for 45-70 and have gotten good groups with my contender loads. took a nice Blacktail buck with the ranchdog bullet and 28.5 grns of 5744 last year.

So I need to put together an elk load should I use the bullets I have or get something else. I would like to use powder I already have. The elk I hunt are Roosevelts in S.W. Oregon. Well I would like to hear of any proven elk loads. Thanks

 

[Brian in FL]

I think one of the best powders for the .45-70 is IMR 3031.

 

[Corbi]

I like Rx7 and 3031. My best results with 3031 are near max loads. I also use the 350 grain Ranch Dog boolits.

You should be able to make up an elk load with those components.

Corbi

 

[Seabass]

I hate to copy this so many times but the bullets and their testing is too good to ignore. Thanks again to Reflex for his work. Any of these would make excellent elk ( or any North America game) bullet/loads.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,67552.0.html

 

[reloader458]

sounds like you got a good deal, supertodd. I use RL-7 only for the 45-70 with great results. RL-7 will give you lower pressure for the velocity over many other powders used for the 45-70. All the loads and bullets you listed should be fine for Elk with the exception of the Remington 300 grain, my opinion.

Domenic

 

[picketpin]

Here is a story from my last season with my 1895g ss:

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php?topic=79943.0

and a little about the bullet.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,80149.0.html

James

 

[white fox]

Best load for elk. .35 Rem 200 gr. Remington. ;D

 

[findrichard]

I would vote for the 4.5 boxes of federal rounds sporting the 300 grain speer hot-core bullet. You have plenty to sight in and hunt with.

 

[rhendrix]

Best load for elk. .35 Rem 200 gr. Remington. ;D

Tough to shoot those out of a 45-70 and I think what is a good elk load for his 45-70 was the question and if the 35 Rem 200 grain is good, just think about how much better the 400 grain Federal rounds would be.

 

[janott]

I hate to copy this so many times but the bullets and their testing is too good to ignore. Thanks again to Reflex for his work. Any of these would make excellent elk ( or any North America game) bullet/loads.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,67552.0.html

Good stuff, +1

 

[JD338]

Well, since I have 3 1/2 boxes of the Nosler .458 cal 300 gr PP, that is my pick. 2200 fps out of my 1895 Guide should get the job done nicely.

JD338

 

[udy450m]

I can tell you from personal experience a 420 crater lite at 1800 with h322 will go through a bull Roosevelt from end to end inside 40 yards (wich is about max roosevelt range in my area). It will leave about a 2" hole through the first couple feet.

Of your choices I think I would pick the 350 RD with a heavy dose of RL-7

 

[supertodd]

My regular elk gun is a 35 whelen rem 760 with 250 partions. 200 grn cl is for blacktails silly white fox. I think I'm going to use the guide gun this year. Yep, udy450m, I have taken 2 bull roosevelts in the last decade both about 25 yards. My very first elk was with a cow tag- I picked the biggest cow in the herd, and found a 30-30 170grn wont penetrate a elk shoulder/leg bone, luckly I did get a high kidney shot and a lung shot then had to track it about 200 yards before it laid down- and had to shoot it again as it was trying to get up. After that elk I got my 35 whelen and will never be undergunned for elk again. Roosevelts are big tough animals in steep brushy terrian.

JD338 I'm RogueRiver on the Nosler forum.

 

[udy450m]

Supertodd, I hunt the northern coast.

Any how the 35 Whelen is a good one for elk. Probably about as good as it gets really. Although I don't have one My cousin (elk hunting partner) has shot the wheln for the last 20 years typically with 250 Rem, or Hornadys. Even clean broad side shots I have witnessed very few pass throughs on a Roosevelt. They are tough critters. Thats why I am so impressed with the flat meaplated .458 cast stuff, the penetration is unreal.

 

[janott]

supertodd,

I hunt elk every year but in the Rock Mountains and I usually have long shots in the 200+ yard range. Not sure what distances you will be hunting but I have hunted the Pacific North West and shots were much shorter where I was at. I hunt with many different calibers and depending on where I go is the deciding factor on the caliber. The 45-70 being one of them, and I shoot a number of different bullet weights and if I take the 45-70 with me one I might shoot is a RCBS 405-FN, this bullet is made for gas checks but I do not put them on any longer because I use these bullets to make in to paper patched bullets and I load with a dose of IMR 3031 and I have had fantastic results with accuracy. When I first made these I was getting in to PPB's and another MO member, mommicked helped me to do that and another member Hudson also sent me some of his PPB's and I started with them and after I ran out of what he sent I started to shoot my own and I'm totally impressed with them.
If I were to use my 45-70 exclusively for elk this is the load and bullet I would use.

The bullets in the picture are 500 grain PPB's and this is one of the other weights that I use in my
45-70's, Notice that these bullets are not smooth sided and have grease groves in them, well they can still be used as PPB's.

Just some more idea's I thought that I would give to you. If you have bullet sizers for the bullets that you already have then you could get in to paper patching.

 

[white fox]

Just kiddin everyone. ;D A .45-70 would whomp any elk within it's range. That is a big hunk of lead. The Whelen is a top notch elk rifle with 250 gr. Noslers.

 

[beretzs]

My elk load will be the 300gr PT at 2325 out of my Guide Rifle. Shoots really well in my rifle and seems to penetrate really well. I would look at the Speer 300gr Hot Cor or any of Beartooths bullets if I wanted to shoot cast. Good luck buddy. LEt us know when you find your load. Scotty

 

[findrichard]

beretzs, what powder and load are you using to get 2325 fps out of your guide gun?

 

[beretzs]

H4198, WW cases, CCI BR2's and 300gr PT's. Scotty

 

[findrichard]

Thanks