.45-70 VS .300 win

I wouldn't consider the 45/70 as a deer rifle unless I had nothing else on hand. I've never shot a deer with a 45/70 but my assumption is that it would waste a bit more meat than necessary?
I know guys will chime in about their killing moose with a .22 and rabbits with 50bmg... but really, a smaller cal (308) like mentioned is ideal for deer.
 
I own and have shot black bears with both calibers..............both up close and +200 yards. The 300winmag killed them quicker EVERY time. Granted, I used premium bullets pushed fast in the 300 and regular cup-n-core lead jacketed bullets in the 45/70. I just think the 45/70 doesn't push the bullets quickly enough to kill them as quickly. They may be bigger bullets, but going half the speed. Maybe a better comparison would be a .450marlin or .458winmag vs the 300winmag.
 
MackForce said:
I wouldn't consider the 45/70 as a deer rifle unless I had nothing else on hand. I've never shot a deer with a 45/70 but my assumption is that it would waste a bit more meat than necessary?
I know guys will chime in about their killing moose with a .22 and rabbits with 50bmg... but really, a smaller cal (308) like mentioned is ideal for deer.
Click to expand...

I have found the opposite to be true. The low speed of the big .45 caliber projectiles cause much less "blood-splattered meat" than the speedier rounds. Often, though not always, you can eat almost right up to the bullet hole, but not so much with the faster , lighter , smaller rounds.
 
sgt.rock said:
I have found the opposite to be true. The low speed of the big .45 caliber projectiles cause much less "blood-splattered meat" than the speedier rounds. Often, though not always, you can eat almost right up to the bullet hole, but not so much with the faster , lighter , smaller rounds.
Click to expand...

Good to know, thanks for that. Like I said, I've never seen it nor tried it.
 
Up close both are overkill.....out to 300 yds either 3006 or 308 would be MORE than enough for anything in north america. (most common calibres) and LOTS of other calibres much smaller than 4570 or 300mag
 
300 win mag is much more versatile, and would give more shock at short.range. 45-70, will give you every bit the blast of.the 300, but is a.short.range caliber. Usually it is not a."stopper" either. Animals often run some distance. It uses the frontal area of its projectile to make large wounds, but is often to slow to impart hydrostatic shock....or bang/flop performance.
 
Both work. The 300 will work 3x farther. I often explain my warmly loaded 45/70 as "if I can hit it with open sights, it's f@&ked, but it's a little like shotput".

I'm not a big fan of the 250gr etc hornady rubber tips though. I like 420's and 485's.
 
For moose country where there are wide open timber clear cuts stretching hundreds of yards the choice of the 300 win mag is obvious.
The 300 win mag with a 3-9x40 scope will do both long and short distance with ease.

I hunted with a guy who had a 22" bbl marlin 1895 and said he could shoot that thing accurately hundreds of yards like quigley (tom selleck) in the movies using kentucky windage.
I embarrassed him into showing us how when we were camped in a huge gravel pit near elk lake west of new liskeard ontario a few falls back.
I mounted an unfolded about 2' x 2' cardboard box that was spray painted fluorescent red on sticks in front of the 15' high gravel face about 250 yards away and out of 5 shots he couldn't hit it once.
So much for quigley and his 45-70.

Like most of these guys my buddy though a nice guy all around was full of grap on the firing line.
I hit the target 5/5 times with my sako 85 hunter in 300 win mag.
An easy shot.
 
You can't like your shoulders very much lol! I have the 45/70 and have shot deer with it. Last deer shot was 25 yrds. away. I never saw an animal die so fast! I hit it in the front shoulder almost square (not the shot I was going for, but the only shot I had in the brush). Bullet went thru into the chest cavity, severed the lungs and heart and came to rest on the opposite shoulder. A bang-flop like I've never got with my 30/30 or my 308. Truth be told, I like it for the nostalgia and don't shoot it often. I find myself grabbing for my 30/30 or my model 70 in 6.5x55SE. As with anything, its up to you to decide. Personally, I'm not a fan of magnums. A lot of wasted energy when you're hunting deer under 300 yrds. If you hunt open spaces, mountains, or plains, then by all means... If you want a more compact gun for thick woods hunting, the 45/70 will certainly do. Good luck!
 
A 45-70 at what power level? For example, a Ruger No.1 can be handloaded with 300gr bullets at 2600 fps MV. I shot my trophy 6x7 Bull Elk using an X bullet at that muzzle speed. Range was about 150 meters, the bullet struck broadside through the shoulders and it dropped like a ton of bricks fell on it.

35668002350_b5d27cf89d_b.jpg

45-70 Ruger No.1-S with Bushnell Legend Ultra HD 1.75-5x32mm
 
Last edited:
That 4500 ft-lbs and a 300 gr bullet will make a big difference to your shoulder but not much to the game animal especially past 100 yds.
That big wide bullet will shed energy like it's going out of style.
 
Overkill on both calibers.. .257 roberts, 6mm, .243 all good choices for black bear and deer..especially the small bears they have in Ontario. If your hunting black bear on Vancouver Island.. go .308 as the deer are small but the bears are hugh! and because of this considered a subspecies "Vancouver Island Black Bear" Average bear 8 ft from nose to tail..The .308 might be a good medium there.. thoughts?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom