Poll Winner : Ballistic gelatin test results, Federal 300 grain 45-70

[Brass Fetcher]

45-70 Government Federal 300 grain (Speer Hot-Cor SP)

Firearm was 18" barrel lever action
Block calibrated at 9.4cm and 593 ft/sec impact velocity

Single shot fired at block, impacted at 1902 ft/sec. Penetrated 16" and out of the block, then 6" of polyester arresting material. 0.761" average diameter.

Thanks to all who particapated in the poll.

JE223

 

[RyanM]

That's a big hole.

 

[P95Carry]

Great! And thanks.

Translate that up a bit further to my top loads thru Ruger #1 and - I think justifiably we can use the term ''buffalo gun''

 

[Bluehawk]

ouch!!!!!!

 

[sm]

Thank you for doing this, and other tests.

45-70 out of a lever gun...
Just 'cause old - don't mean antiquated.

 

[Brass Fetcher]

You're welcome. Thank you for the support.

Personally, the 45-70 Government is my favorite rifle cartridge. Aside from the assortment of guns made to shoot it and the versatility to use 1 rifle for NA hunting and defense against bears and 2-legged animals, it is really hard to beat.

It never ceases to amaze me at the effectiveness of the 'old' calibers that made it - 45-70, .45ACP, .38 Special, and how the balance of bullet weight, diameter and cartridge recoil were almost optimized from a wound ballistics standpoint - waaay back when.

 

[JohnKSa]

how the balance of bullet weight, diameter and cartridge recoil were almost optimized from a wound ballistics standpoint - waaay back when.

The 300gr SP loading is a relative newcomer on the scene--I'm not sure that its performance is good evidence of how well things had been figured out a century ago.

On the other hand, even the old .405gr bullet BP equivalent loadings are amazingly effective on game, so on the whole I would say that your comment is on target.

I'd have to say that the 45/70 is one of my favorites too. There's just something about it...

 

[Gewehr98]

Couple of questions...

1. I wonder how my Ruger #1 2100fps 405gr Beartooth .45-70 handloads would treat that ballistic gelatin?

2. Why is this thread in the Handguns: General Discussion area of THR?

 

[Brass Fetcher]

Send me the ammunition you want tested and $100 and I will let you know how it performs out of an 18" barrel. I'm not sure what the #1s barrel length is, but with a good bullet and a fairly long barrel, the results are usually very close.

I like to shoot mine out of a handgun. Rifles just don't kick hard enough to suit me.