Rifle Practice Today, 45/70 & 30-06

[Guy]

With bear season already upon us, my son and I decided to spend some of this warm afternoon at the gun club, practicing at 100 & 200 yards with our rifles. It sure is nice when the adult son still enjoys some range time with me.

He's been using this "sporterized" 1917 30-06 for about ten years now and has taken a couple of bears and a few bucks with it. The rifle sits in a Bell & Carlson stock, is topped by a 6x Leupold, and has the barrel bobbed to 21 inches. It's got a Timney trigger too. The rifle has served three generation of us now. He likes shooting from sitting with that tall bipod and has made several impressive kills that way. The handload hasn't changed in years: 58 grains of H4350 with a 165 grain Nosler Partition. It works well:

He snapped a couple of photos of me, enjoying the new 45/70 Marlin 1895, which has a small 2.5x Leupold. Handload for it is IMR 3031 with a 350 grain Hornady RNSP. I haven't had this rifle long, just a couple of months. The handload is stout, but accurate and fun to shoot:

My last three shots today, at 100 yards, unsupported, sitting:

Hoping to be out for bear again in the morning, our season opened August 1st. Feeling ready!

Regards, Guy

 

[p_ham]

Ive been wanting a 1917 for quite some time. Love the 45-70 too! My favorite load for mine is 41gr IMR4198 Under a 405gr hard cast. They're doing about 1650fps.

 

[Guy]

Ive been wanting a 1917 for quite some time. Love the 45-70 too! My favorite load for mine is 41gr IMR4198 Under a 405gr hard cast. They're doing about 1650fps.

I had just set up that 1917 the way I wanted it for general purpose hunting... When my son started bear hunting, and it went to him for that purpose. He's done real well with it. This was his first bear with it, nine years ago:

Guy

 

[asdew1880]

I would recommend the Barnes TSX 250gr and 300gr with H4198 for your 1895 if your into that kind of thing. Very nice combination in mine. Natchez has the bullets online usually 15$ for a box of 20.

 

[sharpshooter97]

Nice choice in rifles and cartridge, I shoot an 1895 as well as a Rem 700 in .30-06 that I aquired last year. Good luck this season