.45-70 i dont get it?

[Nitro1970]

I've read the over the counter stuff is on the weak side due to older guns that will still function and to get the true potential out of it in a modern gun with a strong action, reloading is necessary... Truth??

[Jeremy1]

well i think it is a cool caliber and it would be an awesome bear gun. The reason I ask is because my stepdad and dad had to have one and they never hunt with them just bring them out of the closet to show them off. lol

[txpitdog]

Woo doggie, I love the 45-70! It is a crap load of power in a very small, easy handling package. Perhaps it is the heavy bullet at moderate velocities or something else, but it's recoil is right at the maximum of what I can handle shooting all day. It has conditioned me to shoot heavy recoiling rifles such that a 300 Win mag or 375 Ruger are no big deal.

I load my Marlin Guide Gun up with 300gr hard cast bullets to 2200fps. That load will go through a couple deer lengthwise and will completely vaporize a cinder block...also shot lengthwise. It's just a hell of a lot of horsepower in a quick handling classic firearm that is fully capable of dropping an elk past 200yds.

Now my other little dandy is even MORE quick handling, but you pay a severe cost in recoil with it. I took a H&R single shot and cut it down and replaced the stock with a lightweight youth set. The finished product is less than 30" long and weighs less than 6lbs. I only shoot factory 300gr JHP in it, since I don't intend to aim past 50yds with it.

[az2tx]

When you hunt with one you don't have to ask yourself "Do I have enough gun?" because you already know the answer.

That would depend on where you hunt, it is a bit light for Africa

[dustoffer]

I've read the over the counter stuff is on the weak side due to older guns that will still function and to get the true potential out of it in a modern gun with a strong action, reloading is necessary... Truth??

Yes--from a safety and liability perspective, the old original trapdoor Springfields can't handle the chamber pressures that a modern firearm can handle. So--the factory loads are mild.

The modern lever guns handle a much higher pressure, with the Ruger #1 handling the highest--safely. The Hodgdon data shows max pressures for trapdoor-type loads around 25,000 CUP, with max pressures for lever guns up to 40,000 CUP. Working pressures for the Ruger#1 & #3, plus the Browning 1895 go as high as 50,000 CUP. I worked up a load for a buddy's Marlin using the Barnes 300-gr HP bullets. I think the muzzle velocity was 2300fps + but don't quote me on that. We named that rifle the "Ham Slammer." After a few range sessions, I told him "no mas" unless he let me put a recoil pad on it--and I'm not recoil-sensitive. Put a Pachmayr Decellerator on it and it was OK to shoot.

[Nitro1970]

Yes--from a safety and liability perspective, the old original trapdoor Springfields can't handle the chamber pressures that a modern firearm can handle. So--the factory loads are mild.

The modern lever guns handle a much higher pressure, with the Ruger #1 handling the highest--safely. The Hodgdon data shows max pressures for trapdoor-type loads around 25,000 CUP, with max pressures for lever guns up to 40,000 CUP. Working pressures for the Ruger#1 & #3, plus the Browning 1895 go as high as 50,000 CUP. I worked up a load for a buddy's Marlin using the Barnes 300-gr HP bullets. I think the muzzle velocity was 2300fps + but don't quote me on that. We named that rifle the "Ham Slammer." After a few range sessions, I told him "no mas" unless he let me put a recoil pad on it--and I'm not recoil-sensitive. Put a Pachmayr Decellerator on it and it was OK to shoot.

That's like a mini 450 win mag eh??

[SAM STEPHENS]

The 45/70 has taken the Big five more than several times , look up Garrett ammo...
,,,Sam,,,,

[Rather_B_Fishin]

Had a lil H&R 45/70 that would knock your eye teeth out shooting reloads thru it but wasn't to bad with factory loads. In Miss and La you can hunt primitive season ( muzzle loader) with these kinda guns. I want a marlin lever gun to throw in the truck and shoot pigs with. Oh and don't let the big bulk bullet fool ya, if I remember correctly there was a soldier at the battle of the little big horn killed an Indian off his horse with a shot from over a mile away. And that was the black powder loaded 45/70

[okrattler]

I've read the over the counter stuff is on the weak side due to older guns that will still function and to get the true potential out of it in a modern gun with a strong action, reloading is necessary... Truth??

If I'm not mistakin that's why the 450 Marlin was born.

[Buff]

Great old cartridge .... All three of my sons killed their first deer with it using 300 grain hollow point.

[banzai]

A good hit with a 45-70 = no need to track. It is my Sunday morning gun since I usually leave the ranch as early as possible Sunday to get home and get ready for work on Monday.

[Rather_B_Fishin]

I stand corrected after reading it wasn't the bighorn it was in adobe walls, tx where they shot the Indian chief at a mile with the black powder 45/70. Google 1 mile shot with 45/70 and it will surprise you at what that hunk of lead can do.