The object of my affections has acquired her own stainless Guide Gun in .45-70 and even managed to find a coworker with a Williams receiver sight that wasn't being used. I bought her a fire sight and now she's in business.

She tried some of the loads I use in my GG before buying but now has decided they are too much of a good thing in the recoil department. After a bit of experimentation, she's now shooting a commercial 400gr LFN bullet over 13.0 gr of Unique for about 1,100fps and recoil like a very light 20ga shotgun load with good accuracy.

Here in West Virginia deer hunting is usually done at under 100yds (usually more like 50 yards). Is this load enough? or should we move up to something with more pep?

(and we promise to never ever take this load and rifle to Africa and molest the DG, what ever that critter is )

I've only used the 300 factory or equivalent on deer .We have the same conditions , closer to 50 yds than anything else . I'm now using the Win Partition. The 300s are all that's needed .BTW winchester had tha same 300 @ 1850 , 100 years ago !!!Anyway the 300 should be a bit easier on recoil. Does the gun fit her ? If the stock is too long it will make the recoil worse.You could also put a better recoil pad on such as the Limbsaver.

The 405 grain Remington factory load is lucky to get 1100 fps in the 1895GS and it has accounted for deer by the thousands. Place the shot where it belongs and the load you cite will kill deer just fine.

Mete,
She tried some of the Winchester 300gr loads and didn't like them either. I may let her get more comfy with the present load and then get her to migrate to some kinda 300gr loading at 1,600 ~ 1,800 fps.

Heck, I've killed deer handily with my .44 Mag pistol using a 325gr LSWC @ 1,200fps.

Jackfish
Thanks for the input, I wasn't sure what the Remington load was actually doin' fps wise. These are cheap cast bullets, but they seem to penetrate in a straight line when I've shot them into a line of gallon jugs and they don't deform much, just kinda bulge in the front portion of the slug.

Test

Sounds like you and your bride are already good to go, but if you have time to tinker a little... If the bullet you're using is the usual commercially cast flatnose bevelbase you might increase terminal effectiveness a little by switching to LBTs or similar pattern bullet sporing a more aggressive meplat for the hunting season. I've been experimenting with a lightly loaded 300 grain cast flat point bevel base over Trapdoor data charges of 2400 and a puff of dacron. It groups around two inches at 50 and under three at 100. I haven't chrono'd it yet but it strikes an inch high at 50 and about five low at 100 so it's not moving real fast. It is very pleasant to shoot. As for factory ammo the Remington 405 leave the 18-1/2 inch ported barrel of my Guide Gun at 1200 fps on the nose. Kills whitetail right quick and doesn't damage any meat it doesn't run into directly. The 300 grain express loads clock 1600 fps and seem a little sharper to my rebuilt shoulder and failing ears. Still Mjolnir likes the 300 grain Winchester Partitions a lot (to the tune of 1 moa with a scout scope) and will be my venison maker this firearm season. In my deer woods, where 75 yards is a long shot, I've been thinking the Remington bulk 300 grain HP @ 1200-1400 fps might be all the deer medicine I need. Good hunting!

I've got my old name back and "Paladin" is retired thanks to Don!

"Mjolnir" is a good name for the Guide Gun. I'm kind of limited locally as to bullet choices. I may make an attempt to find something with a more aggressive shape, but the meplat in these bullets is about 0.3" in diameter so it's gonna leave a mark.

I'll see how things go between now and deer season toward the end of November.

Wonder if one of the factories could sell a "Youth" load with a 300~350gr bullet at 1,300 to 1,500fps? Bet some of us adults would have to try it out before letting a kid have a chance to shoot any

quote:

Wonder if one of the factories could sell a "Youth" load with a 300~350gr bullet at 1,300 to 1,500fps? Bet some of us adults would have to try it out before letting a kid have a chance to shoot any

The average shooting public doesn't shoot enough, or well enough, to appreciate the advantages of such a load. Those of us who see the merits of the 45/55/300 have to handload just to afford the quantity we need. Good hunting!

Unless you guys haver really big and tough deer I don't think you'll find a deer alive that'll stop a 400 gr cast bullet leaving the barrel at 1100 fps.

Heck, I shoot a 400 gr LFN @ 1200 fps from my 480 revolver and consider it adequate for moose.

I've also loaded a 470 gr LFN to 1100 fps in my 500 Jeffrey, and was amazed how much it tore up the snow and ice at the range when I tested it in the winter.

Even though the recoil is mild, don't treat it as a non powerful load and be darn sure of your backstop. You'd be amazed how much stuff you can shoot through with a heavy cast bullet at moderate velocities

I have killed several deer with my Ruger No1 in 45/70 with 300,350 and 400 grain bullets.
I recommend you try the 300 grain jacketed bullets at 1600 to 1800 fps.
If shooting big pigs or black bear I would use the 300 Nosler Partition. But for deer the 300 gr Sierra or the 300 gr Remington will work fine.

Thanks, I haven't found any 300gr at the local emporium but I'll get some shipped in and give them a try. I'm slowly upping the powder charge on her till she gets used to the rifle. But i doubt that at 120# soaking wet she'll ever be comfortable with my 420WNFP @ 1,600 load.

Rick, woman if they have made up their minds - they are tenacious enough. My wife gave up her .30-30AI after she had a nose to nose hello with a very mature grizz boar. She asked to shoot my .45-70 GG with them BTB 425grnrs. @1900fps --made 2 shots and placement was exceptional offhand. She got whupped pretty good but believe it or not she enjoyed enough not to shoot another shot. She began to carry where ever she went their after, berry picking or looking for moose. I figure next year I will download the round to 1700fps for her normal carry use. Wow! Tenacious they are!