45-70 round for Home Defense? (low penetration)

[Vmc]

Is there any factory or hand load that would be suitable for home defense?

 

[SomeSoldier]

Idk, to me seems like you are trying to shoehorn a round into a category it was intended for. Maybe think about getting the right tool for the job?

 

[Deplorable Me]

If it's the only firearm you have it's a good firearm. If you have options, go the lightest bullet you have in your inventory.

The plus side is there will be no issues with hiding bodies.

 

[spat]

Someone kicks in my door they'll get a .50bmg COM if that's the closest thing at hand.

45/70 would not be my first choice though. More from capacity issues than anything else.

I'd certainly take an AR in 45/70 over some lever action .223.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Don't underestimate the .30-30 as a nice house gun. Perfect balance of recoil and horsepower. I like side port lever actions, you can reload on the fly.

 

[Mk44]

I think some of the cowboys loads around 1300fps are the lowest. but at about $2 a shot it's not cheap.

(IMO... a shotgun is a better option for home defense.)

 

[IrishMick]

Avoid Great Lakes for Home Defense. They are a pretty hot loading (but still good quality). PPU makes a somewhat lighter loading. Haven't tried Hornaday or any other loads to speak of.

 

[Jmac00]

405gr, projectile moving at1800 ft/sec? Is going through your neighbor house, there is a reason professional hunters in africa are switching to the 47-70, it's cheaper, and penetrate through a water buffalo

 

[Celt]

i love it.. any hunting round will do. my only concern is how close are your neighbors?

 

[E the massive]

Off OP. How about .223 69gr HP. I didn't even think about HP before the current mess.

 

[thegatman]

If you reload. Use a flat nose bullet around 350 grain and Trailboss. Do not compress the powder. Fill the case and take 70% of total grains. Mild load.

 

[Criticalt]

Ive never even thought of my 45-70 for home defense. It could be a fun round to use.......it will make a mess, but itwill be very effective.
I shot a deer at about 15 feet with my 45-70. It was a blood bath, I almost felt sorry for the deer! (I did blast both sides of his jugular)

After years of different firearms for home defense, im now using a 12 gauge with #4 buckshot......and my G20 on the nightstand for quick use.

 

[meketrefe]

You have a lever action, bolt action or revolver right?
then the 45-70 can do pretty much anything you want given the proper load.
I would stay away from the hottest big game loads and tailor this for the task at hand.
It can be more effective and faster than a shotgun, only you can decide if the shotgun is an easier option for you
based on your needs and circumstances.
You can load a 470gr "whisper" subsonic load that is very quiet and hits like a shotgun slug.
You can load 2 x 250gr cowboy cast bullets on top of each other for a Double-tap x shot. might need to ream deaper inside a
batch of cases for this.
you can also find .458 bird shot cups and load 3 to 5 buck shot or improvise with a modified .410 wad + gas check
you can also find saboted buck shot. or any other sabot that you might see fit and keep it civilized in terms of mild pressures.
This way you will not over penetrate and will be able to shoot easier and w/o hurting your hearing.

 

[E the massive]

You have a lever action, bolt action or revolver right?
then the 45-70 can do pretty much anything you want given the proper load.
I would stay away from the hottest big game loads and tailor this for the task at hand.
It can be more effective and faster than a shotgun, only you can decide if the shotgun is an easier option for you
based on your needs and circumstances.
You can load a 470gr "whisper" subsonic load that is very quiet and hits like a shotgun slug.
You can load 2 x 250gr cowboy cast bullets on top of each other for a Double-tap x shot. might need to ream deaper inside a
batch of cases for this.
you can also find .458 bird shot cups and load 3 to 5 buck shot or improvise with a modified .410 wad + gas check
you can also find saboted buck shot. or any other sabot that you might see fit and keep it civilized in terms of mild pressures.
This way you will not over penetrate and will be able to shoot easier and w/o hurting your hearing.

View attachment 68130

Them bad boys avaible for 30-30?

 

[meketrefe]

Them bad boys avaible for 30-30?

Sorry but not possible because the 0 and 00 buck shot are .32 and .33 respectively that is a a larger diameter
than the 30 (.308) bore itself.
But you have some options if you want to experiment with alternative loads.
I have not seen empty shot shells for any calibers other than big bore 50, 45, 430 and 35(9mm). Speer sells some.
But you have sabots for the 30 caliber than can take a 22 caliber bullet for varmint loads.
you can even build a hyper velocity round with some lead round nose 22 caliber bullets or use VLD load but
then make a dummy round/Spacer between bullets in the tube so you don't risk accidental ignition with a hard tip.
In a sabot like that you could also insert 2 or 3 Waterfowl pellets that are 20-22gr each but it will not be good for home
defense and marginal for birds.
Another thing that might be possible could be to stack two or even three #1½ buck behind a gas check but we would
have to see how this will stack up or see if you can put one of those atop of a and work efficiently.
Or simply see if you can stack a couple of flat head plinking rounds of 100gr each and work on a low load for that type
of grain. A low charge of varget w/o being compressed should work for that.
32 ACP 70gr-80gr bullets could also work stacked but they better will have to swagged to 308 that is a easy job but
will need a cone and mandrel for that.

Other than a simple sabot for 22 caliber and if you are not a seasoned re-loader or wildcatter I do not suggest you start
with this project and start with something easier.
Or use the shotgun or get a 357mag or 44 rem or 45-70 that will give you better options for this type of all-terrain stuff.

Check buck shot and other ball shotgun projectiles....

Size	Type	Mass (gr)	Diameter (in)	Diameter (mm)
0000	Buck	82 grains	0.38	9.65
000½	Buck	76 grains	0.37	9.4
000	Buck	70 grains	0.36	9.14
00½	Buck	59 grains	0.34	8.64
00	Buck	53.8 grains	0.33	8.38
0	Buck	49 grains	0.32	8.13
#1½	Buck	44.7 grains	0.31	7.87
#1	Buck	40.5 grains	0.30	7.62
#2½	Buck	36.6 grains	0.29	7.37
#2	Buck	29.4 grains	0.27	6.86
#3½	Buck	26.3 grains	0.26	6.6
#3	Buck	23.4 grains	0.25	6.35
#4	Buck	20.7 grains	0.24	6.1
FF	Waterfowl	18.2 grains	0.23	5.84
F (or TTT)	Waterfowl	16.0 grains	0.22	5.59
TT	Waterfowl	13.9 grains	0.21	5.33
T	Waterfowl	12.0 grains	0.20	5.08
BBB	Bird	10.2 grains	0.19	4.83
BB	Bird	8.50 grains	0.18	4.57
BB (air gun)	Bird	8.10 grains	0.177	4.5
B	Bird	7.40 grains	0.17	4.32
#1	Bird	6.15 grains	0.16	4.06
#2	Bird	4.40 grains	0.15	3.81
#3	Bird	5.07 grains	0.14	3.56
#4	Bird	3.30 grains	0.13	3.3
#4½	Bird	2.90 grains	0.125	3.18
#5	Bird	2.60 grains	0.12	3.05
#6	Bird	2.00 grains	0.11	2.79
#7	Bird	1.50 grains	0.10	2.54
#7½	Bird/Clay	1.29 grains	0.095	2.41
#8	Bird/Clay	1.09 grains	0.09	2.29
#8½	Bird/Clay	0.97 grains	0.085	2.16
#9	Bird/Clay	0.75 grains	0.08	2.03