I need a PIG load for my 45-70

[onegunred]

I have some Laser Cast 405gr boolits and would like a load for my Marlin 1895/ 22" bbl that is a Pig getter . I am not trying for a 2000 fps load but would like a load that is adequate. Shots should be about 100 yds or less. I have Unique and Universal on hand. My target load is with the same boolit and 13.5 gr. of Unique. Thanks, Jerry

[Skipper]

You target load is perfect. That's about an 1150' load and should poleaxe any hog you come across.

[TXGunNut]

If your target load shoots well in your gun it should do well on a pig. They aren't hard to kill as long as you do your part. I'm not familiar with the Laser Cast boolit but I've had good results using a Ranch Dog 460-350 cast of 50% ww's, 50% pure plus a little tin.

[onegunred]

This does make me happy. The loads do shoot well, I may up my powder charge to 14.5 or maybe 15 grs and check my group size. In about 15 days I will be living in New Mexico and they do have a pig problem, how big of a problem I don't know. Pork is something I like a lot more than venison or elk. I need to look up a friend from 20 years ago, I hear he has a ranch near Estancia.

[bigted]

your 45-70 is a red hot pig gun ... er anything else you hunt under 150 yards. 38 grains of IMR3031 powder under any 405 ish grain boolit is factory like which equals the old 70 grain BP loads. easy to shoot with PLENTY snoose for your desire.

your unique load is going to be a dandy too but the upped grainage which may come in around 1300 FPS is another load that fairly duplicates the old BP load.

like you mentioned ... make it an easy to shoot load and do tons of practice at all ranges and you will do fine on your hog population.

PS ... have you ever eaten wild pork?

[onegunred]

No I have not eaten wild pork. But, I have eaten a lot of CRAB, HALIBUT & SALMON.

[starmac]

I doubt you will find any pigs around estancia, but there are some east of there close to the Texas border. They could have migrated west by now, but I highly doubt that far. What part of NM are you locating in?

[Bullshop Junior]

Just about anything that weighs 405 grains is gonna slap the dog snot out of a pig no matter how fast it is going. I have killed several with 300gn bullets from a 454 casull at about 1600fps and it shoots clean through them leanth wise.

[TXGunNut]

I think you're going to like wild pork, I like it better than most wild and domestic meats. If you shoot a big ol' boar and he smells real bad just drag it off and shoot another that smells better.

[starmac]

Just about anything that weighs 405 grains is gonna slap the dog snot out of a pig no matter how fast it is going. I have killed several with 300gn bullets from a 454 casull at about 1600fps and it shoots clean through them leanth wise.

This is what I'm talking about, I would hate to be hit with one out of a slingshot. lol There are other animals in NM that like the 45/70 too.

[onegunred]

starmac, I'll be in Belen. My son works in Roswell & Carlsbad some and is supposed to be checking on pigs for me, well you know how that goes.

[Doc Highwall]

Another powder that works good with a 45-70 is 2400, about 24 to 25 grains will be close to a 70 grain black powder load.

[onegunred]

Doc, I have seen where some shooters use 2400 with as much as 27 gr. with the 405. I might buy a # of it, I can use it for my 44 SBH also. From what I have read over time that 1600 fps is not really necessary to take down pigs or anything else in the lower 48. Loads in the 1400 to 1500 fps range seem to be good enough.

[DLCTEX]

Even domestic boar hogs are unfit to eat. They have to be castrated and then fed for 120 days to get edible meat. I have eaten immature wild boar and females and find it really good. I have killed a pile of them with 22-250, so your 45-70 will be plenty medicine for them.

[starmac]

Never tried to eat a domestic boar hog, but them mountain oysters are some good eating. I never thought of it before, but before I drug a wild boar off for the yotes, I believe I would grab the oysters and try them.

[gtgeorge]

Even domestic boar hogs are unfit to eat. They have to be castrated and then fed for 120 days to get edible meat. I have eaten immature wild boar and females and find it really good. I have killed a pile of them with 22-250, so your 45-70 will be plenty medicine for them.
Wow I guess my taste buds must not have read that book. Thanks for that info so I can stay away from them boar hogs for table fare from now on. And here I thought they tasted just fine cleaned properly. :veryconfu

BTW that 45-70 will work just fine with most any load you choose. I don't shoot one but have shot many with 45 caliber bullets moving as slow as 900fps @ 200 gr as well as up to 1700 for 250gr. They all did the job very well and never had one walk away from it.