Can You Hunt Elk With A 45-70?

Fact checked by Steven Lines, lifelong Hunter, and Outdoorsman.

Many hunters are familiar with the .45-70, which has been around for a long time. Hunters back in the 1800s loved it. Some stay away from this cartridge today because they aren’t sure it has the capabilities of modern options, which is understandable as the .45-70 was initially designed to use black powder.

The .45-70 is an excellent choice for hunting elk, moose, mule deer, and whitetail deer. This gun has been used for hunting every animal out there, including some of the largest in Africa. As long as you have the proper sights and scope and a good bullet selection, you shouldn’t have any troubleshooting an elk from 200 yards away with the .45-70.

This article will explore using the .45-70 to hunt elk and the long history of this cartridge.

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History of the .45-70 Government

The .45-70 Government was designed back in 1873. It was meant to be used in the Trapdoor Springfield, a single-shot rifle. Back then, it fired a 405-grain bullet thrust forward by 70 grains of black powder in a copper case. It is called the .45-70 because .45 refers to the caliber, while 70 refers to the standard load of powder in grains.

This cartridge was designed at the Springfield Armory, which the US Government operated. It became known as the .45-70 Gov. Originally. The black powder cartridge sent a lead bullet out 1,350 feet per second. It had 1,600 pounds of muzzle energy, which made it incredibly powerful, and the Army used it in the late 1800s in the Indian Wars.

The .45-70 Government continued to use the US Army through the 1800s and early 1900s in the Spanish American War and the Philippine Insurrection. The US Navy and the Marines also used it in several different rifles. It gained an excellent reputation as being powerful, accurate, and highly effective, which caught the attention of hunters around the United States.

Manufacturers started making good rifles that could use cartridges as their popularity grew. Hunters could buy single-shot rifles with lever action, including the Remington-Keene, the Winchester-Hotchkiss, the Sharps 1874 Buffalo Rifle, and more. The .45-70 was adequate for hunting whitetail deer, black beer, moose, grizzly bear, and bison.

Can You Hunt Elk with the .45-70?

You can hunt elk with the 45-70, and many people still use it for deer, elk, and other big game. It is relevant, and it is a heavy-hitting cartridge. Over the years, the advances in powder and technology for bullets have improved it and made it even more effective. It is popular because it has the power to crush bones, and it effectively shoots most big game.

In addition, the major ammo manufacturers have different varieties of .45-70 ammo loads that are made specifically for hunting large game, such as elk. You can use it with many different rifles, including the Marlin 1895, a single-shot Trapdoor Springfield, a converted Siamese Mauser, and more. The key is understanding different .45-70 ammo and choosing the best one for your rifle and hunting elk.

Ballistics of .45-70

The ballistics of standard .45-70 ammo today include a 300-grain bullet at 2,350 fps, a 325-grain bullet at 2,050 fps, and a 405-grain bullet at 1,330 fps. Although it can be accurate at longer distances, it is ideal at 150 to 200 yards with minimal bullet drop, and it can effectively take down an elk at this range.

Today, the bullets use modern, smokeless powder, and they make a lot of loads with different power ratings. This improves the ballistics of the .45-70 today over past versions. It is important to make sure that the ammo you choose is good for your rifle. The modern high-pressure ammo can be dangerous in older, vintage rifles.

If you have a modern rifle, it can handle the additional pressure, and it will have improved ballistics compared to the original black powder.

Best Range for Elk Hunting

If you ask a group of elk hunters how far is too far to shoot an elk, you will get a range of responses. The key is to make sure that you take a deadly and ethical shot. Improvements to rifles, ammo, and more have made it possible to take accurate and ethical shots at further distances.

The important thing is for each hunter to shoot from the distance where they are most comfortable and accurate. If you hunt elk, you should practice as part of your preparation for the trip. You need to practice target shooting at different distances, and you can become more comfortable shooting further away. You should try to hit consistently within a six-inch diameter on the target.

Most people get good shot placement between 50 and 400 yards away, and you can use the .45-70 at between 150 and 200 yards. Practice before you go so that you are accurate and will become familiar with your ballistics to gauge impact points at different distances.

Prepare for Field Conditions

Most of the time, the conditions when you are in the field hunting will be more difficult than those where you practice. You should work on judging the distances visually before you go. This will help you become more accurate.

You should also consider having a solid rest for your rifle. You can carry a shooting stick or a tripod, but you will be able to use a log or the ground while in the field. Try to practice in different weather conditions so that you are prepared.

All this preparation will help you take a quick and ethical shot when encountering an elk. Using the .45-70, you need to shoot from 150 to 200 yards.

Advantages of the .45-70 Govt

There are several advantages to using the .45-70. First, this cartridge has bone-crushing power and can penetrate large animals such as the elk. They are big, strong animals with thick muscle and bone. The .45-70 is powerful enough to shoot ethically from 150 to 200 yards away.

Most of the chambered rifles for this cartridge are short-barreled with level action, including the Henry .45-70 and the Marlin Model 1895. They are lighter and easier to carry; you can mount and fire them quickly. The .45-70 is ideal in situations when you are hunting big game from a shorter range.

How Does the .45-70 Compare to the 30-30?

It is worth looking at these two cartridges because they are the two most popular for hunters who use lever-action rifles. Some features overlap, but there are also differences between them. The .45-70 was the most popular cartridge used in the US military until the development of smokeless powder cartridges. At that time, the .30-30 Winchester was the first cartridge loaded with smokeless powder. They called it the .30 Winchester Smokeless.

When you look at the two cartridges, the .45-70 is larger than the .30-30. They have the same length of 2.55”, but the .45-70 has a larger diameter case. In addition, the .45-70 has a straight wall case, and the .30-30 has a bottle-necked case. This gives the .45-70 a greater capacity than the .30-30.

The bullet size is also different, as the .45-70 has a .458” diameter, and the .30-30 has a .308” diameter. Most .30-30 cartridges have bullets in the 140 to the 190-grain range, and the .45-70 has a greater range from 250 grains to as much as 500 grains.

The .45-70 has heavier bullets and more muzzle energy, and neither is suited for long-range shooting. At 150 yards, the .45-70 has a definite advantage in energy. The .30-30 has a flatter trajectory and less bullet drop. At 300 yards, the .45-70 has between 7 and 19 inches more bullet drop.

The larger diameter of the .45-70 will make a bigger hole, cause more tissue damage, and lead to greater blood loss. Both are capable of accuracy, but neither is well-known for precision. In general, lever-action rifles are not as accurate as bolt-action rifles, but it isn’t relevant because they are accurate enough.

Both cartridges have a good selection of hunting rifles, mostly single-shot and lever-action.

The Best Way to Take Down an Elk

The best way to kill an elk is with one accurate and ethical shot. Preparing for the shot you are most comfortable with from your training is important. With the .45-70, you will want to ensure that you are accurate within 150 to 200 yards and aim for a quick kill shot.

You need to hit the vital organs for an ethical shot. This means the lungs or the heart. It is the quickest and most humane way to kill the elk. A double lung shot is your best opportunity because it is the largest target and collapses both lungs. The heart shot is effective, but it is a much smaller target.

The broadside shot gives you the area behind the scapula, and there is less bone to pass through. This allows deeper penetration into the vital organs. It will be quick and humane as long as you are accurate.

You can also take a shot when the elk are in the quartering away position, but it can’t be an extreme angle. A slight angle is ideal for the best target. The shot will be deep and penetrate the vitals. The key is to take the best shot possible that allows you to kill the elk without causing it pain and suffering.

Facts About the .45-70 That Make it Relevant Today

Although people think of the .45-70 as designed to take down bears at close range, it is actually one of the oldest and most versatile cartridges out there. It isn’t great for small game, but it does a great job with large game, including elk.

Features of this cartridge include the following:

Consistent recoil
Effective in dense forests
Predictable trajectory
Grain weights from 300 grains to 560 grains
A variety of rifles use the cartridge

The .45-70 has gained interest in recent years because there are more guns available for it. Some can get a velocity of 1,300 to 1,600 feet per second with 1,600 to 1,900 pounds of energy at the muzzle. It can achieve more than 2,100 feet per second with more than 3,750 pounds of energy at the muzzle in hotter loads. This makes it capable of taking out any large game, including elk.

Is the .45-70 Good for Hunting Elk?

As long as you practice and are comfortable with your accuracy between 150 and 200 yards, the .45-70 is a great option for hunting elk. It can be used to hunt any big game in the world. The key is to get a good hunting rifle and learn to shoot it well. Make sure that you buy high-quality bullets as well.

This cartridge has been around for many years and has a rich history. Although it has some limitations, it is effective when properly used and when you are comfortable with it. It offers an excellent balance of power and portability.

Final Words

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You can use the .45-70 cartridge to hunt elk. There was a time when some said it wasn’t effective because the bullet drops after 150 or 200 yards. However, if you become comfortable shooting at this range, you can effectively take down an elk.

The .45-70 is powerful enough to penetrate the bone and tissue and effectively kill big game ethically. Its rich history and power make it a viable option for elk and deer hunting.

Steven Lines is a hunter and outdoorsman from Safford, Arizona, USA. Since he was a child, he has been hunting and fishing and has over 20 years of outdoor experience. Steven works as a hunting guide in Arizona during his spare time and runs a Youtube channel dedicated to sharing his outdoor adventures with others.

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