Which 45/70 for Hunting?

[ReadyontheRight]

Which 45/70 Rifle would you recommend for hunting? I would like to get one for deer hunting this season and possibly use it for a "truck" and camping rifle in the future. I'm leaning way toward the Marlin 1895 Guide Gun in stainless steel and adding a red-dot scout scope.

I really don't see taking shots over 100 yards w/ this gun, so will the loss of velocity between an 18.5" barrel vs. the standard 22" barrel matter much?

Are there other 45/70 platforms I should check out? I would like a Trapdoor Springfield someday, but that doesn't seem like the best field gun.

Also - does anyone load blackpowder 45/70 cartridges for their Marlin? It seems like a hoot, but I have not yet started reloading -- preferring to shoot milsurp. What equipment will I need to load blackpowder 45/70 cartridges? Is this a good introduction to reloading or something I should work my way up to?

Thanks!

 

[cdbeaver]

I have an H&R/NEF Handi Gun in .45-70 that I plan to use for hunting deer this fall (if I ever get it back from the factory with a new Hornet barrel).

I currently am using the Remington 300-grain HPRN ahead of about 38 grains of H4198, not a hot load by a wide margin, but certainly adequate for the 100-yard and lower range.

I don't really worry about using a single shot. Hopefully, the first one will do the trick if I do my part.

 

[critter]

I have a Ruger #1 in 45-70 that is just a super fantastic gun. I love it! Accuracy is super and you can load it from easy thumpin punkin chunkin loads all the way up to low-end 458 Win matching loads that will stop a train! Besides that, I think it is a beautiful gun.

Only drawback would be in cases where the game is huge, toothy and having a habit of biting back if annoyed (lion, cape buff, grizz bear, etc.).

 

[Snake Jenkins]

Check out the Marlin 1895 CB with the 26" tube, belive it or not it balances very well and is more than accurate at 100 yards.

Snake

 

[4v50 Gary]

Voted for the Marlin Guide gun myself. More compact & porting helps tame recoil. Mind you, I've got the older 22" gun and wouldn't trade it for a Guide Gun.

 

[rick_reno]

45/70

I've got the Marlin Guide gun in 45/70. It's very accurate and a handy little gun. I put a Williams 5D peep sight on it and shoot Federal loads with 300 gr. Sierra pro hunter bullets.
The only gun I wouldn't recommend is the TC in 45/70 - I shot one of those in a handgun configuration and it was very painful. I would never do it again. If TC makes a rifle stock for it it'd probably be fine (I don't know what they offer these days for their frames)

 

[Bruce H]

I'll second the NEF in 45/70. Any of the factory loadings are quite pleasant. I think this year I'll use my Pedersoli sharps replica. Just something different and they worked very well once upon a time. Thinking about using 475gr but want to be careful there aren't any standing behind the one I shoot. Any in the poll is a good choice, some are more expensive than others. May shoot 322gr hollow points.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I third the Handi-Rifle by NEF/Marlin. The 45/70 comes with sights and is easy to operate. Not quite as fast as a lever, but all you need is one shot.

The 45/70 is an awesome cartridge. Even the weaker cowboy loads will penetrate through almost anything. The factory loads push the 300 gr hollow-point at 1880 fps. The cowboy loads push a 405 gr lead round at 1300-1400 fps. Garrett and Buffalo Bore rounds push 400-500 gr casts at 2000 fps and above. Real thumpers.

If you do your part, the deer will fall on the first shot. There is just so much shock and cavitation with this massive round.

 

[Mannlicher]

any of the above will do just fine.

 

[Preacherman]

Another vote for the 1895CB Cowboy .45-70 with 26" barrel. It's very accurate indeed, and the extra barrel length gives a decent increase in velocity. Very nice gun. Of course, it's not as compact and handy as the shorter guns, but if you don't need to do house-clearing with it, or manoever through thick brush, that's not a problem.

 

[7.62FullMetalJacket]

I was in love with the 1895CB, fondled it, stroked it, and generally drove the guy behind the counter nuts admiring it. Time to buy. Wife was there.
"Why do you want a clunky lever action?" "I don't like it." "Why don't you just buy another FN-FAL, I like those."

I was looking for a saddle gun, and the 45/70 pleases me. But the .308 pleases me more. So, following the bosses instruction, I found an L1A1 with a folding charging handle and rigged a leather scabbard....voila, the best darn saddle gun I can think of.

 

[SodaPop]

I really don't see taking shots over 100 yards w/ this gun, so will the loss of velocity between an 18.5" barrel vs. the standard 22" barrel matter much?

About a year ago, I was shooting my DSA-STG58 FAL at a 500yd target with a 3-12x40mm Sightron scope. There was an old guy shooting his 45/70 with iron sights, that shot just as accurate, if not better than I did.

I was shooting paper while he was shooting at a 2ft wide box. He hit it 80% of the time.

Windy day, too................

 

[Okiecruffler]

Okay, I'll be the loony

I say get the barrel for your TC. I got to shoot a 14 inch 45/70 last weekend, and all I can say is "WHOA MAMA!" Peice of cake to hold at 2 inches at 100yrds, but not for very many shots. If you're gonna get something new, might as well be something everyone is ascared of.

 

[schapman43]

Definately get a 1895 Guide in stainless. I absolutely love mine. It is by far my favorite rifle/cartridge combo. It is a riot to shoot and it can do just about anything. There really isnt much loss between the 18" and 22" barrels. Some people have seen differences of less that 100fps. If you want more info check out www.marlinfirearms.com and click on marlin talk. Those guys are a wealth of info.

Here is something for you to druel over until you get yours. Dont worry about getting druel on it, its stainless

 

[JimC]

Ruger #1-S in .45/70.
Mine is topped off with a Leupold 1.5-5X Vari-X III scope in Ruger rings.
With full power loads using the 300 gr. Nosler PAR bullets, it is truly a 200 yd. deer sized game rifle/load combo.
Winchester offers a similar factory load.

 

[stevelyn]

I chose the standard 1895 Marlin w/ 22" barrel. To me it is the most practical all around rifle in .45-70. It's short enough to be handy in the woods and has an adequate magazine capacity for follow up shots. With the 22" barrel length, it's long enough to get the most out of the hot numbers from Buffalo Bore, Garrett, and Cor-Bon.

 

[outdoorman63]

45-70

the guide gun is a good all around gun..i love mine...but remember you still need others..the more the better..............

 

[kcirP]

I'm sure that all 45-70's are just fine for deer hunting. If you aim at it correctly you will hit it and kill it. Case Closed! The rest is a matter of preference. How lite/heavy, how far your shooting, the landscape, reliability of the manufacture ect..... I recently chose the Marlin 1895G with the 18" barrel for the compact comfort, vesitility for use on other big game and the fact that the longest shot I may take would only be about 110yds. I mounted a Leupold VXII 2-7X33 scope and sighted it in@110yds and now I'm good to go. It was a perfect choice for me. I only use 300g hollow point shells because I need nothing else.
I have no experiance with any other 45-70 manufacturers because I've never used anything other than a Marlin. I think most people would agree that they are partial and loyal to one brand of rifle and therefore recommend that brand.
So it boils down to what ever pleases you. I say just, aim, shoot to kill and brag about it. Whatever you buy, you'll be happy with it and then you'll recommend it to whoever ask's your opinion. LIKE ME!

Good luck and happy hunting

Frank

 

[Dr.Rob]

22 inch barrel with no porting. Short enough to still be handy, long enough to burn all your powder.

Speer or remington 300gr JHP.

Thats a lot of thump.

 

[Cthulhu]

Voted for 22" 1895. The pistol grip stock is more comfortable with heavy loads than the straight stock (less drop), less noise due to lack of ports, longer sight radius. If you want it handier, chop the BBL. Not much velocity fall off even when its cut down to 16", plus you have the better handling stock, and noise/blast is still less than the ported models (though recent manufactured Guide Guns lack the ports too).

I have a scout scoped M1895 with 12.5" LOP stock and 16" bbl, as well as untouched 22" bbl model w/irons, so I can go HS/LD or traditional, depending on my mood.

 

[Pappy John]

Regarding creating black powder loads for the 45.70.....you cannot use the standard type of powder measure, such as the "Uniflow" with the plastic hopper. Static electricity buildup can create a spark and black powder is much more sensitive to spark ignition than smokeless powder. Some manufacturers make all metal powder measures to keep the powder in the hopper grounded, but I just use a brass tube muzzle-loading measure to measure my charges. Also you need to compress the charge in the cartridge. This requires a drop tube....a twenty-something inch length of brass tube with a small brass or wood funnel at the top through which you drop each charge into the cartridge case.

Oh, man..... there's lots more stuff to get into regarding making BPC's. If you really want to get into this I suggest reading the "SPG Lubricants BP Cartridge Reloading Primer" By Venturino and Garbe and/or "Loading the Black Powder Rifle Cartridge" By Paul Matthews.

You have to meticulously clean your weapon afterwards to prevent rust from the salts left as residue from burnt BP. I use a Sharps replica, and its pretty easy to drop out the breech block and expose all surfaces for easy cleaning. It might be tougher to get into all the nooks and crannies of a lever action, but they managed it back in 1873, and earlier with the Spencer's, so it must be possible.

 

[kudu]

I'm with Snake an Preacherman. I love my 1895 CB. The bit of extra weight helps with some of my stouter reloads and it is a very accurate shooting gun. Iv'e shot the guide gun with the brake on it and the noise is gruesome. I wanted a Ruger #1 in 45-70 but they were so light that I could feel the recoil trying to get out so I got the marlin and was glad I did.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Sharps 1874 Old Reliable. The original "reach out an touch someone" gun.

Gawd, I want one.

 

[Snake Jenkins]

Frodo I've got a C. Sharps 1874 and love it, but for a pure hunting rifle (with either a scope or reciver mounted peep sight) the Marlin 1895 CB is hard to beat.

Snake

 

[JimC]

Ruger #1 in 45-70 but they were so light that I could feel the recoil trying to get out

Your absolutely right about that!

A 300 gr. Nosler PAR at 2180 fps out of that light [7 1/4 lbs.] little rifle hits very hard at both ends off a bench but from normal hunting shooting positions it's not bad at all.

That put aside, it's a nice rifle to carry and the accuracy is more than one would require for the intended purposes.

Another nice load is the Laser Cast 500 gr. FP bullet at 1500 fps. Of course it doesn't shoot as flat as the 300 gr. PAR but it's a nice close in hard hitting load.