- Joined
- Jan 5, 2022
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- 791
I know this is a ML forum, but I only belong to this forum and some bow hunting forums so I'll start here with my question. I own a Henry 45-70 and have been reloading for a few years or it using Hornady 325gr FTX bullets. They have certainly done the job on the handful of deer that have been shot with it, but this past season I loaned it to my friend to use and it didn't demonstrate the kind of performance I would like. He collected a real nice buck with it (the first deer he has harvested in his entire life coincidentally), but the bullet did not have a complete pass through, grenading inside the deer. This problem has really plagued me the past two seasons with my smokeless ML and now my 45-70. I am in the process of switching my SML to either a Barnes 295gr all copper bullet or a 300gr bonded Fury- they appear to have the same POI at 100 yards. I need to do further testing at greater distances. My question here is do you think the same type of bullet will benefit me with my 45-70 as well? Here in IL we can only use a single shot, so a spire point bullet is totally acceptable since I won't be adding any to the tubular magazine. In fact, I'm even thinking about getting a Ruger No 1 in 45-70. I don't know if the accuracy will be all that much better with the Ruger than the Henry 22" Octagon barrel. The Ruger No 1 would also be 22", so I don't know if it's worth the money to switch from using the Henry to the Ruger (for another discussion). What are your thoughts on a .458 bullet that will give me great accuracy, exceptional terminal performance, along with a complete pass through? I'll probably join a couple other 45-70-related forums and pose the same question, but I'm sure some of you here will have some advice for me. Thanks.