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45-70 any good for whitetail?
I am Thinking about buying a new marlin lever action 45-70, i hunt alot but mainly whitetail, so if i buy this gun i want it to do good for deer. thanks
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
The 45-70 can be loaded to take any game on this planet. Yes, it is an excellent white tail caliber with the right load.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
what would be a good load to us in it for whitetail? thanks
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
Maybe not too much, but definitely more than needed. I have friends that use 45/70 and love it. I have actually toyed with getting one myself. I saw a stainless Marlin Guide Gun in a pawn shop a while back for $465 and am kicking myself for not buying it. When I went back, it was gone. As far as ammo, I would use Hornady LeverEvolutions. I love them in my 30-30.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
The 45-70 is a great deer cartridge. I have excellent results with the Winchester 300 gr JHP. This bullet penetrates to handle shots from any angle.
This bullet punches a big hole, but b/c of the low velocity (1880 fps) there is no shock blood extending from the wound. The trajectory with this ammo is flat enough, that if you zero it 2" high at 100 yds, it'll still strike home at 200 yds. if you place the crosshairs on the top of a deer's back. Recoil is mild, about like a 308, but more of a push than a punch. If you hit the shoulder, the deer will drop on the spot. If you hit the heart or lungs, they will run a short ways, but not far at all, and bleed profusely. I have a 4x fixed scope on my 1895. It is my 2nd favorite deer rifle. The 308 is my first. If you get a 45-70 you will be very pleased. It is an awesome deer rifle. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
love mine ,,,good woods and swamp gun..lots of blood...
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
If that is your choice, so be it! It's your prerogative!
My friend, a .260 Rem will kill deer all day long!:) |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I have a Marlin 45-70 and believe me it works. Hornady has also come out the the revolution loads for this caliber aloowing you to use pointed bullets safely in a lever gun. These loadings will give you more range than you previously had.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
ORIGINAL: scotty51 I have a Marlin 45-70 and believe me it works. Hornady has also come out the the revolution loads for this caliber aloowing you to use pointed bullets safely in a lever gun. These loadings will give you more range than you previously had. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I don't own one, and I've never shot one, but I have to disagree about it being "flat" as ths78 suggested. It is heavy and slow, so how would it shoot flat? It looks to me to have similar characteristics as a slug from a shotgun. Not that this presents a problem, but I think there are better choices. But if you want a heavy hitting lever action cowboy gun, go buy it. That is a great reason to own and hunt with one, but the cartridge is limited compared to a lot of others, and you asked.
I love shooting my sks chambered in 7.62x39. I also hunt deer with it on occasion. It is the most inexpensive gun I’ve ever owned. I looks like it was whittled out of a 2x4 by a child, it is short, heavy, under powered, limited range, awful trigger, terrible front iron sight, and rattles like a maraca, but I love it! I love to hunt with it and I love to shoot it. But I do recognize that it is very limited. You need to ask yourself why you want this gun. If it is simply for performance, you’re making a mistake, find another gun to buy. If you’re buying it because you simply like it and want it, and you are able to see that it is limited, but still feel that you must have it – go buy it and enjoy it. I prefer the 30-06 to any other cartridge, when it comes to rifles. It can be light, fast and flat, and it can also be heavy, slow and arched/limited range. You can hunt any animal in the world with it, no matter what anyone says. I agree that it may not be the best at everything, or anything for that matter, but at least the most versatile. If you can hunt brown bear with a bow, you can hunt elephant with an -06... And one of the best things is that the ammo is in every store, in every location. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
Killer Primate, +1 on the ought - six! Every deer I've shot with mine were DRT, not even a step after the shot. I can buy a box of good quality ammo for around 16 bucks a box, and find it anywhere.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I work with a guy that has one and I have been researching it lately. To tell you the truth I'm not all that impressed.
No doubt it will work for deer though. From everything I have been looking at it is pretty comparable to a modern slug gun or Inline muzzle loader. Slower lead cowboy loads, like from PMC are worse than a sabot slug. I would say it is better than a rifled foster slug and about on par with with modern sabot bullets depending on what loads you pick. Flat? No freakin way, my muzzle loader shoots flater and it isn't even loaded to near it's potential. My opinion anyway. Paul |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
ORIGINAL: Paul L Mohr I work with a guy that has one and I have been researching it lately. To tell you the truth I'm not all that impressed. No doubt it will work for deer though. From everything I have been looking at it is pretty comparable to a modern slug gun or Inline muzzle loader. Slower lead cowboy loads, like from PMC are worse than a sabot slug. I would say it is better than a rifled foster slug and about on par with with modern sabot bullets depending on what loads you pick. Flat? No freakin way, my muzzle loader shoots flater and it isn't even loaded to near it's potential. My opinion anyway. Paul |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
Yep I did compare it to factory loads. Most people don't handload. The just by the gun and go get some ammo. So that is what I look at.
There are actually some pretty impressive factory loads for them, but it puts it slightly above what you can reach with a newer sabot load in a 12 or 20 ga shotgun. I bet they are more accurate though. I was just saying that I always thought of the 45-70 as being a really bad ass cartridge. However when I actually looked it up it wasn't overly impressive. Your saying you can get near 2400 fps out of a 400 grn bullet in one? That would be pretty impressive. Paul |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
Zeroed 2" high at 100 yds, at 1880 fps, it is rougly 8" low at 200 yds. Put the crosshairs on the top of the deer's back, and at 200 yds the bullet will strike the heart, which is about 8" below the top of his back. A deer is about 12-18" from top to bottom, depending on age and size.
I don't know what you're basing your disbelief on Killer Primate...A 45-70 really is that flat with the Winchester SuperX 300 gr JHP. And Rebel Hog, the 260 has about the same muzzle energy, but more at 100 and 200 yds than a factory loaded 45-70. 260 has much more velocity and a much smaller bullet. Happy Hunting Fellas. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
[quote]ORIGINAL: Paul L Mohr
Yep I did compare it to factory loads. Most people don't handload. The just by the gun and go get some ammo. So that is what I look at. There are actually some pretty impressive factory loads for them, but it puts it slightly above what you can reach with a newer sabot load in a 12 or 20 ga shotgun. I bet they are more accurate though. I was just saying that I always thought of the 45-70 as being a really bad ass cartridge. However when I actually looked it up it wasn't overly impressive. Your saying you can get near 2400 fps out of a 400 grn bullet in one? That would be pretty impressive. Paul [/quote Oh, gotcha, and I was refering to the 300 Gr bullet at 2400fps:eek:I, too thought the 45-70 was a monster of a cartridge, until I learned how to look up ballistics, and I saw that the ole' 30-06 churns up a lot more power and a lot flatter trajectory. I used to believe that the 45-70 had more killing power than a .300 or .338 Magnum, man, was I wrong.[&:] |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I'll probably take some flak for this but it killed off most of the Bison and Buffalo, not to mention the American Indian. Can any of you name another cartridge that has been around for well over a century besides the classic Mauser rounds? If I didn't have my 307 and 35 Whelen as my open sighted woods gun I'd be buying a 45-70 in a heart beat.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
whats that old cowboys name that shot the indian slap out of his saddle at over a mile,,,i think he was useing a 45-70 sharps. smoked him.,..no these little lever guns dont shoot all that flat way out ,they wasnt ment too ,,for the woods and swamps you cant ask for a better round ...i dont care if it blows em in two pieces ,,just so they dont run off ,,,,mines a marlin guide gun and im crazy about it...but if im huntin the fields i takeing the 7mm stw...
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I would be a little concerned about trying tohunt whitetail witha 45/70.
A grizzly maybe, but them steel skinned whitetail will get away every time.;) |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
ORIGINAL: thndrchiken I'll probably take some flak for this but it killed off most of the Bison and Buffalo, not to mention the American Indian. Can any of you name another cartridge that has been around for well over a century besides the classic Mauser rounds? If I didn't have my 307 and 35 Whelen as my open sighted woods gun I'd be buying a 45-70 in a heart beat. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
yes that is a nice gun for hunting,i would think.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
ORIGINAL: ths78 And Rebel Hog, the 260 has about the same muzzle energy, but more at 100 and 200 yds than a factory loaded 45-70. 260 has much more velocity and a much smaller bullet. Happy Hunting Fellas. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I don't know what factory rounds do in my 45-70, but I shoot a 300gr partition at 2050fps and 2" high at 100, I zero at 140yards, and at 200 yards, I am 7" low and still have over 1200ft-lbs of energy at 200. If a person can't ultilize those bullistics to take deer out to 200 yards, they probably shouldn't be taking deer under 100.
I have taken a few deer with it. Excellent performance. But considering changing bullets to 300gr sierra. The partition would be great for moose, but I went lengthways in a deer and still didn't find the bullet, so I wonder if its expanding much. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
Ths78,
What does “that flat” mean? Where I come from 8” below the line of sight at two hundred yards doesn’t equate to “flat”. What is the maximum trajectory for 2” high at 100 yards and 8” below line of sight at 200 yards? I’m going to guess 4” or more? If that is close this would give you a 12” vertical point of impact within 200 yards. Which is about 4” bigger than a pie-plate (the size of a whitetail deer’s vitals) and that is with no error in the calculation. I think you should be shooting for (no pun intended) half the size of the vitals at whatever shooting distance you are anticipating and then you pick the cartridge you want based on the numbers. So if I were going to carry the 45-70 I’d set the maximum trajectory for 2”. When the projectile fell below the line of sight 2” (point blank range) I would establish this as my maximum shooting distance or point blank range yards. Now the gun is capable of shooting through a 4” window at this given range, but we must realize that we aren’t going to achieve this while holding the rifle in a hunting scenario, ultimately ending up with the pie-plate, and anything bigger I would consider irresponsible. I don’t have any tables in front of me but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that if you zeroed the weapon at 100 yards you would have a maximum trajectory of approximately 2”. The point blank range yards around 130 yards and the supplemental range yards around 145 to 150 and now you’re really pushing it in regards to responsible shooting. Keep in mind, I said that if he wants the gun, he should buy it and enjoy it. He should however know what he’s getting before purchasing it and know its limitations, just as you would any other firearm. As far as I can tell, this is the equivalent of a shotgun loaded up with slugs, however, you’ll never be able to use any kind of shot shell with this gun. If I were happy with the ballistics provided I think I’d buy a shotgun and be a little more versatile. But that is just me. There are many reasons to buy a particular gun. But if ballistic performance were my first priority, this gun wouldn’t be a runner up. And I’m sorry, but I have to go on factory ammo for my opinions. I don’t reload and don’t feel that I should have to, when there are so many good cartridges right off the shelf to pick from. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
ORIGINAL: Killer_Primate Ths78, What does “that flat” mean? Where I come from 8” below the line of sight at two hundred yards doesn’t equate to “flat”. What is the maximum trajectory for 2” high at 100 yards and 8” below line of sight at 200 yards? I’m going to guess 4” or more? If that is close this would give you a 12” vertical point of impact within 200 yards. Which is about 4” bigger than a pie-plate (the size of a whitetail deer’s vitals) and that is with no error in the calculation. I think you should be shooting for (no pun intended) half the size of the vitals at whatever shooting distance you are anticipating and then you pick the cartridge you want based on the numbers. So if I were going to carry the 45-70 I’d set the maximum trajectory for 2”. When the projectile fell below the line of sight 2” (point blank range) I would establish this as my maximum shooting distance or point blank range yards. Now the gun is capable of shooting through a 4” window at this given range, but we must realize that we aren’t going to achieve this while holding the rifle in a hunting scenario, ultimately ending up with the pie-plate, and anything bigger I would consider irresponsible. I don’t have any tables in front of me but I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that if you zeroed the weapon at 100 yards you would have a maximum trajectory of approximately 2”. The point blank range yards around 130 yards and the supplemental range yards around 145 to 150 and now you’re really pushing it in regards to responsible shooting. Keep in mind, I said that if he wants the gun, he should buy it and enjoy it. He should however know what he’s getting before purchasing it and know its limitations, just as you would any other firearm. As far as I can tell, this is the equivalent of a shotgun loaded up with slugs, however, you’ll never be able to use any kind of shot shell with this gun. If I were happy with the ballistics provided I think I’d buy a shotgun and be a little more versatile. But that is just me. There are many reasons to buy a particular gun. But if ballistic performance were my first priority, this gun wouldn’t be a runner up. And I’m sorry, but I have to go on factory ammo for my opinions. I don’t reload and don’t feel that I should have to, when there are so many good cartridges right off the shelf to pick from. |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
The horse wasn't dead, it was just brain dead, and I'll beat it until it learns, or I decide I'm done beating!
Seriously - the guy asked about the cartridge in regards to hunting deer. I gave him some facts to look at and also agreed that sometimes it is good to buy a gun simply because you want it, it is a great way to be happy! Others state emotions and opinions as facts, I think the author of the thread should get a fair shake. Good luck, KP |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
45-70 any good for whitetail? |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
ORIGINAL: Killer_Primate The horse wasn't dead, it was just brain dead, and I'll beat it until it learns, or I decide I'm done beating! Seriously - the guy asked about the cartridge in regards to hunting deer. I gave him some facts to look at and also agreed that sometimes it is good to buy a gun simply because you want it, it is a great way to be happy! Others state emotions and opinions as facts, I think the author of the thread should get a fair shake. Good luck, KP |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I can read.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
Yea, you can read, but its a poor substitute for actual experience.
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RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
I don't need to shoot one to know that it doesn't shoot flat. It is called knowledge.
It's like ohms law - there are three contributing factors. If you know two of them, you can figure out the third, or should be able to. Heavy x slow = arched path/short range PM me and I'll teach you how to do it, or you could just go buy every gun in the world and then get back to me on how they all perform, then I can throw away all these useless books! |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
ORIGINAL: Killer_Primate I don't need to shoot one to know that it doesn't shoot flat. It is called knowledge. It's like ohms law - there are three contributing factors. If you know two of them, you can figure out the third, or should be able to. Heavy x slow = arched path/short range PM me and I'll teach you how to do it, or you could just go buy every gun in the world and then get back to me on how they all perform, then I can throw away all these useless books! |
RE: 45-70 any good for whitetail?
sounds like a good idea! that will take a deer any day!!!!!
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