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Posted: 8/5/2025 7:37:43 PM EDT
| I drew a Michigan bull elk tag and would love to take one with my Marlin Dark, any recommendations on factory ammo? Ive read a decent amount and Barnes Vor TX 300g. I have other rifles that would do the job, just thinking taking a Bull with a suppressed 45 70 would be bad ass. |
Infantry, sales, nurse. Shoulda kept the rifle...
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Pass on 325gr FTX Leverevolution. They shed their jackets on heavy whitetails, let alone an elk. |
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Straddling the thin plastic line between psych nurse and patient.
Now say 3 FBHOs and go in peace, my son-PorchDog
Survivor of ARFBORTION 2016
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Barnes 300 TSX 50.0 gr AA1680 at 2284 Ft per sec from Marlin 45-70 and it groups better than lighter loads. This factory load is hotter: Buffalo Bore 45-70 Government Ammo 300 Grain Barnes Triple-Shock X Solid Hollow Point Lead Free Box of 20 Product #: 937349 Manufacturer #: 8F/20 UPC #: 651815008066 |
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Originally Posted By Bumblebee_Bob: Page @DVCER to the white courtesy phone. He's hunted elk with a .45-70 so he'll give you some good insight. I have, and taken 2 medium size bulls. But only with my handloads. I like shooting and factory gets $$. Really, just the 405 gr semi jacket soft points at middle of the road velocity. I wanna say 1450 fps. The marlins can take a really stout load and I played with top end ones. That gun is too small for that much recoil. Mine is anyway. Mine also shoots really well, and is the easiest carrying elk rifle . I played with the gummy tip 325s also. They shot well, but as a reloader kind of a pain cause the case needs trimmed shorter, like the FTX factory loads. The flex tip adds extra length, make sure they feed well before you buy a bunch. The FTX loads where I used hornadys length were a touch long and wouldn’t feed. I can’t see any decent factory load being a bad choice for elk. Mine folded up fine and quick with shoulder shots. Buy enough ammo and it’ll be spendy, but I’m guessing you don’t get an elk tag up there often. Spend a bunch of range time. I sight mine in dead on at 75. Attached File Attached File Have fun , that should be a awesome hunt. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By DVCER: I have, and taken 2 medium size bulls. But only with my handloads. I like shooting and factory gets $$. Really, just the 405 gr semi jacket soft points at middle of the road velocity. I wanna say 1450 fps. The marlins can take a really stout load and I played with top end ones. That gun is too small for that much recoil. Mine is anyway. Mine also shoots really well, and is the easiest carrying elk rifle . I played with the gummy tip 325s also. They shot well, but as a reloader kind of a pain cause the case needs trimmed shorter, like the FTX factory loads. The flex tip adds extra length, make sure they feed well before you buy a bunch. The FTX loads where I used hornadys length were a touch long and wouldn’t feed. I can’t see any decent factory load being a bad choice for elk. Mine folded up fine and quick with shoulder shots. Buy enough ammo and it’ll be spendy, but I’m guessing you don’t get an elk tag up there often. Spend a bunch of range time. I sight mine in dead on at 75. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/857/IMG_1030_jpeg-3601332.JPGhttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/857/IMG_2131_jpeg-3601334.JPG Have fun , that should be a awesome hunt. I knew this was the sub to ask! Thanks fellas! I can't wait! |
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Originally Posted By BoogieCookie: I knew this was the sub to ask! Thanks fellas! I can't wait! Be honest, is this kind of a gimme/easy tag or is it like out west, Where I usually eat my Bow tag. Cheap meal for me lol. Non res take a hit. I swear I have been so close, but no cigar. I assume those elk will hold tight in the timber? Great caliber choice for a timber hunt btw. I’ve knocked them down with a 16” 308, I know 45 cal will get it done. My buddy, a first year NR hunter, arrowed this one at 20. Incredible. Attached File My dink 308 bull. A few more cows have fallen to the same gun. Attached File Cow tags used to be meat in the freezer easy. One quartered one whole in my truck. Attached File |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By DVCER: Be honest, is this kind of a gimme/easy tag or is it like out west, Where I usually eat my Bow tag. Cheap meal for me lol. Non res take a hit. I swear I have been so close, but no cigar. I assume those elk will hold tight in the timber? Great caliber choice for a timber hunt btw. I’ve knocked them down with a 16” 308, I know 45 cal will get it done. My buddy, a first year NR hunter, arrowed this one at 20. Incredible. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/857/IMG_8157_jpeg-3602412.JPG My dink 308 bull. A few more cows have fallen to the same gun. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/857/IMG_0373_jpeg-3602417.JPG Cow tags used to be meat in the freezer easy. One quartered one whole in my truck. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/857/IMG_0489_jpeg-3602420.JPG Bull elk tags in Michigan are literally 1 and done, once in a lifetime. I believe after 5 or 6 years I can apply for a cow tag. People put in for 20 years and don't get selected. I want to use the 45-70 but will also have either my .270 or 06 with me depending if hunting timber or fields. It seems as if most kills are 250 yds or less. Ive watched a bunch of YouTube MI hunts and some shots are across a hay field, but most are 150 or less. |
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I have only shot a few cows. But i would think almost anything from a 45-70 would work fine from a terminal performance point of view. The challenge will be at what range can you accurately hit them. Find the one that your rifle shoots well and learn the trajectory. I would imagine after 150 or 200 yards it starts dropping a lot. That makesnit a lot harder when you range them and then they take a few steps and the range changes. They cover a lot of ground quickly. I think that you will find that the trajectory and accuracy will limit you before terminal balistics. But i am no expert. |
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Definitely shoot as much 45/70 as you can afford at all reasonable ranges. I’m not going to tell you what reasonable is, but if you decide to take a shot at 250 you need to know the hold over of click up. My longest shot was 170 ranged, and smashed both shoulders DRT. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By dana: I have only shot a few cows. But i would think almost anything from a 45-70 would work fine from a terminal performance point of view. The challenge will be at what range can you accurately hit them. Find the one that your rifle shoots well and learn the trajectory. I would imagine after 150 or 200 yards it starts dropping a lot. That makesnit a lot harder when you range them and then they take a few steps and the range changes. They cover a lot of ground quickly. I think that you will find that the trajectory and accuracy will limit you before terminal balistics. But i am no expert. Oh yeah, the plan would be 150 yds max with the 45 70! |
| Congrats on the bull tag, OP! Like someone else said I'd try the Barnes VOR-TX 300gr TSX. I switched to the TSX 3 years ago for my 450 Bushmaster and it is an absolute destroyer on deer. Shot 3 massive bucks with it... and two were DRT (albeit one was a spine shot). The one that did run only went like 15 yards and was dumping blood like crazy. |
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