Why 45/70 ?????

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I understand the stopping capabilities of the 45/70, but why on earth would anybody choose to hunt with one?

I don't really understand all the 45/70 recommendations in a recent black bear thread???
Is there allure in the dismal range characteristics of the 45/70??
Do we choose it to protect ourselves from the black bear?

If I want a challenge I hunt with a recurve or compound bow and maybe (someday) a black powder rifle.
If I'm serious and want to get the job done I bring a rifle chambered in a cartridge with some performance.

If I want history I bring a 7X57, 30-06, 375 H&H, or 416 Rigby.....All of which are much more logical general purpose rifles.

Just my opinion and all in fun of course.:D

What interests me is why do you choose to hunt with the 45/70 and why do you recommend it??
 
I love my .444 and .45/70 because they just send the slower big bullets deep and assure me good penetration. And if you think about it, they don't even have to expand at all to equal the fully expanded diameter of a fast .27 or .30 on game wounds. Longer range shooting is easily accomplished with good peep sights or a scope. Of course getting to know the trajectory has helped me a lot.
 
X-fan said:
I understand the stopping capabilities of the 45/70, but why on earth would anybody choose to hunt with one?

I don't really understand all the 45/70 recommendations in a recent black bear thread???
Is there allure in the dismal range characteristics of the 45/70??
Do we choose it to protect ourselves from the black bear?

If I want a challenge I hunt with a recurve or compound bow and maybe (someday) a black powder rifle.
If I'm serious and want to get the job done I bring a rifle chambered in a cartridge with some performance.

If I want history I bring a 7X57, 30-06, 375 H&H, or 416 Rigby.....All of which are much more logical general purpose rifles.

Just my opinion and all in fun of course.:D

What interests me is why do you choose to hunt with the 45/70 and why do you recommend it??
Click to expand...

oh my....

Well, I love Marlin Levers. My Favourite action and manufacturer.
My 45/70 is as dependable as they come and can cycle faster than a bolt for a quick second shot when needed.

It thumps. I hunt in thick brush and benfit from amy of the barrel lengths.

It's well proven for me..

I have never seen a more dramatic kill than one that came from a 45/70...
though thats not what it's all about, it sure does impress...
 
.45/70 offers the shooter the option of using a heavy bullet that offers lots of stopping power from short to medium ranges. The "guide gun" concept popularized by Marlin provides quick, fast 'n easy handling brush guns that make them ideal for pushing the bush or hunting from a tree stand over a bear bait.

Here in Newfoundland, most shots at moose are under 100 yards. That makes the .45/70 an ideal choice and you are certainly not at any ballistic challenge under those conditions. With decent optics and a shooter who knows what he is doing, range can be extended out to 250 yards.

The round also offers lots of fun for casters and handloaders. The Marlins are built like brick *hithouses and can easily handle "hot" handloads. Handloading is a much better option, as most commercial stuff, with certain exceptions, is deliberately downloaded for legal reasons in case someone uses it in weaker, vintage actions other than Marlins.

There you go!:)
 
X-fan said:
I understand the stopping capabilities of the 45/70, but why on earth would anybody choose to hunt with one?

I don't really understand all the 45/70 recommendations in a recent black bear thread???
Is there allure in the dismal range characteristics of the 45/70??
Do we choose it to protect ourselves from the black bear?

If I want a challenge I hunt with a recurve or compound bow and maybe (someday) a black powder rifle.
If I'm serious and want to get the job done I bring a rifle chambered in a cartridge with some performance.

If I want history I bring a 7X57, 30-06, 375 H&H, or 416 Rigby.....All of which are much more logical general purpose rifles.

Just my opinion and all in fun of course.:D

What interests me is why do you choose to hunt with the 45/70 and why do you recommend it??
Click to expand...

a compound bow... well thats no fun... i think if you would try a 45-70 out you would love it. they dont kick that bad.

and i have used a bow before and well i like to be able to shoot more then 65 yards
 
Because you can load it up to where the 458 Win Mag starts.
A 400gr bullet moving at 1800 fps is actually quite devastating
 
For starters.

Bullet availability, cast or not.
Load diversity, so many to choose from.
The thump factor, No problem for shots with in 200 yards.
 
Please look into what killed the most buffalo. It was a 45/70 or one of it's bigger cousins. The cartridge has been used out to 1000 yards.

I have a Marlin 1985GS that is a great gun and I can make my hits out to 100 yards with iron sights. I just got an H&R buffalo hunter and since I just sold a NEF SB2, I know it will be a shooter.

There is nothing in the North American that can't be hunted with a 45/70.

IMO
 
I always saw the 45/70 as an anachronism that held on because it was such a great match to the lever guns you usually see it in. If you want long range your going to choose a bolt gun anyway but a 45/70 guide gun is just such a handy ,great looking, hard hitting
short range brush rifle it is never going to die out. It makes a great bear defense rifle.
The Marlin can be scoped and is good in poor weather. It seems like a rifle for how people really hunt ,ie most shots are under 150 meters.

My favorite thing about the 45/70 and the Marlin is the feel and look of the lever rifle and the fat old style cartridges. recently I have wanted my gear to do more than just work well. I have started buying antiques or repros of 19th century knives and guns because they seem to have more style and character while still doing the as good a job.
The 45/70 guide gun really has that style and feel you don't get from a synthetic/stainless bolt gun.
 
While I've had a few over the years I've never actualy hunted with one. I currently have a very accurate Guide Gun, doing an inch with it's 405 gr. load at 1800 fps.It won't be a first choice for anything but will be very cool for retreiving meat or carrying when I know I'm going to be in some thick stuff. Also kills stumps dead.
 
Well, I'm serious and when I plan on gettin the job done I'll be using my new Marlin 4570 to do it. I hunt in thick brush in the Canadian shield, not to many deer killed over 100 yds in those parts. I hunt with 250-3000, 308 savage, and 300 savage, and I'll even bring my 3030 into a watch, It all depends where I'm going in the morning during the hunt, and what my flavor of the day is.
I have not hunted my 4570 yet as I just got , but I have had time to go to the range, and with a williams peep site it shoots 3/4" groups at 50yds. Accuracy doesn't seem to be a problem. So if you haven't tried it don't knock it.
 
I've got a tricked out GG like everyone else.
Other than shooting it at the range or having it in the tent with me I never use it.
Lots of different rifles to choose from that I think will do the job better.
 
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