Hot 45/70 loads?

Hi all, new here... This site is a blessing.
Planning my second trip - Namibia this time.
I'm planning on taking a rifle for backup to my longbow. Now, I dearly love my C. Sharps in 45/70, and I was wondering if
anyone has had actual game experience with the Hot/glamour loads such as the ones put out by Buffalo Bore. The JHP they
load, coupled with the extra FPS seem to be a better bet for the heavier stuff than the original flat point lead bullets.
Then again, they worked well on our Bison.

Now, before anyone jumps - I am NOT talking DG here, biggest critter would likely be Eland.

Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the forum!
I have the same rifle though have not hunted with it, a bison is on the menu for someday. I think you would have great success with those loads however I would check with C. Sharps to confirm they are safe for the rifle, I believe they would be but I still would check. Eland are big but not overly hard to kill for their size.

What weight is the bullet you are thinking about using? Keep us posted.

Welcome to AH Buzz1858! I to love to hunt with my Sharps 1874 in a 45/70 I used it in 05 to take a Bison in Colorado, I reload my own and the load I used was a 300gr Barnes TSX loaded with 55gr H4198 with a speed of 2400 ft/s +- great load for my Rifle sweet as sugar one shot drop at just over 100yrds poked a hole clean through it. Good luck on your hunt.

buzz welcome to AH. i would take the rifle and go and enjoy. i always thought those sharps rifles look great.

Thanks guys, I was just curious about those loads. The only ones I've shot were the Buffalo Bore - They certainly shoot flatter than the 405 lead rounds. The difference in drop out to 300 yds is pretty large.
As for the Rifle, mine's an 1875 model. It's a blast to shoot, plus it's got a bit of "wow" factor when I uncase it for a hunt.
(Thank you Quiggly )
I've taken a few deer-sized animals with it. Although it's certainly capable of reaching way out there with excellent accuracy, I prefer to limit my shots to under 200 yds/metres.

Mine is the 1874 C.Sharps. Got it some time ago, shoots very well using black powder and 500 gr cast lead bullets. Havent shot it for a while, been playing with too many other things. My latest hearthrob is a newer '95 Winchester in .405 Win. Much fun!

I'd love to go the BPCR route, but I doubt I'd be able to get them into Africa.
Don't know if it's true or not, but a lot of folks claim that once you shoot jacketed bullets thru a Sharps, it ruins the barrel for BP plain lead loads. Interesting theory anyway - good way to start a fuss...

Originally Posted by buzz1858

I'd love to go the BPCR route, but I doubt I'd be able to get them into Africa.
Don't know if it's true or not, but a lot of folks claim that once you shoot jacketed bullets thru a Sharps, it ruins the barrel for BP plain lead loads. Interesting theory anyway - good way to start a fuss...

I have not heard that one before but I can tell you its BS! C.Sharps recommends that new owners of their guns season the barrel with smokeless jacketed bullet loads for the best accuracy.
The black powder thing in Africa may be an interesting discussion because I know that you cannot get it onto the plane and the front-stuffer guys buy it down there. But for cartridge bp loads.. hmmm. I dont know. Probably should not be tempted to try to get them onto the plane either. I dont know if RSA or others have issue with it. Perhaps one of the outfitters could fill us in on that.

Buzz Take a look at this link if you want to shoot cast bullets; Home I use the 350gr these have a brinell of 24 vs solid brass with a brinell of 22 I haven't had any problems with fowling and they shoot great.

Thanks, I'll have to give them a look.
I don't load myself (Too many hobbies as it is) but I've got a guy who'll load them to my specs.

I don't think I'd try to get blackpowder cartridges on a plane - might get away with it but I'd hate to see what they would do to you if you got caught. Maybe the answer is to take the components, and get the powder there and load. I dunno.

As for the cast/jacketed barrel business, I just threw that in as an aside. I laughed when I read it too - it's just another of those myths that some "experts" like to throw around in an attempt mystify their particular niche in the gun world.

I don't use BP either bad enough cleaning guns with smokeless powder. I use the same load as I do for Barnes TSX 350gr I have had this bullet cooking at over 2800 ft/s.

Range Velocity Energy
(yards) (fps) (ft.-lb.)
Muzzle 2800 6093

I've never read anything prohibiting carrying BP in cartridge loads on airlines, and I've certainly never been asked what kind of powder my ammo are loaded with. There was a good article a couple of years ago about hunting Cape Buffalo with a 50-110 in a Winchester 1886 using BP loads, I believe in Shooting Times magazine.
Having said that I don't know why anyone would want the bother of BP. My son and I took several plains game with a 45-70 loaded with 300gr Noslers loaded to 2000 fps on a trip to Namibia a couple of years ago. Red Hartebeest, Warthog, and Kudu were all handled nicely with the 300gr Nosler. No reason to shoot loads that will loosen your fillings just to shoot plains game.

Ikeda, the only answer as to why one would use BP cartridges is that they are fun. It's kind of hard to explain. I find myself regressing as I grow older - I'm back to longbows and flintlocks here in the states for the most part. I just like the extra challenge of getting very close and making it count.
However, and it's a big however, I don't use them indiscriminatley (sp?) I know my limits as to range/accuracy. In Africa, if I'm not in a hide with the bow I'll happily use modern smokeless loads in the 45/70 during walk and stalk shooting. I respect the game enough to use the right equipment for the situation.

Originally Posted by buzz1858

Ikeda, the only answer as to why one would use BP cartridges is that they are fun. It's kind of hard to explain. I find myself regressing as I grow older - I'm back to longbows and flintlocks here in the states for the most part. I just like the extra challenge of getting very close and making it count.
However, and it's a big however, I don't use them indiscriminatley (sp?) I know my limits as to range/accuracy. In Africa, if I'm not in a hide with the bow I'll happily use modern smokeless loads in the 45/70 during walk and stalk shooting. I respect the game enough to use the right equipment for the situation.

I know how you feel. Up until about two years ago I did not even own a rifle with a scope. My battery for my first three African hunts consisted of a 33 Winchester, a 45-70 Winchester, and two different 50-110 Winchesters....(all loaded with smokeless however)!

Originally Posted by Bobpuckett

I don't use BP either bad enough cleaning guns with smokeless powder. I use the same load as I do for Barnes TSX 350gr I have had this bullet cooking at over 2800 ft/s.

Range Velocity Energy
(yards) (fps) (ft.-lb.)
Muzzle 2800 6093

Bob,

Are you writing that you get 2800 FPS out of 45-70 with a 350 grain bullet.

Those velocities exceed the 458 Lott velocities with the same weight bullet.

Originally Posted by Mike70560

Bob,

Are you writing that you get 2800 FPS out of 45-70 with a 350 grain bullet.

Those velocities exceed the 458 Lott velocities with the same weight bullet.

I have exceeded 3200fps but the Accuracy is shot to hell and after the wife shot it a few times the next day her risk and back of her hand were black & blue it had a good kick. next time I do some shooting through the chrony I try to post some pics. But don't get me wrong do not do this with just any rifle start low and work your way up.

Interesting. What load are you using? My latest Barnes manual does not have a single load that cracks 2200 fps with the 350 grain TSX in their loads for the Ruger #1.

2800? 3200?
Not saying it cannot be done, But I sure wouldn't want to shoot them....
My sharps has a checkered steel buttplate - even the semi-hot loads from Buffalo Bore leave me with serious road rash on my shoulder if shooting more than a few rounds with a T-shirt / light shirt on.

Methinks Puckett may be celebrating a bit early this year!?!?!?! A .45-70 cannot drive a 350 gr bullet to 3200fps, just simply cannot be done. He is pulling our leg! Ha Ha Bob, good one!!

Just thnk of it - a .45 Swift!