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The used Beretta 45-70 DR that I recently purchased was said to be regulated with 300 grain handloads at 1600 fps and at very close range, it was effective on a 300 pound feral hog boar.
However, the regulation was not satisfactory from 50 yard bench rest testing. Further testing showed that each barrel was sub minute of angle accurate, so the gun should have potential. I booked an appointment with a proven gun maker to regulate the gun but that would be several months in the future. So, what to do now?

I examined several 20 round boxes of my commercial ammo stash and selected a few types to shoot to see if one would help determine a starting place for handloading experimentation. Of that, the first to be tried at the range was Hornady 325 grain at 2000 fps. This ammo is a proven killer of big game, but would not group well in my rifle.

The next in line was Remington Green Box 405 grain JSP. Voila!
Two R&L cycles and there appeared a 4 shot 2 inch group level with the Bullseye! It was 4 inches to the right and easily corrected with a sight adjustment. Th rifle is now shooting a good hunting group that can be adjusted for range as needed.



Yes, I was very lucky, but wanted to shoot 400 grain ammo anyhow.

Congratulations. Now buy a lifetime supply of it since Remington ammo is in a state of flux!

It surprises me that Beretta made a double in .45-70, but it's a great cartridge for that application.

That is good advice and I am already shopping.

I have a lot of 45-70 brass, 100 Remington .458 JSP 405 grain bullets and may buy some .458 400 grain Speer bullets and plenty of powder, so I plan to shoot mostly hand loads.

BTW, this is my first Beretta firearm, so I am learning as I go. So far, it seems to be well made, smooth to operate, and has nice features like articulated front trigger, articulated cross bolt, and graceful metal and stock work. Very accurate barrels too; both will put bullet after bullet into the same hole if the shooter does his part.

Hope you work on those hogs big time with it.

Those cheek panels are very long, and sharply defined ..... much like a Merkel except even longer. I'd be surprised if they wouldn't hit my hand a bit in recoil.

Best, SRH

Beautiful gun and some out-of-the-box thinking to get it dialed in.

Rubberhead,
some motivation for the "out of the box" was due to long wait times for a qualified DR smith to do re regulation and the approximate cost of thereof.
Plus I have had good success loading 400 grain ammo for my .405 DR which was well regulated for 300 grain Hornady ammo.

Stan - recoil is very light so fR with wimpy 300 and 400 grain loads and well designed rifle. I have ordered some 1600 fps 400 grain ammo for fun testing and that WILL kick a bit more.

Getting more interesting!
A friend donated two boxes of 350 grain .458 North Fork soft point bore rider bullets. They look serious!
Those plus two boxes of Hornady 325 grain 2000 fps loaded ammo
Plus my new 405 grain Remington test loads from 1600 to 1900 fps.
Plus some 450 grain NF FPS left over from African testing, Need to determine proper velocity to test these.

Need a little bit of time at loading bench and for the rain to stop. Plus a little luck at the range.

Much more fun than worrying about Covid 19 fraud.

Just curious as to what type of scope mount is on that rifle?

Dave,
It is curious, but very stout.
The answer comes in two parts:
The part clamped on the scope is for a revolver.
The part mated to the rib is custom and secured with three screws.

It is not a quick detach mount. This suited the first owner who shot deer (sighting with the scope for the right barrel only with 300 grain Remington bullets) with this rifle for 10 years.. His widow told me his blind was in the middle of their property and he always brought home the venison. In fact, he was dragging out a big buck when he had a heart attack and died in the field with his deer and rifle. Sad, but he went doing something he loved.
Otherwise, I would never been offered this like-new rifle. 10 years and only one tiny mark on the butt stock!

Anyhow, my son and I are trying a few different loads to see which works best for us.

North Fork .458 350 grain SS bullets arrived today so I can load them tomorrow and finally be ready for a serious range outing.

As soon as things are dry enough to go to the range.