The .35 Remington is a nice choice for hunting deer for sure but, as has already been noted, Ohio hunters are restricted to using only cartridges having straight wall sides (the DNR provides a list of mandated, "approved" cartridges). Most of us Buckeyes are grateful that we can now use centerfire rifles to hunt deer; a welcome change from the "shotgun only" law of recent yesteryear.
45-70
- Thread starter buckshott
- Start date
The .35 Remington is a nice choice for hunting deer for sure but, as has already been noted, Ohio hunters are restricted to using only cartridges having straight wall sides (the DNR provides a list of mandated, "approved" cartridges). Most of us Buckeyes are grateful that we can now use centerfire rifles to hunt deer; a welcome change from the "shotgun only" law of recent yesteryear.
The reasons you posited are the reasons the DNR used. Lots of deer hunting in Ohio is woodlands interspersed with more open meadows and tilled land and their thinking is that slower traveling bullets travel shorter distances and are, accordingly, safer to use in more populated farm country environs.
Yankee Doodle
New member
I have, and regularly hunt with a Ruger #3 single shot carbine in 45-70. I have taken many deer, 4 caribou, 2 moose, 3 boar, 1 black bear, and one brown bear with this rifle. Never had to fire twice at any except the brownie. He took 3. 1 in shoulder to anchor, 1 in chest to kill, and one in neck to be sure.
If you can handle the recoil, and can place your shot properly, you can take anything on planet earth with a hot loaded 45-70
Having said this, for deer I would go with the standard 405 gr. load in the Henry. I like it better than any of the new Marlins.
However, A Ruger #1 or #3 is, in my opinion, the classy way to go.
Whatever you choose, good luck and God Bless.
If you can handle the recoil, and can place your shot properly, you can take anything on planet earth with a hot loaded 45-70
Having said this, for deer I would go with the standard 405 gr. load in the Henry. I like it better than any of the new Marlins.
However, A Ruger #1 or #3 is, in my opinion, the classy way to go.
Whatever you choose, good luck and God Bless.
NoSecondBest
New member
I specified in my post that it was the 158g XTP I used that didn't blow up. Of course any bullet can blow up....shoot any bullet into a steel plate or cinder block and it will blow up. The 158g XTP bullet is chronographed at 2300+fps out of my max.
It's not quite like that.
Of course any bullet can blow up on a plate or block.
What we're talking about here is driving a given bullet well beyond the performance levels built into it for use within specific velocities.
A typical JHP will be designed to provide a certain degree of impact & travel expansion within a certain velocity range.
Too slow, it won't expand well.
Too fast, it'll break up on impact.
Rifle velocities in .357 through a longer barrel can gain over 600 FPS over a handgun with the same load.
The lighter the bullet, the faster the velocity.
It's very easy to drive a 110 or a 125 JHP past its designed performance velocities, resulting in violent expansion or breakup on impact, leaving a surface wound that may result in very little penetration.
A heavier bullet is advisable to keep velocities down through a rifle barrel, and/or a bonded or otherwise well-constructed bullet in something no lower than a 158 if going with JHP.
The Hornady XTP is a well-constructed bullet built to hold together for a combination of useful expansion and deep penetration.
The XTP line has a good rep as a tough bullet.
Even there, depending on what you intend to shoot, you don't want to go too light through a rifle.
As 44 said- you try driving a 110 or 125 JHP past its design parameters through a rifle barrel, and you will NOT get the same performance as you would dropping down into velocity ranges those bullets were designed for.
They will tend to blow up on impact, little expansion, on ANIMALS, not steel or cement blocks.
You could even get terminal ballistic degradation with a cheaper 158 JHP of another brand through the rifle.
If you're looking at deer, a good 158 JHP (GOOD one) is perfectly fine.
If you're planning on black bear defense, you most certainly do not want a lightweight JHP.
A heavier well-built jacketed softpoint or hardcast lead will provide much more reliable penetration, and the 180s are the ones to look at there.
Denis
Of course any bullet can blow up on a plate or block.
What we're talking about here is driving a given bullet well beyond the performance levels built into it for use within specific velocities.
A typical JHP will be designed to provide a certain degree of impact & travel expansion within a certain velocity range.
Too slow, it won't expand well.
Too fast, it'll break up on impact.
Rifle velocities in .357 through a longer barrel can gain over 600 FPS over a handgun with the same load.
The lighter the bullet, the faster the velocity.
It's very easy to drive a 110 or a 125 JHP past its designed performance velocities, resulting in violent expansion or breakup on impact, leaving a surface wound that may result in very little penetration.
A heavier bullet is advisable to keep velocities down through a rifle barrel, and/or a bonded or otherwise well-constructed bullet in something no lower than a 158 if going with JHP.
The Hornady XTP is a well-constructed bullet built to hold together for a combination of useful expansion and deep penetration.
The XTP line has a good rep as a tough bullet.
Even there, depending on what you intend to shoot, you don't want to go too light through a rifle.
As 44 said- you try driving a 110 or 125 JHP past its design parameters through a rifle barrel, and you will NOT get the same performance as you would dropping down into velocity ranges those bullets were designed for.
They will tend to blow up on impact, little expansion, on ANIMALS, not steel or cement blocks.
You could even get terminal ballistic degradation with a cheaper 158 JHP of another brand through the rifle.
If you're looking at deer, a good 158 JHP (GOOD one) is perfectly fine.
If you're planning on black bear defense, you most certainly do not want a lightweight JHP.
A heavier well-built jacketed softpoint or hardcast lead will provide much more reliable penetration, and the 180s are the ones to look at there.
Denis
AmmunitionDepot
New member
I have been really happy with the Marlin 1895 with a 18.5" barrel in 45/70. It definitely drops the deer where they stand.
My favorite rifle is my Marlin Guide Gun. I have several rifles in chambered in other bottle neck cartridges but for woods hunting the Guide Gun is the one I always carry.
Reloading for it is the only way to go. Mild to wild and everything in between.
My Guide Gun has the factory ported barrel. Some don't like the porting but I am not in that lot.
Viva the 45-70. They got it right over one hundred years ago and it will be here one hundred years from now.
Reloading for it is the only way to go. Mild to wild and everything in between.
My Guide Gun has the factory ported barrel. Some don't like the porting but I am not in that lot.
Viva the 45-70. They got it right over one hundred years ago and it will be here one hundred years from now.
I have several 45/70's currently have an older Browning B78 singleshot with receiver sight, and Browning 86 saddle ring carbine which is my favorite, and I have shot several hogs with it. Used to hunt with a Ruger #1 in 45/70 with a Leupold 1.5 x 5 scope and that was a fine deer rifle; shot several deer with it. For hunting deer and hogs, I have most often used factory 300gr hollow points, because they are easily found in stores, and they shoot flatter then the old 405gr loads.
I have have owned Marlins in the past usually scoped, but recently acquired a Marlin guide type gun, with a full length mag, and I added the XS sight rail and ghost ring sights to it, and then tonight I added an Aimpoint Micro H1 to the rail. I wanted this gun, for hog hunting at close range, and I believe it will do very well for that. The Aimpoint seems to be very fast, and I believe it will excel under the conditions I have been killing hogs at.
If I was going to buy a 45/70 for deer hunting, as my main rifle, I believe I would probably get a Marlin, or Ruger #1 and put a low power variable scope on it.
I have have owned Marlins in the past usually scoped, but recently acquired a Marlin guide type gun, with a full length mag, and I added the XS sight rail and ghost ring sights to it, and then tonight I added an Aimpoint Micro H1 to the rail. I wanted this gun, for hog hunting at close range, and I believe it will do very well for that. The Aimpoint seems to be very fast, and I believe it will excel under the conditions I have been killing hogs at.
If I was going to buy a 45/70 for deer hunting, as my main rifle, I believe I would probably get a Marlin, or Ruger #1 and put a low power variable scope on it.
While I've had experience with a friends Sharps and Winchester .45-70, mine have been more modern guns. I had one of the 1895 Marlins, the regular one, before they got guide gun short or cowboy shooting long. Good gun, had it for a long time, used an old Weaver 2.5x Post scope. Shot 385gr cast RN up to 1800fps. Kicked on both ends. Don't crawl on the stock!! 
Also had a Siamese Mauser, with a lovely 26" target barrel. Cool gun, weighed tons.
My favorite rifle is my Ruger No.3 in .45-70. Bone stock other than a good thick recoil pad, and 2.5x post scope. Accurate, and can take the heaviest loads, better than I can.
Have shot the Hornady 350gr RN at 2200fps! MAX LOAD!! REALLY kicks on both ends.
The Hornady slug holds together well even at that speed.
Do be aware that the Speer 400gr JSP is not suited for high speed. It's built to give controlled expansion at regular .45-70 black powder velocities, and a bit above, but if you push it to 1800 you will likely have core and jacket separation. Saw one deer that happened to. The bullet "failed" but did anchor the deer.
I know that if you push that bullet even faster 2100fps out of a .458 Win Mag (and that's not max for the .458) the Speer 400gr JSP is overdriven and acts like a good varmint bullet, expanding rather explosively.
SO,if you are going to load the .45-70 heavy, in a suitable gun, be sure to pick suitable bullets for the velocities you are going to use. Not all of them are.
Also had a Siamese Mauser, with a lovely 26" target barrel. Cool gun, weighed tons.
My favorite rifle is my Ruger No.3 in .45-70. Bone stock other than a good thick recoil pad, and 2.5x post scope. Accurate, and can take the heaviest loads, better than I can.
Have shot the Hornady 350gr RN at 2200fps! MAX LOAD!! REALLY kicks on both ends. The Hornady slug holds together well even at that speed.
Do be aware that the Speer 400gr JSP is not suited for high speed. It's built to give controlled expansion at regular .45-70 black powder velocities, and a bit above, but if you push it to 1800 you will likely have core and jacket separation. Saw one deer that happened to. The bullet "failed" but did anchor the deer.
I know that if you push that bullet even faster 2100fps out of a .458 Win Mag (and that's not max for the .458) the Speer 400gr JSP is overdriven and acts like a good varmint bullet, expanding rather explosively.
SO,if you are going to load the .45-70 heavy, in a suitable gun, be sure to pick suitable bullets for the velocities you are going to use. Not all of them are.
PatientWolf
New member
I’d probably look at a .357 Mag or .44 mag over a 45-70 for deer.
Ohio is over 75% flat land and rolling hills, that's why we were slug only for years. My area
in SE Ohio is considered Appalacian region. I wish they would zone it like other states. This
is a region of steep ridges and deep hollows. I would just like to be able to use a 30/30 or
35Rem. As far as 45/70 a 300gr bullet is plenty for deer. I read all kinds of guys worrying if
their special wide metaplate or some other gimmick bullet in 45/70 is enough to anchor the
deer. I have had several original 45/70 single shots and killed deer with cast bullets, most under 100yds and never had a bullet stop in the deer and this was 1200-1300 FPS loads. They ain't Cape Buffalo. Unless you just like to use 45/70 & 444s and are a Ohio Hunter I
think there are much better choices. I'm going with 375W with Spitzer bullets for 375H&H.
They aren't going to preform much as far as expansion in 375Win but the 235 gr bullet will
punch a hole clear through a deer. Unless you make a terrible shot it's dead. A lot of local deer hunters only hunt Ohio and only rifle experience they have is with HV Varmit guns. They watch to much TV and think a 45/70 is a long range cartridge. Most of these hunters
would have been better served with a 44mg. When average shoots are 100yds or less 45/70 is not necessary. It takes more skill to shot LV rifles than a HV when you start shooting 150
yds or more. A 270 or 3006 doesn't require much with their flat trajectory to take deer out
to 300+ yds.
in SE Ohio is considered Appalacian region. I wish they would zone it like other states. This
is a region of steep ridges and deep hollows. I would just like to be able to use a 30/30 or
35Rem. As far as 45/70 a 300gr bullet is plenty for deer. I read all kinds of guys worrying if
their special wide metaplate or some other gimmick bullet in 45/70 is enough to anchor the
deer. I have had several original 45/70 single shots and killed deer with cast bullets, most under 100yds and never had a bullet stop in the deer and this was 1200-1300 FPS loads. They ain't Cape Buffalo. Unless you just like to use 45/70 & 444s and are a Ohio Hunter I
think there are much better choices. I'm going with 375W with Spitzer bullets for 375H&H.
They aren't going to preform much as far as expansion in 375Win but the 235 gr bullet will
punch a hole clear through a deer. Unless you make a terrible shot it's dead. A lot of local deer hunters only hunt Ohio and only rifle experience they have is with HV Varmit guns. They watch to much TV and think a 45/70 is a long range cartridge. Most of these hunters
would have been better served with a 44mg. When average shoots are 100yds or less 45/70 is not necessary. It takes more skill to shot LV rifles than a HV when you start shooting 150
yds or more. A 270 or 3006 doesn't require much with their flat trajectory to take deer out
to 300+ yds.
armednfree
New member
I have 5 deer with a Marlin 1895. Handloaded 325 grain FTX. Ranges 35-85 yards and all bullets went through the chest at some angle. All pretty much bang flops. The one buck that I killed was not a surprize. He did not have a hole in his heart, he had 3/4 pound of hamburger for a heart.
That being said I will no longer take shots angled towards me. The shoulder meat is toast.
That being said I will no longer take shots angled towards me. The shoulder meat is toast.
I've played with 45/70's for many years in a lot of different firearms...using black powder and smokeless. I personally think it's probably one of the most versatile cartridges out there. Lots of different ways to load one from black powder to smokeless...cast or jacketed...hot loads or very mild. I've shot a lot of 405 cast using a pipsqueak load of Unique powder that you could shoot all day to play with...and it has pressure loads that work well out of things like a trapdoor. Loads of possibilities with that cartridge.
Bob Willman
New member
For many years Ohio was shotgun only for deer. Some time back they allowed handguns with the legally defined ammunition being .35 caliber or larger and a straight walled case. Three years ago they allowed rifles "in pistol calibers" with the same legal definition. Therefore any straight walled cartridge .35 caliber or larger is considered legal. This opened up a whole array of legal ammunition that probably were never used in pistols such as 45-90, 45-110, 50-70, 50-90, 50-110 and others, The 50-AE, 480 Ruger, 444 Marlin, 460, 500 S&W are also legal. The 44-40 is not - slight bottleneck. To the firearm knowledgeable folks it makes no sense but it makes hunting much more interesting.
I have carried a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 for the last 3 years in Northwest Ohio loaded with Hornady 300gr HP bullets on top of 49gr of 3031. It worked well on my last hunt in Pennsylvania.
Bob
WB8NQW
LineStretcher
New member
Marlin has a sense of humor! Go to their website and look up the Big Bore 45-70 Trapper. Look at what animals it's rated for. I laughed my butt of when I saw the last one.