.45-70 FMJs on Game

[csmcclain]

Okay, so this is a post I could not make on an American hunting forum, as I would be tarred and feathered, so I figured I would bring it here.

I bought a .45-70, and I was curious about the efficacy of FMJ bullets on whitetail- or impala-sized game out to 100 yards. I understand that the controlled expansion of a jacketed or copper bullet is key for killing on smaller rounds, and that a flat-nose FMJ will just pencil through. That being said, this is a .458 inch pencil hole which is about what many smaller “deer” rounds (6mm/.243 - 6.5mm/.264) could expand to. Additionally, I see no difference between this and using solids on smaller antelope in a big bore rifle.

So are there any reasons not to do this?

 

[375Fox]

I’d make sure it’s legal in your state. Many states have laws that specify bullets designed to expand.

 

[Boone66]

Using a gas checked hard cast with a flat melpete works very well. I don't know where you would find FMJ bullets, unless they are the older round nosed ones, then they would push through and not cause any cavitation, likely even with a big 45 cal hole, their would be a tracking involved. Even with a 400gr expanding bullet, it's not going to expand that much and you can still eat around the hole. If you just have a bunch of them on hand and want to use them up, file the nose flat to make it a wide melpat and make them all weigh the same. I have done this with .308 bullets and they shot and worked excellent.

 

[csmcclain]

I’d make sure it’s legal in your state. Many states have laws that specify bullets designed to expand.

I should have noted that it is legal where I live.

 

[Bandera]

A FMJ bullet.
What design are you talking about? RN, RNFP?
The fully jacketed bullets that I have seen are in the 350 grain range, designed for the 450 Socom. That bullet is a RNFP design, although they call it a round shoulder. Marketing idgits ugh.

This bullet style is advertised by Underwood ammo as a hunting round. They mention for black bears and hogs. Neither of which are very hard to kill. I use a 6.8 SPC or 30-30 for hogs.

Berrys bullets makes the same profile. I guessing it is a thin copper jacket, it will deform easily or possibly come apart if hitting bone.

Could you use it for hunting, yes you could.
The real question is why would you when there are better choices available.

You stated “Okay, so this is a post I could not make on an American hunting forum, as I would be tarred and feathered, so I figured I would bring it here.”

Why would guys who hunt in Africa have a different view? Sure my 375 Ruger or 450-400 NE will shoot right through an a whitetail Deer sized animal. But if I am shooting at a animal that size it is with expanding bullets, most likely a Barnes TSX.

Ethically I would pass on an animal if all I had was Solids.

 

[AZDAVE]

CEB, Hammer and Lehigh all make softs and solids in the 250-325 gr that would work with your requirement.

I would suggest you read @michael458 VERY THROUGH testing on all matter of bullets.

 

[csmcclain]

A FMJ bullet.
What design are you talking about? RN, RNFP?
The fully jacketed bullets that I have seen are in the 350 grain range, designed for the 450 Socom. That bullet is a RNFP design, although they call it a round shoulder. Marketing idgits ugh.

This bullet style is advertised by Underwood ammo as a hunting round. They mention for black bears and hogs. Neither of which are very hard to kill. I use a 6.8 SPC or 30-30 for hogs.

Berrys bullets makes the same profile. I guessing it is a thin copper jacket, it will deform easily or possibly come apart if hitting bone.

Could you use it for hunting, yes you could.
The real question is why would you when there are better choices available.

You stated “Okay, so this is a post I could not make on an American hunting forum, as I would be tarred and feathered, so I figured I would bring it here.”

Why would guys who hunt in Africa have a different view? Sure my 375 Ruger or 450-400 NE will shoot right through an a whitetail Deer sized animal. But if I am shooting at a animal that size it is with expanding bullets, most likely a Barnes TSX.

Ethically I would pass on an animal if all I had was Solids.

350 gr. flat nose

This is more just a curiosity, at this point. That being said, I might test the efficacy on feral hogs and compare to soft points.

 

[Wyatt Smith]

No one would say anything negative if you asked about a hard cast bullet. Most commercial cast bullets are hard enough they don’t expand.
With a non expanding bullet the shape is critical. You want the widest point possible.

 

[1dirthawker]

cutting edge bullets make a flat point solid that would work for you and north fork bullets has flat nose solids AND a cup point solid that would likely be the best of both worlds, great penetration and limited expansion.