Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: ebusa on November 03, 2010, 10:19:03 AM

Title: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: ebusa on November 03, 2010, 10:19:03 AM: Hey Guys,

I’m going elk hunting this weekend and thought I’d bring my 1895 guide gun 45-70.

I’ve got it sighted in with Hornady LE 325 grain. Will this ammo be good for elk out to 150 yards?

Or should I step up to a 350 or 405 grain in a different cartridge? I was hoping not to re-sight in as I don’t have the time for that, leaving Thursday night.

Thanks
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: Curly on November 03, 2010, 10:29:20 AM: That sounds like really good elk medicine to me........

I wish I had a 45-70 for hunting around here.
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: olywa on November 03, 2010, 12:06:51 PM: That's my factory load of choice for my Ruger No. 1 in 45-70. I get sub-1" groups from a rest with this load. I haven't taken an elk with it, but I wouldn't hesitate to do so if the opportunity presented itself. I had planned on playing around with the Nosler 300gr Partition, but once I saw how well the Hornady Lever Evolution performed in my rifle I found it hard to believe that I could improve the results.
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: dawei on November 03, 2010, 12:07:52 PM: Quote from: ebusa on November 03, 2010, 10:19:03 AM
Hey Guys,

I’m going elk hunting this weekend and thought I’d bring my 1895 guide gun 45-70.

I’ve got it sighted in with Hornady LE 325 grain. Will this ammo be good for elk out to 150 yards?

Or should I step up to a 350 or 405 grain in a different cartridge? I was hoping not to re-sight in as I don’t have the time for that, leaving Thursday night.

Thanks

It will not be good, it will be OUTSTANDING!
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: ebusa on November 03, 2010, 12:32:52 PM: Thanks for the reply's! I'll give them a try, I know they shoot extremely well in my rifle so there's only one way to find out.
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: ebusa on November 03, 2010, 01:33:13 PM: Since we all love pics...here's my 1895GS Guide Gun

Skinner rear Peep Sight, with Fiber Optic Fire Sight up front...

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi16.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb17%2Febusa%2FPicture005-9.jpg&hash=24d3a459d12c622fce85b317dd2b94a6bcfc335e)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi16.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb17%2Febusa%2FPicture002-9.jpg&hash=3a84395437dfd43752278feab9f3d8add0c0cfdd)
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: Curly on November 03, 2010, 01:37:34 PM: Sweet! :drool:
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: carpsniperg2 on November 03, 2010, 01:39:46 PM: yeah they should work great! good looking gun ebusa. bobcat's going to love that ;)
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: Fl0und3rz on November 03, 2010, 01:55:30 PM: Quote from: ebusa on November 03, 2010, 01:33:13 PM
Since we all love pics...here's my 1895GS Guide Gun

Skinner rear Peep Sight, with Fiber Optic Fire Sight up front...

The 325 gr. LR should be sufficient for elk.

Attached is a picture of my 1895 GS for you Marlin 45-70 fans. It has a WWG big loop lever and trigger and the sights are the XS ghost ring and post.
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: BushMonster on November 03, 2010, 03:41:03 PM: Both those guns are VERY nice. Definitely on my want list. :drool:
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: CRITTERSTICKER on November 03, 2010, 03:49:36 PM: i agree..that gun and load will be more then good for a elk..i have a sharps 45-70 and it is fun to shoot. alot less recoil than some may think. my brother also has a .444 that will put you on your butt if you arent careful. :o
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: Bigshooter on November 04, 2010, 04:32:39 PM: Lever evolution's are one of the very few factory rounds that are loaded heavy for the 45-70. Must of the factory stuff out there is very light, and is made to be shot in the old 45-70's.
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: Gutpile on November 04, 2010, 04:41:07 PM: hate to be the odd guy out but I did some testing with that load in my 45/70 and I wasn't impressed. I shot it into phone books and it completely disintigrated. I'd use it for deer but not elk unless I had the perfect shot and we all know that the perfect shot rarely exists. I'm sure it'll be fine but I wouldn't use them myself for fear of hitting bone and not getting proper penetration :twocents:
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: Bigshooter on November 04, 2010, 04:47:22 PM: Quote from: Gutpile on November 04, 2010, 04:41:07 PM
hate to be the odd guy out but I did some testing with that load in my 45/70 and I wasn't impressed. I shot it into phone books and it completely disintigrated. I'd use it for deer but not elk unless I had the perfect shot and we all know that the perfect shot rarely exists. I'm sure it'll be fine but I wouldn't use them myself for fear of hitting bone and not getting proper penetration :twocents:

Thats interesting. I haven't heard anyone say anything like that about the evolutions. But that gives me more reason to keep shooting my 525gr cast bullets through mine.
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: Gutpile on November 04, 2010, 04:51:16 PM: I'd definately stick with those instead of the leverevolutions for elk. All that was left was itty bitty pieces in the testing I did. That cast bullet would probably go through 4 books. Anyways, just my :twocents:
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: birdwacker on November 05, 2010, 01:05:52 PM: hardcast or double tap ammo makes a nice 405gr soft point rated at 1800fps that should work.
Title: Re: Hornady Lever Evolution 325-grain 45-70 for elk?
Post by: yorketransport on November 07, 2010, 08:48:18 AM: I'm with Gutpile on this one. The Leverevolutions shoot extremely well in all calibers, but they are a little soft. Think of them like a 45 caliber ballistic tip. If you treat them that way and avoid hard angles and bones you should do fine.

For the record I've played the the Flex Tip bullets in 30-30, 35 Rem, 45 Colt, 44mag, 444 Marlin, 45-70, and 450 Marlin. They worked great in the handguns which all of these were tested in. The bullets expanded well at the lower velocities. But when tested in rifles they opened up pretty fast, just like a ballistic tip.

Andrew