.45-70 What Am I Missing?!

[Jonathan_S]

.45-70 users, past and present:
What the heck am I missing?  Everything I read limits the .45-70 to short ranges of 150 yards and under (usually well under)

I bought my wife a .45-70 1895 Guide Gun for bear hunting - yeah she's tough enough to shoot it - and I've reloaded several batches up to 57 grns H4198 with a 300 grain hollow point.

This gun is very accurate at one hundred yards, more accurate than I am certainly and I corralled 1" groups the other day.

At 150 yards, it still shot 3" and 4" groups with iron sights.  Now that 300 grain bullet is no pacifist and I know it's got the punch to knock the vitals out of a pickup truck, let alone a black bear, at 200+ yards. 

Why does everyone discredit this as a a 200 yard gun?

Confused...

[pianoman9701]

I always thought of it as more of a longer range, buffalo-type gun. I would think 200-300 yards is where it shines. got an arch like a jump shot, but...

[pianoman9701]

Post up a pic.

[h20hunter]

I have zero experience with these guns myself....however.....I've watched guys shoot out the X ring at 500 yards.

[washingtonmuley]

I always thought of it as more of a longer range, buffalo-type gun. I would think 200-300 yards is where it shines. got an arch like a jump shot, but...

It is going to drop close to 3' out at 300 yards. If you are going to shoot that kind of distance I would put some glass on it.

[Alchase]

They use to use the 45-70 for buffalo, if you saw how tall the ladder sights that were used, you could tell out past 300 yards they were lobbing slugs.
Does not mean they were not effective though.

[Fl0und3rz]

I do 47 grains IMR 4198, and its a thumper with a 300 JHP.  Without some sort of calibrated sight, I stick to under 200 yards.  It could probably do farther, but you'd have to know your trajectory and be good with your range estimation and sight adjustment.

That's why I think of these as more appropriate for short range brush gun snap shooting. I don't want an optic on a lever gun.

If you don't already have one, check out the XS ghost ring sight.  If you intend to scope it, I believe they make one with a rail for optics mount, as well.

[jrebel]

I shoot a Marlin 45/70 xlr and it is amazingly accurate to 300 yards.  I zero mine at 200 (with a scope) and at 100 it is roughly 3 inches high.  At 300 yards it is approx 18 inches low.  I have shot deer out to 280 yards and it is very lethal.  I shot my bear this last year at 40 yards and again it is very lethal.  I would have no problem extending the range even further with some practice.  I shoot the Hornady leverevolution 325 grain bullet. 

With all that said I have the xlr version with the longer barrel.  I would not shoot the guide gun at 300 yards.

I am going off my memory hear so my trajectory number may be a little off, but not by much.  I can look when at home to see my notes made on the gun.   

Johnny

[washingtonmuley]

I do 47 grains IMR 4198, and its a thumper with a 300 JHP.  Without some sort of calibrated sight, I stick to under 200 yards.  It could probably do farther, but you'd have to know your trajectory and be good with your range estimation and sight adjustment.

That's why I think of these as more appropriate for short range brush gun snap shooting. I don't want an optic on a lever gun.

If you don't already have one, check out the XS ghost ring sight.  If you intend to scope it, I believe they make one with a rail for optics mount, as well.

I put an AO ghost ring site with a 2.5 power leupold scope on mine and I love it. I have only shot it out to 100 yards but might have to break her out again and see what she can do at longer distances.

[PolarBear]

I can tell you that at 100 yards they have plenty of power to go completely through someone's house (mine) and exit the opposite side with very little expansion and continue on.

[Fl0und3rz]

I do 47 grains IMR 4198, and its a thumper with a 300 JHP.  Without some sort of calibrated sight, I stick to under 200 yards.  It could probably do farther, but you'd have to know your trajectory and be good with your range estimation and sight adjustment.

That's why I think of these as more appropriate for short range brush gun snap shooting. I don't want an optic on a lever gun.

If you don't already have one, check out the XS ghost ring sight.  If you intend to scope it, I believe they make one with a rail for optics mount, as well.

I put an AO ghost ring site with a 2.5 power leupold scope on mine and I love it. I have only shot it out to 100 yards but might have to break her out again and see what she can do at longer distances.

Nice.

Here's mine.



Zeroed at 175  yards. +5 at 100 and -3" at 200.  I could probably flatten that by getting some more velocity out of it.

[jrebel]

Here's mine....Love this gun.

[Blacktail Sniper]

I can tell you that at 100 yards they have plenty of power to go completely through someone's house (mine) and exit the opposite side with very little expansion and continue on.

There HAS to be a story here....... 

[h20hunter]

I think he had a thread with pics and all.

[sirmissalot]

I do 47 grains IMR 4198, and its a thumper with a 300 JHP.  Without some sort of calibrated sight, I stick to under 200 yards.  It could probably do farther, but you'd have to know your trajectory and be good with your range estimation and sight adjustment.

That's why I think of these as more appropriate for short range brush gun snap shooting. I don't want an optic on a lever gun.

If you don't already have one, check out the XS ghost ring sight.  If you intend to scope it, I believe they make one with a rail for optics mount, as well.

I put an AO ghost ring site with a 2.5 power leupold scope on mine and I love it. I have only shot it out to 100 yards but might have to break her out again and see what she can do at longer distances.

Nice.

Here's mine.



Zeroed at 175  yards. +5 at 100 and -3" at 200.  I could probably flatten that by getting some more velocity out of it.

Sweet, what sights are those? Also, I've seen the big hoops on the lever before, never have understood the purpose of it, just more room for gloves?