.45-70 for Elk??

[ArkyJack]

I have a chance to go Elk hunting in Arkansas this fall. I wonder if my Marlin M1895G will do for Elk at under 100 yards? With the reduced velocity from the 18.5 inch barrel, will it be enough gun? I figure on using the Lee 405 grain boolit, cast of wheel-weight alloy. What do ye thunk?
TIA, Jack

[kooz]

Inside of 100 yds a heavy .45LC or .44mag would be fine, yes the guide gun will be more than enough. Some of the guys I work with use 30/30's and 243. Good luck

[Bullshop]

8,000,000 bison !

[Larry Gibson]

8,000,000 bison !

Yeah that and remember elk were originally plains game also. I think the45-70 has killed enough of them over the years. I've managed to kill a couple myself with the 45-70 using cast bullets. You should do just fine with you Guide Gun. Good luck hunting.

Larry Gibson

[AZ-Stew]

Bullshop pretty much said it all.

Regards,

Stew

[High Desert Hunter]

It will work just fine, I am torn between using my recurve or my 45-70 for my oryx hunt this fall, and they have a tough hide on them.

Dave

[Lloyd Smale]

couldnt think of a better combo out to about 150 yards.

[StrawHat]

I wonder if my Marlin M1895G will do for Elk at under 100 yards? Jack

Heck, the 45-70 will do for everything under 100 yards. Or 150.

[plasma]

I use my 45-70 for elk here in Montana. My loads use BP in a Trapdoor.

[AZ-Stew]

I was tired when I sent my previous post. Let me add a bit more.

Bullshop is correct. Millions of bison were killed in the late 1800s by men using 45-70 rifles and black powder. In my experience, if you can get much more than 1,300 fps from that cartridge using black powder, you're doing well. If you're carbine is producing 1,300 fps using smokeless powder, it's in exactly the same class as the tools used by the buffalo hunters of the 1800s. Under 100 yards, I would expect your 405 gr bullet to shoot through a bison broadside at that velocity. Elk aren't nearly as tough. I'd expect you to be able to shoot through an elk the long way with that load 9 out of 10 times. None the less, pick your shots carefully to be sure the bullet goes through the vitals. An elk shot through the hams with your load will run just as far as it would shot through the hams with a magnum rifle.

Regards,

Stew