Given the incredibly wide range of .45-70 load levels and bullet choices that can be done, and that almost all will do the job on hogs, I am just wondering what the handloaders have found as your BEST .45-70 hog load?

Wondering what specific bullet you chose and what load level have proved ideal.

And some examples from the field on the really big hogs would be interesting to know!

I've used everything from bulk 300 grain hollow points to cast 530 grain Postells in a Ruger No. 3 and H&R Buffalo Classic. IMR 3031 and RX 7 have been my favored powders. All told though, I like the 300 grain HPs with a less-than-top end dose of 3031 from the "Marlin level" data in Lyman's book. That's what I used to dump the larger boar below at some 200 yards. In fact, I'm staying in out of the rain this morning and loading up another 50 rounds.

The Ruger No. 3 in .45-70 has its own little place in history.

I had one that would shoot the 300 grain HP's in a cloverleaf at 100 yards resting on the seat of a 4wheeler with a vintage 4X Leupold scope mounted in the old Weaver rings with the big wheel nuts.

I have been working on 405 cast loads for my marlin cowboy limited. 36.5 grains of IMR 4198 seems to work well and not hammer me too much. Also have some 12 gr trail boss loads worked up I need to try. Those should be sub-sonic and a hoot to shoot.

I have a Ruger No 1-S and some hot rod loads worked up but don't really want to pull the trigger! I need to send it down the road before I shoot it...and want to keep it!

I only used one load which was 31.0 grains of IMR 4227 under a 350 gr. cast bullet. Seemed good enough for just about anything but I never shot over 75 yards with it.

I have only shot 2, the first was 300 grain soft points they don't reliably pass through deer and hogs, something I don't like. The second is 405 grain cast, have liked them quite a bit. Loading the 405's over a stiff charge of Benchmark and they shoot very well. At 75 yards iron sights you can pretty much keep them touching.

I settled on 51 gr of IMR 4198 under a 300gr Hornady FTX. This is a "strong action only" load. I shoot it in a Marlin 1895. It makes a wallop on both ends of the rifle.

only shot 2. an old trapdoor and a friend's 1895 marlin.

you do have to push your projectiles fast enough to poke a hole
through and through. recoil is just naturally a part of it.
i've shot enough animals with muzzleloaders and soft pure lead
projectiles to know this is true

get enough speed on a brick and it'll go through a wall no problem

I just loaded up some 45-70 225 gr Lehigh Defense XD fluted bullet at 2325 fps out of my Marlin 1895 18" barrel. Accuracy is excellent and the bullets will penetrate 40 inches of ballistics gelatin. The top group was sighting it in and the lower left was after I got it dialed in at 100 yds.
The flutes are suppose create huge hydro-static shock without expansion. I've not shot a pig with it yet but will soon.

That load is ready to take to the field and harvest piggies!!