July 17, 2019
Quick, what comes to mind when I mention the caliber .45-70? Perhaps Trapdoor Springfield pops up or even that it was developed in 1873? For me, the .45-70 screams Black Hills Ammunition and the time I recovered a buck in the thick brush using an old lever-action and some HoneyBadger loads. Why Black Hills? Well, they are producing some of the best .45-70 ammunition on the market.
After the adoption by the U.S. Army in 1873, the .45-70 became a popular cartridge among hunters and target shooters. I became acquainted with the .45-70 some years back when I got an old lever-action rifle for those thick cover whitetails I often find myself chasing.
I came to land on the .45-70 primarily because I’ve always loved shooting iron sights and lever-actions. Thick brush and optics, for me, don’t mesh well. Now, the .45-70 isn’t the flattest shooting gun out there, but a 325 gr. HoneyBadger bullet moving at 1,900 fps is solid for the whitetail I chase. What gets me locked into the HoneyBadger is the energy it packs. At 2,273 Ft. Lbs., the .45-70 HoneyBadger packs enough energy for whitetails or hogs that get kicked up.
When Black Hills Ammunition came out with the HoneyBadger load it came with great acclaim. The HoneyBadger is a completely different animal. The HoneyBadger is a solid-copper, non-deforming projectile with wide, sharp flutes. The HoneyBadger maintains its mass while cutting through, creating massive wound channels. I can’t think of a better
thick brush bullet.
The shot was back and I knew it. It was nobody’s fault but my own. As I exited the stand, I took note of which way the buck was headed. I’d have to return with proper firepower to find the buck. I carry the old .45-70 with me just in case this scenario happens. I eased through the brush noticing every movement. The buck burst from the dense brush 50 yards out from my location, and I took the only shot I had, quartering away and on the move.
The HoneyBadger moved from the back quarter and traveled through the body cavity, creating enough damage to bring the buck down. When I cleaned the buck, I pulled the .45-70 round from the front shoulder, still intact.
Every critter I’ve taken with the .45-70 HoneyBadger didn’t last long. What Black Hills brought to the table is a round hunters can trust. The HoneyBadger brings peace-of-mind when it comes to performance. For a cartridge that is over 140 years old, Black Hills still maintains a way to innovate. ~ KJ
Kevin Jarnagin
Kevin Jarnagin (KJ) hails from Oklahoma but quickly established Louisiana roots after joining the Gun Talk team. KJ grew up as a big game hunter and often finds himself in a bass boat. Whether it’s making his way to British Columbia for elk or training with pistols, Jarnagin always seems to find a gun in his hands and adventure on his mind.
