Marlin .45-70 job

[Psyco Tyco]

i have a marlin lever action in .45-70 and it sits now like it did in the store no scope or aftermarket parts. its fun to shoot but i was thinking i would get a scope to put on it. if it gets used for hunting at all it would only be for feral hogs or black bear.

so that made me think i should pick up the leupold hog scope or zombie scope the 1.5-4x since it would be small and keep weight down.

but if i decided to put a 2-7 or 3-9 from leupold on would the gun be accurate enough to go out to 200yds or 300yds if it was zeroed properly? or would its drop below supersonic speeds affect it at that distance for hogs?

 

[chad1043]

http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_trajectory_table.htm

www.marlinowners.com/forum/general-gun-related-off-topic-stuff/2826-45-70-trajectory.html

 

[greenhornet-1]

Something 1x4 would be good. 1x power for running animals, 4x for longer shots.

 

[jmr40]

You don't need anything more than 1-4X

 

[x_wrench]

i have a 2-7 on mine (Marlin Guide Gun). personally, i would go no kless than that. but i am old, and my eyes are not what they used to be either. about the max USEFUL distance your going to use the 45/70 at is going to be 200 yards, using the Hornady LeverEvoloution ammo. after 200 yards, these things drop like a rock. still enough momentum to kill out over 200 yards, but holding over the correct amount would be very tricky after 200 yards.

 

[natman]

The Hornady Leverevolution load is about the flattest shooting thing available for the 45-70 and it's only good to a bit over 200 yards. After that it starts dropping pretty badly. The 45-70 is an absolute hammer within 150 yards, but longer range shooting is all about muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient and the 45-70 doesn't have much of either. Long range shooting with the 45-70 is like buying a Miata and complaining that it's too noisy and doesn't ride smoothly on the freeway. It's just out of its element.

I wouldn't put more than a 1.5x-5 on it. If a deer is too far away to hit at 5x then he's too far away to hit with a 45-70.

 

[Salmoneye]

Put a Skinner (or other) peep sight on it, and forget about the scope...

 

[Psyco Tyco]

thanks for all the replies, y'all just confirmed what i thought i should do.

gonna put on a 1.5-4 leupold hog scope. as a loaner hog gun, range gun, or bear protection i should be fine with the low magnification

cheers

 

[dprice3844444]

leatherwood toby bridges scope is basically bdc for the 45/70 and bp loads
http://swfa.com/Leatherwood-ATR-Toby-Bridges-Muzzleloader-Scope-C104.aspx