Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: Ridgerunner on March 20, 2025, 09:29:53 PM

Title: 45-70
Post by: Ridgerunner on March 20, 2025, 09:29:53 PM: Anyone hunt with one of these? Or a 35?

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Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: Ridgeratt on March 20, 2025, 09:34:01 PM: Does a 350 manglem count?
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: kentrek on March 20, 2025, 10:41:35 PM: Nope but going to start playing with one soon, pretty cool rifles
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: HUNTIN4SIX on March 20, 2025, 10:59:14 PM: Never owned one, but had a fellow guide out shoot me and my .270 plinking at rocks 5-600 yards in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Always wanted one.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: Henrydog on March 21, 2025, 05:03:25 AM: I have a 1970's JM in 45-70 that I hunt with if in brush. Actually, a very accurate rifle with 405gr, not so much with 300gr.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: BA Mongor on March 21, 2025, 06:41:00 AM: I had one when I was a young man. I killed a lot of blacktail with it. I had a straight 4X Leupold on it. Very accurate, but most of my shots were around 50-yards or so.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: Rem14 on March 21, 2025, 08:33:14 AM: Have 2 , JM marlin, Sharps 1874. Has killed Deer, Elk and Buffalo. Always wanted to try with antelope never did.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: wadu1 on March 21, 2025, 08:40:37 AM: I've had 2 Marlin and a Handy rifle that I used for bears. You asked about 35's how about 36, my other bear gun is 9.3X62.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: TeacherMan on March 21, 2025, 09:14:58 AM: Taken several bears with my 45-70 and hardcast rounds in AK. When you tell them to sit and stay they tend to listen...
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: kselkhunter on March 21, 2025, 10:49:34 AM: I hunt with Browning BLR 450 Marlin, and a bolt action 35 Whelen on an old Mauser action Parker Hale. However, one of the Dark Series 45-70 Marlin's is on my wish list for this year (to put my Hybrid 46 on). There are many options for off the shelf ammo and hand loaded ammo in 45-70. It gets the job done with authority at relative distances.

I use the Hybrid 46 on the 35 Whelen as well, and it's a much softer shooter now with those hot custom handloads out of Speer's manual. That rifle setup is coming on my spring bear hunt in Oregon this year.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: JDHasty on March 21, 2025, 12:05:19 PM: I used an 1895SS all my friends used 336s in 35 Rem when we used to hunt bears. Can’t beat either. The 45/70 will flat ruin a bruin.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: jrebel on March 21, 2025, 12:08:16 PM: I have a marlin XLR in 45/70 that has taken deer and bear. Great rifle and a lot of fun to shoot. One of my goals is to take a bruin with my 450 marlin....had a chance last year but messed it up....had the safety on when I dropped the hammer. :bash: :bash: :bash: :chuckle:
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: Rat44 on March 21, 2025, 12:15:39 PM: I hunted with an older Marlin 1895 in 45/70 when I was stationed in California.
Took a few pigs with it and 405 JSP's.
Mine also did not like the lighter 300 gr loads.
Was a great brush gun with a peep sight on it.
Wouldn't try any more than 150 yards with it though , it has the trajectory of a bowling ball.:)
My first big game rifle was a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington when I was much younger living in upstate NY.
Worked good on bears and whitetails.
Ammo nowadays might be hard to find around here.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: lee on March 22, 2025, 06:42:32 AM: Had a friend with a 16In barreled T/C Contender in 45-70. Worsted recoiling handgun I have ever shot!!!!!

I have a 14in Contender in 35Rem. Have hunted with it many times but never had the opportunity to connect with anything.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: Buzzsaw461 on March 22, 2025, 06:53:11 AM: I’ve got the Henry’s 45-70. Fun gun to shoot.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: brokenvet on March 24, 2025, 03:05:20 PM: Yup, did last year, but the opportunity to harvest and elk did not present itself. Will try again this year.

If you intend to use one, from what I have read on other forums written buy old timers who hunt with the 45-70. They say, it is best to use the 405 grain lead or jacketed bullets moving at around 1350FPS rather than a 300 grain bullet moving at 2000FPS. It is suppose to do less damage.

Ruger made Marlin 1895GBL
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: zugbug on March 25, 2025, 07:57:04 AM: I hunt elk with my 45-70.
The area we hunt is so wooded that it doesn't make sense to carry anything with a scope.
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: Cougartail on March 25, 2025, 10:06:40 AM: Quote from: jrebel on March 21, 2025, 12:08:16 PM
I have a marlin XLR in 45/70 that has taken deer and bear. Great rifle and a lot of fun to shoot. One of my goals is to take a bruin with my 450 marlin....had a chance last year but messed it up....had the safety on when I dropped the hammer. :bash: :bash: :bash: :chuckle:

What loads were you using on the bear and deer?
Title: Re: 45-70
Post by: birddogdad on March 25, 2025, 10:12:10 AM: yep, hand loads and marlin XLR.. couple of them i run