45-70 mid rainge

[tcrocker]

It all ways gets me when you hear people tallking about the old 45-70 as being no good past 150 yds. Could you see the faces of the old bufflo hunter of yester year if some one told them that. I guss that the modern deer are alot tougher than the old buffs. It seems to me that alot of the wrighter now adays think that if you don't have the lattest whiz bang super mag you just can't get it done, now these new deer are scary I just my need to break out the 458 win this season. Well thats my two cents worth. What's your take?

 

[Maverick223]

I believe the .45-70 is limited mostly by trajectory (read trigger operator). 150yds is about right for the average hunter, but the Hornady LeveRevelution rounds will extend the favorable trajectory to about 250yds. The old cartridge is good for much longer distances (500yds+) when in the right hands.

 

[saturno_v]

I saw people making hits at over 1000 yards with a Trapdoor....that is not the limitation of a 45-70...it will get out there given the proper elevation....the problem is it will run out of steam past 300 yards...one thing is punching paper, another is hunting.

 

[StrawHat]

The military did some testing with the 45-70 and found it carried a wallop out to two (2) miles.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm

Personally, I don't see the need to shoot past 100 yards and prefer to get closer. Last deer with the 45-70 was at 30 yards. Previous one was about the same. The problem with using ANY cartridge for long range is not accuracy but time of flight. The animal is probably not going to stand perfectly still while you make your shot. A step forward puts your "perfectly held shot" back 8". For those of you who like long range hunting, good luck. I like short range work.

 

[DeepSouth]

 

[Harve Curry]

A heavy 400 to 500 grain 45 cal. bullet, once the velocity drops to subsonic, holds it's velocity for along time.
My experience is game doesn't spook from black powder boom the way it does from high powered supersonic boom of a modern rifle. You can often get another aimed or rested shot with a rifle that doesn't have that supersonic crack to it. In the southwest ranges of 100 yards can be close and the norm is over 150 yards.

 

[Robert]

The biggest draw back of the modern 45-70 cartridge is the amount of downloading that takes place to make the round safe in antique firearms. A 45-70 loaded up to spec with either smokeless or black powder is more than enough for any North American game at reasonable ranges. Sure it may arc like a rainbow but if one knows their rifle and knows their holds there is no reason why 45-70 can not make a outstanding hunting round. To me it ranks up with 30-06 as a classic hunting round. 45-70 excels in a longer barrel rifle but I have had decent experience with my short barreled 1895G.

 

[natman]

It all ways gets me when you hear people tallking about the old 45-70 as being no good past 150 yds. Could you see the faces of the old bufflo hunter of yester year if some one told them that. I guss that the modern deer are alot tougher than the old buffs. It seems to me that alot of the wrighter now adays think that if you don't have the lattest whiz bang super mag you just can't get it done, now these new deer are scary I just my need to break out the 458 win this season. Well thats my two cents worth. What's your take?

The problem with the 45-70 isn't power, it's being able to hit the target with the rainbow trajectory of factory loads. Sure, the buffalo hunters made some long shots with them, but they made some misses too, which somehow never get mentioned in the nostalgic looks back to the old days.

One would hope that modern hunters would hold themselves to a somewhat higher standard of ethics than the buffalo hunters did.

No, I don't think you need the "lattest whiz bang super mag", but ballistics have improved a bit since the black powder days and something like the 117 year old 7mm Mauser would be a better choice for hunting past 150 yards. That newfangled smokeless powder fad just isn't going to go away.

 

[Robert]

That newfangled smokeless powder fad just isn't going to go away.

I know, dang it.

 

[snakeman]

you guys are too funny how about people use the cartridge they like and other people express their view of it then we all just shut up =]

 

[snakeman]

wait? what am I thinking? that will never happen!

 

[browningguy]

I'm pretty comfortable with my 45-70 out to 150 yards using standard 350 gr. HP's, might strectch to 200 with the flextip bullets. I was out shooting it this morning wiht the new 3x William Malcolm scope and was reasonably happy witht he results. Even with my speedy handloads they do start dropping a lot after 150 yards so I'm more comfortable staying inside that for game shots.

 

[tcrocker]

That's a nice lookingt high wall here's a pic of my baby. I will not take a shot past 100yds with my gun. All through I know that the 45-70 round can kill a loooot futher. But my rifle is for brush hunting.
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[HB]

It's the same for any lower velocity caliber. A .22 will probably be lethal at 300 yards on rabbits but have you ever tried to hit something past 150 yards with a .22? It gets hard past about 120.

HB

 

[tcrocker]

I beg the differ I got a CZ 452 lux that I can hit a ear plug at 100 yds with iron sights. I'm not saying that I hit it every time but when I miss it isn't by much.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The .45-70 is one of the finest hog/deer/elk rifles ever invented for jump shooting or dark timber cruising said critters. Especially in a light short lever gun with ghost ring sights attached and using the right loads and bullets. As far as long range shooting it's all about the operator because a .458 diameter 400 gr+ chunk of lead or copper is going to punch holes through stuff even at fairly low velocity. So if you can hit it, it's going to put a hole in it.

Any rifle that you spend enough time with and learn it's intricacies and where to hold becomes a really decent long range weapon. It's all about the operator.

 

[tcrocker]

I use a 464gr hand cast.It's a nice little do all round.
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