Will 45-70 make my butt look big?

[dc.fireman]

Sorry.

I have the chance to pick up a Marlin 1895 GBL - one of the new ones. It's chambered in 45-70 Govt. I have no reasonable use for a 45-70, mainly because I'm not a hunter. I love target shooting, which is my primary reason for reloading. I know the trajectory for 45-70 is rather like a softball thrown by my wife - not the flattest thing in the world...

Is there any good reason to own/shoot/reload 45-70? Other than purely historical curiosity?

 

[Blown6L]

I have a couple pieces in 45/70 and shoot them both regularly. I personally love the cartridge. It's historic, accurate, versitle, and easy to load.

 

[dc.fireman]

Thats good enough for me!

 

[Sunray]

It's not the rifle. You walked into it. Snicker.
"...Is there any good reason to..." "I want one." is reason enough. If you're a serious target shooter, you may want to look into one of the Sharps rifles. Cheap, they ain't though.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Will 45-70 make my butt look big?

Only if you shoot your mouth off about it!

 

[ReloaderFred]

I have two of them, a 1970's vintage Marlin 1895, and a new 1895 Cowboy. You can load them up as hot as you want, within reason, and they will knock your socks off from the bench, or you can load powder puff loads that compete with your wife's softball pitch. I took a Canadian moose with one of mine, and the guide said he had never heard a bullet smack a moose like that. One shot, and the moose was on the ground.

If you want the gun, get it. You won't be sorry.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[roadappletx]

I used to have a guide gun. I would take it up into the Pike National Forest and shoot targets. We found out it was a blast shooting rocks with it. Turns 'em into small chips! I want another one. There is something about having a short rifle that "gets meat on both ends" everytime you squeeze the trigger.

 

[Remo-99]

Loaded with cowboy action lead bullets and trailboss 45-70 can be a bunch fun just plinking at soda cans etc. And those large cases are fairly easy to locate on the ground.
Or loads can be stepped a notch for longer range target work.

And the Marlin also allows use of heavier loads(specific load data listed) if did choose to take it hunting at sometime, there ain't too many critters that'll get back up on their feet after being hit by a sturdy 45-70 load.

 

[788Ham]

A friend of mine got one off of Gun Broker, been in one family for over 100 years. A Marlin/Ballard 1886 #2 Pacific, 45-70, came with the original bullet mould/reloader. When he got it ready to shoot, what a blaster that thing is! First shot was dead center in the black bulls eye @ 100 yds. Get it if you like fun shooting, they can be loaded down where you won't have to get up many times off of your..... never mind! LOL

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Is there any good reason to own/shoot/reload 45-70? Other than purely historical curiosity?

If you don't hunt or live in an area where you need a big-bore for protection, probably not but what the heck, buy it anyway!! LOL

 

[420Stainless]

I have an 1895 Cowboy and I'm not much of hunter, although I do hope to take it deer hunting now that my boy is getting old enough to go. I'm also not a bullseye or benchrest shooter - I just shoot for fun. And, as mentioned above, the 1895 is a lot of fun to shoot. Easy to reload for too.

 

[Blown6L]

Guess I'll add one more thing. You mentioned trajectory. One of mine is a Uberti 1885 Hi-Wall 32" octagon barrel. I've installed a set of long range Baldwin vernier sights on it. With warmer to hot 300g loads I'm at the bottom of the rear sight scale when I sight in a paper target at 50yds and don't adjust them at all when I step out to a 10" steel plate t 300yds. Different story with my powder puff 300g cast bullets though.

Whoever called the 45/70 the "100yd sledge hammer" was right on. It packs a serious punch. I've been shooting for 30 yrs and now own a strap on shooting pad. After about 100 rounds, even with the shooting pad, my shoulder is crying for mercy.

 

[Jimfern]

If you get a 45-70, do yourself a favor and get this book - "Forty Years with the 45-70, Revised Edition" Book by Paul A. Matthews.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=796073

 

[dc.fireman]

I think I'm convinced...!

 

[Grey Morel]

There is something about having a short rifle that "gets meat on both ends" everytime you squeeze the trigger.

It's called a 'flinch'.