Marlin 1895G 45/70 for Elk at 150yds?

[FAL Guy]

Next year, my father and I plan to go elk hunting in New Mexico or Colorado. I'd like to take my Guide Gun and was wondering if anyone had any experience with the 300gr or 350gr 45/70 loadings on elk at 100 - 150yds. I know these critters are a bit tougher than the whitetail and hogs I generally hunt. I've got a .338 Lapua Magnum that will reach out a lot farther and do the job, but it's not near as light or handy to carry in the woods.

Thanks for any insight or advice.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Never used the lighter loads - -

My favorite load in my 1895GS is made up with the Speer 400 gr. JSP, moving along at about 1700. I use the AO Ghost Ring sight system, and would not feel uneasy about taking an elk out to 150 with the combo.

If I felt it was LIKELY I'd need to make a shot beyond that distance, I'd probably use my .35 Whelen or .30-06 instead.

Good hunting
Johnny

 

[H&Hhunter]

I shoot an 1895CB custom and use 405Gr Remington soft points loaded to about 1900FPS. They are a deadly combination on anything I've ever shot with them. I haven't shot an elk with that load but know several who have. It is probably one of the best dark timber elk guns on the planet and I wouldn't think twice about shooting an elk at 150 or even 200 yards with mine.

You're definatley not lacking in horse power.

Great little elk rifle in my opinon.

 

[JohnKSa]

350grain is probably the better choice from what you listed.

 

[FAL Guy]

Thanks for the info. I'm not averse to using the 400gr+ offerings...I just have a ton of 300gr and 350gr bullets in my reloading gear. I may work up a few heavier loads and see how well my little Guide Gun likes them.

Thanks again.

 

[JohnKSa]

Seems like the 350gr is becoming the new general purpose weight in 45-70.

You get the velocity of a hot 300 grain load with less recoil than if you tried to hotrod a 400 grainer. And it seems to work well on game.

What kind of 350 grain bullets do you have?

 

[FAL Guy]

Most of my 350gr bullets are Hornady Interlock flat points. I also have some Speer and Rainier flat points. The Hornady is my favorite, so far. Loaded to 2100fps, it hits hogs and whitetail like a hammer, but all of the shots have been under 100yds. My Nosler 300gr Partitions also work very well.

 

[mete]

PMC factory loads push that 350 at 2100, that would do the job.From all accounts I've heard it's accurate and effective.

 

[Dr.Rob]

That Remington factory 405gr is plenty for 150 yards, easily good to 200 if you practice. Thats a lot of lead and a lot of penetration.

 

[Matt G]

Know your terrain.

I've gone elk hunting in two places in southern CO, and both times it was just SILLY that I had packed along a Sendero, most places that I hunted. In the dark timber, a handier, shorter-range rifle was definitely the way to go. (I carried a backup SMLE No. 5 instead.) Rare is the deer park in the timber that will go 150 yards, and most shots would be under 80 yards. The one .45-70 Guide Gun that I've personally wrung out would give an honest inch and a half at a hundred from a rest with lead 405gr handloads. (with an intermediate-relief 2.6X scope) Given the size of the kill zone on an elk, I would say that this would qualify any Guide Gun as elk-worthy out to 200, anyway.

Now, if you're going to be hunting across canyons or on meadows in the passes, you're going to probably find the the Guide Gun a little bit limiting. Speaking as someone who has twice taken too long a gun elk-hunting, I would recommend that you bet on the shorter-range proposition. Frankly, if I was going back to either location that I went in the past (Pagosa Springs and Durango, CO), I would actually seek out your Guide Gun.