45/70's
 

I just recently purchased a Shilo Sharps in 45/70, and was wondering what the would be the largest game, I could take with it?

RE: 45/70's
 

what country ??

RE: 45/70's
 

Anything you want.

A few months ago I read where a woman made a killing shot on a buffalo at over 1000 yards with a 45-70. No that's not a typo... 1000 yards with a single shot from a 45-70.

RE: 45/70's
 

Commentary on Farrow Rifles
Milton Farrow was the best rifle shot in America. ... also have had the rear butt
sight and would have been a .45-70 which carries better at long range. ...
http:/www.arco-iris.com/George/farrow.htm

RE: 45/70's
 

Dinosaurs if they still walked the earth. A good hard cast bullet of about 500 grains won't stop for much.

RE: 45/70's
 

Just, whatever you do, don't ask if its enough gun for bears[&:]!!! LOL, sorry the .308 for bears thread has worn me out. I'd say easily anything in North America, and yes shot placement would be key, and yes there are bigger badder mammer-jammers out there.

Do doubt someone will mention how "little" energy it has...but I think people get caught up in the numbers sometimes and forget that a 400gr bullet is gonna "keep" alot more energy than a 200gr bullet and so it doesn't need as much to began with.

RE: 45/70's
 

Look at some of the loads that the Buffalo Bore company makes for the stronger 45-70s out there. I would use my Marlin 1895 and hunt anything in North America or the game in Africa should I ever be so lucky to go.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#4570 These loads may not be reccomended for your rifle though.

RE: 45/70's
 

I shoot a .450 Marlin which is basically a 45/70 that is hot loaded. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for anything that walks.

RE: 45/70's
 

First, remember that a Sharps action isnt as strong as a Ruger #1, modern bolt actions or a Marlin lever action. You want to be careful what you feed it.

Having said that, if a Sharps 45-70 could take bison...I reckon it still can. Big heavy bullets dont stop real easily. Dunno I would try it on blue whales, but anything that walks would be fair game.

RE: 45/70's
 

And here i thought it was "Quigley!!" , now that i know "that" i think i'll go burn my copy of the movie!! :D

Drilling Man

RE: 45/70's
 

Not long ago, a hunter killed TWO CAPE BUFFALO with one shot from his Marlin lever action 45-70. That should tell you something about this old war horse. The 435 grain bullet went through a large bull then through a cow with the bullet stopping under the hide on the far side. The artical was in Rifle or Handloader magazine as I remember. He was using either Corbon or Garret loads. In tests, the 45-70 with hard cast bullets will out penetrate the 458 and 460 Weatherby Magnums. This is because even the hard cast bullets will began to expand at velocities over 2000 fps. The best velocity for penetration is 1600-1900 fps. Expansion sometimes causes a bullet to stear slightly off course which also limits penetration a bit.

RE: 45/70's
 

With the right bullets, especially something like the loads offered from www.garrettcartridges.com, you can kill anything with the .45-70 (as long as you are using a rifle that can handle the pressures).

The big Garrett round, they claim, will go snooter to tooter through a Grizzly bear, and someone on their web site got an African big five with it.

There is no question that it will penetrate all game animals well enough to kill them, in fact, Garrett recommends that you aim for the heavy shoulder bone on dangerous game because their bullets will go through and disable the animal.

RE: 45/70's
 

Thanks for the info, after looking at Garrett and Buffalo ammo sites, and reading some of the articles, and seeing pictures, all I gotta figure out is How and When, I'm gonna con The Wife into a trip to Alaska, BC, or someplace like that, to try this Bad-Boy on some Big, big game. Thanks again.

RE: 45/70's
 

Be very carefull, I to have a sharps & the co. warns about not going over 25,000 c.u.p.. most loads from corbon & garrit are over that. make sure to check it out from them. I would hate to hear your sharps came apart in your face!! Just a friendly reminder. GB 50

RE: 45/70's
 

Very good advice. I think Garret and Corbon lists the recommended rifles for their loads.