Decision of the day 45-70 or 375 H&H?

I'd take a 20" barrel 375 Ruger. Portable like a Lever action, hits hard close and far. Also, I like bolt actions better. :)

If you really will only shoot 200 yards with this rifle forever, then pick the one that you like the best.
 
Anyone have any experience with the Zastava 375? If I can find one it is a serious deal compared to the .338 I am considering spending about 600 more than the zastava to get it to my tastes.
 
Gatehouse said:
I'd take a 20" barrel 375 Ruger. Portable like a Lever action, hits hard close and far. Also, I like bolt actions better. :)

If you really will only shoot 200 yards with this rifle forever, then pick the one that you like the best.
Click to expand...

This^^^^ If I had to do a firesale of all my guns and only kept one.................it would be my Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger. I have killed one moose - bang/flop, one black bear Bang/flop, and one wolf - Bang/flop. All within 200 yards.
 
and I'd go with my super light fast handling stainless black/gray laminate stocked 21" barreled T/C Contender carbine in 375JDJ loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 2300fps and would shoot deer/moose/elk out to 300 yards with this combo.
 
c-fbmi said:
That's a "no brainer"...............375 H&H every time!!!
I have taken dozens of animals with the 375 H&H and right out to 350 mtrs..........the 45-70 is a joke compared to the "grand old girl", the True King of the medium bores !!! I know many will take umbrage with this statement, but these two calibers and cartridges are not in the same class at all and do not cover the same applications. Where the 375 H&H is good to exceptional for any hunting situation world wide, the 45-70 is a very limited niche cartridge..........
Click to expand...


^^^^The gospel....amen.
 
The 375 maybe the better option for the world traveler but if you hunt areas like I do 200 yards is a far shot. I like to hunt thick bush and I prefer getting as close as I can. I choose the 45/70 for me and it works. With practice and good range estimation it will easily put down big game further then most should shoot.
The slower velocity at close range doesn't damage any meat around the entrance hole like a fast moving bullet does. The 375 hh isn't that fast with the heavys either. The 45/70 comes in more shorter more compact platforms as well

You could split the difference and shoot 350 gr bullets from a 458 wm!
For your request I would choose the old 45/70 personally. However you can't go wrong with a short barreled 375 hh
 
Can you guys tell me what advantage the 375h&h/ruger have over a 45-70 within 200 yards.

I load for and shoot both 375H&H & 45-70 and cannot see how the 375's can do anything better than the 45-70 at 200 yards.
 
Most guys who shoot the .45/70 have it chambered in an iron sighted Marlin '95, and shoot factory ammo. I bet most who hunt with one keep the factory semi-buckhorn and bead arrangement, rather than investing in a ghost ring and post, never mind mounting optics. Further, I bet that most who shoot a '95 Marlin don't shoot it particularly well due to the bump on the shoulder they get with heavy loads. So while the .45/70 when handloaded to it's potential does have the trajectory and power to make a 200 yard kill, its seldom equipped with the sighting equipment necessary to realize that potential, and even if it was, the '95 Marlin's butt stock isn't particularly well suited to heavy recoil. Cam's prowess with any rifle lies towards the exceptional, and perhaps he forgets that not everyone can do what he can do. For most folks, a .375 is the best choice when power and versatility are in the equation.
 
Camp Cook said:
Can you guys tell me what advantage the 375h&h/ruger have over a 45-70 within 200 yards.

I load for and shoot both 375H&H & 45-70 and cannot see how the 375's can do anything better than the 45-70 at 200 yards.
Click to expand...
1. The 375 would give you more options past 200yds.
2. Better bullet selection with the 375.
3. Bolt guns are better than lever guns.
 
I well remember a fella that was torqued over losing a black bear. He went to a 375 to get one shot bang flop. Then he went to the 416 Rem, I lost track of him after that. All I can say is the bear was in no great danger, other than getting wounded, with the 375 or the 416, after looking at his bear targets at 100yds over the course of a few months.
Depends on how well the OP can handle recoil, and shooting in the field. And going to either cartridge will not guarantee a bang flop anyway.
 
I am a little surprised with all the 375 recommendations. I have both and find the 375 (Browning x-bolt) has considerably more recoil than my 45-70 (Winchester 1886 and Marlin 1895). Bush hunting with the odd 200 yard shot, 45-70 level all the way. Ammo is cheaper, reloading is way easy, lever guns are simply cool:cool:, they are typically shorter (except the Winchester) and make excellent bush rifles. Big bullet creates big hole with little damage to meat and not overly affected by vegetation that gets in the way.
However, if a bolt gun is your fancy, 375 will work along with 338 or 300WM.
Don't overlook the non magnums though. 308 and 3006 are cheap to shoot, plenty of stopping power if the shooter does their part and can reach out beyond 200 yards if the opportunity presents itself. I also have a 308 and 3006 in lever action too. 308, shoot it all day without a headache and sore shoulder. 375 H&H? Getting older so a couple shots is enough for me.

cheers,
 
So while the .45/70 when handloaded to it's potential does have the trajectory and power to make a 200 yard kill, its seldom equipped with the sighting equipment necessary to realize that potential, and even if it was, the '95 Marlin's butt stock isn't particularly well suited to heavy recoil.
Click to expand...


I know what your saying but...
You cannot hand load the 45/70 to it's true potential in a lever action Marlin... Period.

Ruger #1, yup
Encore, yup if you don't have any fillings to loose
Assorted other expensive break action rifles
Certain long heavy silhouette rifles

The .375 H&H can be loaded beyond it's book potential... Infact a weatherby reamer shoved down it's throat makes it even more versatile... Want to do pest control? A CRB with 4gr of bullseye and you can hunt squirrels, want to hunt elephant? They make solids...

Is one better than the other inside of 200 yards? I'd say with the limiting factory being factory ammunition then the .375 can be rather hard on meat without perfect shot placement (I've personally done this) yet the 45/70 tends to just plow thru with a nickel size hole unless it hits bone then chunks get blown out...
 
I would choose the 375 over the 45-70 for a number of reasons but neither would be my first choice for a 200 yd rifle for bears. I would give serious consideration to either the 9.3x62 or the 35 Whelan. If you are going with strickly factory rifles and factory ammo I would check which is most available in your area. The 35 Whelan with 250 gr bullets or the 9.3x62 with 250 or 286 gr bullets will stop anything in North America with a lot less recoil than the 375 H&H. If you are looking at having a gunsmith put a rifle together and you are a reloader my choice would be put a 35 Whelan Improved barrel with a 1 in 12 in twist. Any 30-06 or 270 rifle could be re-barreled to the 35 W Imp cartridge with no magazine or feedrail work. This will give you at least one extra if not 2 extra rounds in the magazine than the 375 will give you. A good 250 gr 35 cal bullet will penetrate well but the 280 gr Swift A-Frame is incredible for penetration on large game. The 9.3x62 with any good 286 gr bullet is a stopper but the Nosler 286 gr Partition is particularly good.
 
I don't shoot factory ammo I reload everything I shoot except for rimfire.

I'm reading comments from folk that obviously do not know the accuracy and knock down power potential possible from a lever action chambered in 45-70.

I can repeatedly with my crappy vision put 6 350gr A-Frames @ 2150fps from my 18.5" barreled stainless 1895GS 45-70 using ghost ring sights into less than 6" @ 150 yards and have no issue putting 6 into 3" @ 200 yards when I have my Leupold VX2 2-7X scope mounted.

These are my light loads I also load 405gr - 550gr WFNGC's resulting in penetration that the 375H&H would need a round nose solid to match.
 
SuperCub said:
1. The 375 would give you more options past 200yds.
2. Better bullet selection with the 375.
3. Bolt guns are better than lever guns.
Click to expand...

1 OP isn't looking to shoot beyond 200 yards so irrelevant
2 only when factory ammo is compared reload and once again irrelevant
3 we will have to disagree on that cause they aren't

:)
 
Boomer said:
Cam's prowess with any rifle lies towards the exceptional, and perhaps he forgets that not everyone can do what he can do. For most folks, a .375 is the best choice when power and versatility are in the equation.
Click to expand...

Boomer I missed your post earlier = you are correct I really do not think about my firearms skills as being anything but normal and expect others to be able to shoot to the same way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom