Hunting hogs with 45-70...HC or JSP bullets?

[000Buck]

Needs opinions/experiences here:

I plan on loading some 45-70 using either 300gr hardcast or 300gr JSP bullets, is either more attractive than the other if they are both going at a moderate speed of around 1800fps?
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Art Eatman]

Penetration seems to be the rule with hogs. Whichever goes all the way through is probably the best bet. If your particular type of JSP is an "easy opener", I'd go hardcast. ('Bout halfway guesswork, however.)

Art

 

[mete]

You could also use the Nosler partition for handloading or in the Winchester Partition loading.

 

[Harve Curry]

Barnes Bullets is another good choice. Then again hit in the right place with any 45-70 the hog won't know the difference

 

[critter]

I killed a hog (only about 75#) last fall with a Ruger #1 in 45-70 using Remington 300gr JHP. It penetrated both shoulders at 90 yds.

I used the same ammo (reloads) on a 165# whitetail buck at about 65 yds and it, too, penetrated completely through on a broadside shot just behind the shoulders. The wound channel looked like I got good expansion.

Both were, shall we say, quite effective!

I would use heavier, hard cast bullets on larger game such as big ole boar hogs. The 45-70 seems to be quite effective regardless of the bullet if it is placed well and has enough 'steam' behind it.

Good luck with yours.

 

[JohnKSa]

Go heavier and slower. You'll get the same effect and less chance of any kind of bullet problems. Plus the bullets will be cheaper if you get the Remington 405gr JSP bullets.

At around 1300fps, these will exit on just about any hog ever made.

 

[Guns_and_Labs]

Placement seems to be everything.

Last year I took my Marlin .45-70 pig hunting with Garrett hard cast loads. They worked fine on one that I spine shot, dropped her. But the next day I shot another with a shot from above, missing the spine but right through the lung, and the bugger ran 100 yards into the deepest poison oak available. My partner shot his two with 405 gr soft point handloads, and both ran about 50 yards. Conclusion: just can't tell with these critters.

This year I think I'll try my .35 Whelen, and see if I can't flip one.

 

[DigMe]

Yeah man...with a .45-70 it doesn't matter if it's JHP. You're GOING to get the penetratoin either way!

brad cook

 

[mustanger98]

A question a little different to this thread, but do ya'll know of anywhere I can get 300-405grain LEAD HPs (not jacketed)? Reason I'm asking, I've been looking but no joy. I'm wanting to hunt with my .45-70, but sight-in's a pain with all that recoil. I'm wanting to load 'em down to about 1300-1500fps with an expanding lead bullet.

 

[JohnKSa]

You can get molds for just about any bullet style you want.

Are you shooting lead because of the price? If so, you should price the Remington 405 grain JSPs. They're pretty cheap.

 

[Byron Quick]

I think the bullet has a definite effect on penetration. Two years ago I shot a 250 lb boar at about 50 yards with my .35 Whelen using 250 gr. Remington CoreLokt's. One hit in the right shoulder and one in the left shoulder. Both bullets were stopped in the gristle plate before exiting. Either would have been fatal. The boar had run about 30 yards after the first shot when I hit him with the second. He was DRT when the second hit.

Remington claims 2400 fps muzzle velocity.