Best of the 45-70???

Full-choke · May 16, 2007, 08:28 PM

Okay, so I think everyone almost has me talked into another 45-70. I own a TC Encore, but I haven't had it long enough to put it to it's full potential. The best I have done is shoot some plastic jugs at 100 yards to sight it in. Having been looking for a good mountain rifle everyone suggested Marlin big-bore lever guns. So, I want to know what some of the best shots people have made with the round are. Distance, adverse conditions, game taken, loads, anything and everything we can think of. Have at it...

Trapper L · May 17, 2007, 10:03 AM

I guess that the folks that have them don't hunt with them. My best shot so far with my Winchester Model 86 in 45-70, was a hog at 431 laser measured yards. She came out of the brush across the tank from me and started to feed at the waters edge. I got out of the truck and put my elbows on the hood for a rest, touch the trigger off and she dropped like the sky fell on her. She would have been in the 400 lbs range. The ammo used was Winchester factory HPs and considering I have a case of it, it is the ammo of choice for this rifle. I'm still looking for a decent opportunity for a good kill with my Buffalo Rifle.

FirstFreedom · May 17, 2007, 10:06 AM

Wow, that's a heck of a good shot! How high did you hold over, and did you adjust for kentucky windage? Is that Win factory ammo a 300 grain HP?

Full-choke · May 17, 2007, 02:15 PM

No kidding that's a good shot. Most ballistics charts don't even give ammo out to 500 yards on 45-70. There are a few here and there but the stats aren't that impressive and the drop is incredible. Props to a shot like that.

Yes, the factory Win was prolly a 300 Grain HP, that is what I shoot out of my TC and I would have to say that it is a good straight shooter.

pdawg_shooter · May 18, 2007, 12:45 PM

I have a 1895g that I love in the bush. I use a 430gr paper patch bullet over 53gr of AA2495. If Im hunting in the wide open spaces, Ill take my 300RUM instead. Guess the longest shot I've taken with the 45-70 was a nice white tail at 262 long paces. I do have a Lyman reciever sight.

Trapper L · May 18, 2007, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the kudos guys but the shot isn't all that impressive. Just outside of my brothers back door is a rifle range- 25,50,100,200,300,400,and 500 yards. We shoot distances like that all the time. No, you don't hold "over" a long range target with open sights- you can't see it for the sights covering the target, You drop the rear sight. Frankly, I wasn't surprized that I hit her, I was impressed that she hit the ground so hard. And yepper, it was the 300 gr HPs. I also have a case of the Partition Gold 300's but you never know when a coyote might jump up and the HPs are deadly on them. The Partitions seem to go thru a small guy like that and not yield a clean and fast kill.

Edward429451 · May 18, 2007, 02:12 PM

I didn't post at first because I've not yet taken any animals with my 1895G. What I can say is that my GG likes 350 or 405 gr boolits and just loves Reloader 7 powder, and likes its boolits oversized. I'm sizing at .460 and it seems like the more powder I add the tighter she shoots.

FirstFreedom · May 18, 2007, 02:31 PM

I still say it's a great shot! Though you move the rear sight up for longer shots.

Edward429451 · May 18, 2007, 05:52 PM

I think he meant the rifle itself (on your shoulder) and not a sight adjustment par se.

stolivar · May 18, 2007, 09:54 PM

If you didn't range it with a range finder first, I would have a hard time believing you shot a hog at over 400 yards with factory 300 grainers. The drop on a 45-70 is over 150 inches at that yardage. If you did not know the exact yardage before the shot it would be almost a totally lucky shot.

I shoot all the time with a 45-70 out to 600 yards at our shooting range. I definitely would not have taken the shot at a hog at that distance without rangeing it first.

steve

Abndoc · May 19, 2007, 09:05 AM

I've seen my Dad drop charging bowling pins at over 350 yards with his 45-70.
I'm not sure what load he was using as he handloads and had several versions. I do know that the "bear" load was punishing.
This was in the desert of southern Nevada where our shooting went from up close and personal, to as far as your eye could see.

stolivar · May 19, 2007, 09:08 AM

But he knew the yardage first. He didn't just get out of a vehicle and rest his arms on the hood and shoot a little piggy out past 400 yards........

I have been long range shooting with the 45-70 with stout loads for over 20 years, and that would have been nothing but a luck shot.

steve

Abndoc · May 19, 2007, 09:20 AM

I'll be the first to admit that if you miss or wound a bowling pin at long range, no harm, no foul. I wouldn't have taken that shot in the pig, personally.

However, couldn't extensive practice and familiarity with your load and rifle mitigate the problems of shooting at long range? Since Trapper L has regular access to a 500 yard range, and shoots there regularly, thats got to help.

stolivar · May 19, 2007, 03:49 PM

Having access to a 500 yard range really helps with the big bores. But the drop on a 45-70 with factory loads is astronomical with just a 20 yard difference past 200 yards......

If you don't know the exact yardage at over 400 yards on a piggy would be pure luck with one shot... Now a big of Bison is a whole lot bigger target.... Even with the hot loads past 300 yards you better know within 25 yards of where he is at for a one shot....

steve

May 16, 2007, 08:28 PM	#1
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 610	Best of the 45-70??? Okay, so I think everyone almost has me talked into another 45-70. I own a TC Encore, but I haven't had it long enough to put it to it's full potential. The best I have done is shoot some plastic jugs at 100 yards to sight it in. Having been looking for a good mountain rifle everyone suggested Marlin big-bore lever guns. So, I want to know what some of the best shots people have made with the round are. Distance, adverse conditions, game taken, loads, anything and everything we can think of. Have at it... __________________ TC Encore - 45-70 Rifle, 45-70 Pistol, 22-250 Pistol, 6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Stoeger Condor 20; Franchi I-12; Taurus 357 Revolver; Stoeger 22 Luger God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

May 17, 2007, 02:15 PM	#4
Full-choke Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 610	No kidding that's a good shot. Most ballistics charts don't even give ammo out to 500 yards on 45-70. There are a few here and there but the stats aren't that impressive and the drop is incredible. Props to a shot like that. Yes, the factory Win was prolly a 300 Grain HP, that is what I shoot out of my TC and I would have to say that it is a good straight shooter. __________________ TC Encore - 45-70 Rifle, 45-70 Pistol, 22-250 Pistol, 6mm Rem Rifle; Ruger 10/22; Stoeger Condor 20; Franchi I-12; Taurus 357 Revolver; Stoeger 22 Luger God gave us the gift of life. It is the most precious gift ever. To be unarmed is to be helpless to protect that gift; that is outright irresponsible. - Ted Nugent

May 18, 2007, 02:12 PM	#7
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 5,981	I didn't post at first because I've not yet taken any animals with my 1895G. What I can say is that my GG likes 350 or 405 gr boolits and just loves Reloader 7 powder, and likes its boolits oversized. I'm sizing at .460 and it seems like the more powder I add the tighter she shoots. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

May 18, 2007, 05:52 PM	#9
Edward429451 Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 5,981	I think he meant the rifle itself (on your shoulder) and not a sight adjustment par se. __________________ "Always place your clothes and weapons where you can find them in the dark" Lazarus Long "Understand that the enemy is not the enemy in his own eyes ;this may offer you an opportunity to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate, and quickly." Lazarus Long

May 18, 2007, 09:54 PM	#10
stolivar Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2004 Posts: 235	don't believe it If you didn't range it with a range finder first, I would have a hard time believing you shot a hog at over 400 yards with factory 300 grainers. The drop on a 45-70 is over 150 inches at that yardage. If you did not know the exact yardage before the shot it would be almost a totally lucky shot. I shoot all the time with a 45-70 out to 600 yards at our shooting range. I definitely would not have taken the shot at a hog at that distance without rangeing it first. steve

May 17, 2007, 10:03 AM	#2
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	I guess that the folks that have them don't hunt with them. My best shot so far with my Winchester Model 86 in 45-70, was a hog at 431 laser measured yards. She came out of the brush across the tank from me and started to feed at the waters edge. I got out of the truck and put my elbows on the hood for a rest, touch the trigger off and she dropped like the sky fell on her. She would have been in the 400 lbs range. The ammo used was Winchester factory HPs and considering I have a case of it, it is the ammo of choice for this rifle. I'm still looking for a decent opportunity for a good kill with my Buffalo Rifle.

May 17, 2007, 10:06 AM	#3
FirstFreedom Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,455	Wow, that's a heck of a good shot! How high did you hold over, and did you adjust for kentucky windage? Is that Win factory ammo a 300 grain HP?

May 18, 2007, 12:45 PM	#5
pdawg_shooter Member Join Date: May 17, 2007 Posts: 33	I have a 1895g that I love in the bush. I use a 430gr paper patch bullet over 53gr of AA2495. If Im hunting in the wide open spaces, Ill take my 300RUM instead. Guess the longest shot I've taken with the 45-70 was a nice white tail at 262 long paces. I do have a Lyman reciever sight.

May 18, 2007, 01:54 PM	#6
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	Thanks for the kudos guys but the shot isn't all that impressive. Just outside of my brothers back door is a rifle range- 25,50,100,200,300,400,and 500 yards. We shoot distances like that all the time. No, you don't hold "over" a long range target with open sights- you can't see it for the sights covering the target, You drop the rear sight. Frankly, I wasn't surprized that I hit her, I was impressed that she hit the ground so hard. And yepper, it was the 300 gr HPs. I also have a case of the Partition Gold 300's but you never know when a coyote might jump up and the HPs are deadly on them. The Partitions seem to go thru a small guy like that and not yield a clean and fast kill.

May 18, 2007, 02:31 PM	#8
FirstFreedom Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: The Toll Road State, U.S.A. Posts: 12,455	I still say it's a great shot! Though you move the rear sight up for longer shots.

May 19, 2007, 09:05 AM	#11
Abndoc Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Location: Kalifornia Posts: 702	I've seen my Dad drop charging bowling pins at over 350 yards with his 45-70. I'm not sure what load he was using as he handloads and had several versions. I do know that the "bear" load was punishing. This was in the desert of southern Nevada where our shooting went from up close and personal, to as far as your eye could see.

May 19, 2007, 09:08 AM	#12
stolivar Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2004 Posts: 235	yes he did But he knew the yardage first. He didn't just get out of a vehicle and rest his arms on the hood and shoot a little piggy out past 400 yards........ I have been long range shooting with the 45-70 with stout loads for over 20 years, and that would have been nothing but a luck shot. steve

May 19, 2007, 09:20 AM	#13
Abndoc Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2006 Location: Kalifornia Posts: 702	I'll be the first to admit that if you miss or wound a bowling pin at long range, no harm, no foul. I wouldn't have taken that shot in the pig, personally. However, couldn't extensive practice and familiarity with your load and rifle mitigate the problems of shooting at long range? Since Trapper L has regular access to a 500 yard range, and shoots there regularly, thats got to help.

May 19, 2007, 03:49 PM	#14
stolivar Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2004 Posts: 235	I agree Having access to a 500 yard range really helps with the big bores. But the drop on a 45-70 with factory loads is astronomical with just a 20 yard difference past 200 yards...... If you don't know the exact yardage at over 400 yards on a piggy would be pure luck with one shot... Now a big of Bison is a whole lot bigger target.... Even with the hot loads past 300 yards you better know within 25 yards of where he is at for a one shot.... steve