45-70 Leverevolution For Black bear

As mentioned previously, I am a BIG FAN of the Marlin Model 1895 45-70 lever action rifle and also a big fan of the Hornady 325 grain flex tip Leverevolution ammo. Without a doubt it is a fantastic round in my 45-70 and would easily allow me to make shots on whitetails out to 200 yards and beyond. At 100 yards, on a good day 3 shot groups are under an inch consistently if I do my part.

I have read several accounts of the 325 grain flex tip bullets effectiveness on black bear hunts, and lately have been wondering about the newer lighter  250 grain Mono flex bullet for the 45-70. I imagine they would flatten the trajectory even further and with the bullet construction making up for the light bullet might do a great job.

Examples on the 325 grain flex tip:

From Cabelas customer reviews:

5 out of 5

457Mag

Would you recommend this product to a friend? Yes

45.70 Flextip for Black Bear--nothing better!

Date:June 16, 2009

Just returned from a Canadian Black Bear hunt, using the .45-70 Lever Evolution in a Marlin Guide Gun.

To put it simply- at 35 yards-two bullets, six holes, one dead bear. The first shot may have killed him, but I didn't wait to find out. Bullet #1 hit 4" below the spine & flipped him over, The second shot entered the wrist, shattered it, then blew on through the chest and out the back on the opposite side. The 300lb. bear managed to get 25 yards into the woods before collapsing with his death moans.

This is the second animal I have taken with this ammo-last summer I took a 250lb. Russian Sow with one shot that pulled 8" of lung tissue out the exit wound.

Three rounds on game--all left exit wounds over 1" diameter.

Maybe next year I'll try it on Zebra.

HERE is another one of the Hornady Ammunition Site:

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45-70 Leverevolution Vs. Black Bear

Product: Hornady LEVERevolution 45-70
Shooter: Clayton M
Posted: Jun 21, 2008

I was hunting with a 1874 Sharps. I have had great success with the LEVERevolution ammo in this gun. The most recent is on a black bear hunt up here in Montana. Long-story-short---a LEVERevoultion 45-70 to the shoulder at 200 yards and he dropped like a rock.

Below is a link from Hornady to the 250 grain Monoflex load in their Leverevolution line up. MY head keeps telling me that the 45-70 works best with slower moving heavy for caliber loads and I know the Buffalo Bore and Garrett cartridge companies make loads that will stop anything on the planet.

http://www.hornady.com/store/45-70-Government-250-GR-MONOFLEX/


As an example, the current lineup from Garret includes but not limited to:

• 420 grain SuperHard cast Hammerhead at 1650 fps
• 420 grain at 1850fps
• 540 grain at 1550 fps (ONLY for Marlin's built since 1998)
• 350 grain Woodleigh SuperJack Weld Core JSP at 2000fps
• 500 grain Hornady Copper clad Steel JFN at 1530

Does one need that sort of firepower for hunting black bear over bait? I don't think so and for those chores along with deer hunting, I am well pleased with the 325 grain Leverevolution load. Were I to go to Alaska on a brown bear hunt and take my 45-70, I would be on the phone to Garret Cartridge Co. for their recommendations of what to take with me.

Dan