I went back to the range this week and did another water jug penetration test using the 45-70 Leverevolution load. I placed the water jugs at 50 yards as opposed to the normal 25 yards from the muzzle. My fall baited bear hunt in Maine will have bait stations from 25 to 50 yards from the tree stand.
I only had (5) jugs with me and at 50 yards, the 325 grain FTX load blew up and penetrated all five and I was unable to recover the bullet. I also read on a recent forum post that someone else who does water jug testing tried this at 100 yards, an the 325 grain FTX load penetrated all (9) jugs, and was not recoverable.
Previously at 25 yards, it had blown up (4) one gallon water filled milk jugs and lay neatly on the 2X4 in front of the 5th jug. Bullet was nicely mushroomed and intact, with no core or jacket separation.
Makes sense that the further one is from the target, the lower the velocity and the bullet would therefore penetrate farther. Hitting a wall of water jugs at 25 yards is tougher on the bullet than at 50 yards. In other words a bullet that may not do well real close hitting a 300 pound plus bear, might be perfectly fine say at 50 yards and beyond.
In this case based on my testing and what I have read, it did well at 25 yards, 50 yards and 100 yards. When you factor in the extreme accuracy of this load, it is a winner.
Again if I were hunting grizzly or brown bear, I would load up with either BB 350 grain JFN penetrator load or perhaps one of their special 430 grain loads or even Garret's Hammerhead loads. I would want more penetration and less expansion if after the larger bears.
Nuff said about Leverevolution loads out of a 45-70, at least for NOW. I will report the results if I am successful in September in the state of Maine.
Dan
Revelation 22:12 KJV "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according to his work.........."
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