What is the advantage of big bore caliber 45-70

Crash2k

Crash2k

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Hi all,

I never owned a big bore caliber and looking to maybe buy a 1895GBL. But I cannot understand what advantage it will have over my 308 Win. When looking at the balistic of both, it seem that the 308 Win. have more energy. Does the 45-70 have more stopping power and why?

Thanks again for your help guys!

Here is some balistic I was comparing with factory ammunition:

308 Win 150 gr InterBond®
Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
2820/2648 2601/2252 2392/1905 2192/1601 2003/1336 1823/1107

45-70 Government 325 gr FTX® LEVERevolution®
Test Barrel (24") Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 200 300
2050/3032 1729/2158 1450/1516 1225/1083
 
What are the advantages. It can be more fun. It can force you to hunt closer as you don't have the same range advantage as the .308.
If you consider it clinically, then the .308 may be better. But, the .45-70 can do everything the .308 can, other than match its trajectory. And, it can be more fun.
 
In the zero to 100 yards range, nothing beats a big bore rifle with a heavy bullet.I own a marlin in the .444, i use the hornady 300 xtp bullet, i have shot many deers with that combination, believe me, dead in their tracks.

When budget permits, i will buy a 45-70, and give the heavy 400 gr + hard cast bullets a try.
 
Hi,

It sure look funto own this caliber, but is the 45-70 is making more damage or create a bigger impact on game?

Just trying to understand what advantage a big ass bullet like this will have over a 150 gn .308 at 100 yard.

Thanks
 
That's pretty similar to what I'm shooting out of my Savage muzzle loader, in caliber and velocity. Very effective on a deer at 120 yards and no excessive damage.
 
FWIW a 325 gr bullet in 45 caliber isn't even close to a heavy bullet. Really the Leverevolution ammo is just a scam to make the big levers appeal to bolt gun guys that want flatter trajectory. .458" bullets are better suited to weights of 400-500 grains.
 
Take all the ballistics tables with a grain of salt as they don't tell the whole story.

Energy, in foot-pounds is based on a formula that favours fast bullets.

The 45/70 is a slower bullet but it is much heavier. (a .270win at 150 grain vs a 45/70 in 405 grain, for instance)
The 45/70 has a rainbow trajectory and is a short-range bullet due to this and its shape. It still has enough energy at 500 yards, but you'd have to be really precise in your distance to hit anything due to the drop. (100 years ago many bison were killed at these distances with 45/70's)

You can buy 'steroided' 45/70 bullets that will go clean thru a Cape Buffalo but the factory stuff is purposely loaded quite tame for older guns.

I just bought a GBL from Epps (please see my other post!) so I haven't shot anything with it yet. Apparently, you can eat right up to the hole it makes in your deer....so very little meat wasted. Very versatile caliber.

I intend to use it as a close range gun while walking/stalking/pushing. For close work it is a sledge hammer. For distant shots you should look at something else.

Karl
 
What is the advantage of big bore caliber 45-70?

A big hole to start. Without considering any expansion, the 45-70 is punching through with almost 1/2" diameter hole. Big hole means faster bleed out. Weight (mass), heavy bullets carry a lot of inertia and tend to penetrate through a game animal. There are two reasons for you.
 
"...cannot understand what advantage it will have over my 308 Win..." It doesn't. More about nostalgia than anything else. The .45-70 has been declared dead by the gun rag writers numerous times, but shooters just like it. Mind you, out of the right rifle(not a lever) with the right bullet, it can be loaded close to .458 Win velocities.
"...a 325 gr bullet in 45 caliber isn't even close..." Yep. A 325 is a little fellow. The standard Trapdoor bullet weight was 405 grains. 500 plus grain bullets aren't unusual.
 
What is the advantage of big bore caliber 45-70?

A big hole to start. Without considering any expansion, the 45-70 is punching through with almost 1/2" diameter hole. Big hole means faster bleed out. Weight (mass), heavy bullets carry a lot of inertia and tend to penetrate through a game animal. These are two reasons for you.

Look at it this way. Which would you rather have if facing a big grizzly bear at 50 FEET. 308 Win or 45-70 with a 400 to 500 grain bullet? I know which one I would pick.
 
45-70 introduced in 1873 now its 2011 so that is 138 years and still going strong
I have 4 of them in the safe clearly one of my favourites, they can be loaded for anything from mice to elephants ,very cast bullet friendly, huge bullet selection, terrific penetration (if the right bullet is used) and it hardly needs to expand and still makes a big hole!! That is why its a great one after all these years.
 
I don't know nearly as much about guns as the gunnutz here but I learned something in a novel about this caliber. The story was about hunting and the authour implied the 45-70 was great in the woods because you could basically shoot the game through trees. OK, not exactly, but the bullet doesn't get deflected nearly as much by leaves and twigs.

I'm pretty sure it was a western by L'Amour or maybe Zane Grey. It was a long time ago.
 
Pricey to buy factory ammo.. It's 30-40 / box here. I can make a box with bought jacketed bullets for $20-22 a box, reload heavy hard cast I buy for $10-12 a box and heavy cast I pour myself for about 5 dollars a box.

I would take my 45-70 loaded stoutly, but not stupidly for anything but big african game.
 
Randy B said:
45-70 introduced in 1873 now its 2011 so that is 138 years and still going strong
I have 4 of them in the safe clearly one of my favourites, they can be loaded for anything from mice to elephants ,very cast bullet friendly, huge bullet selection, terrific penetration (if the right bullet is used) and it hardly needs to expand and still makes a big hole!! That is why its a great one after all these years.
Click to expand...

Excellent summary ! :)
 
I really wish I had taken a photo of the branch I shot with my 7mm rem mag this past deer season... I was using a 160 grain nosler partition and had a deer lined up perfectly at around 60 meters...After giving the deer time to expire...we could find no blood trail or fur...when we after searching for a LONG time we discovered a branch about the diameter of a thumb...the bullet had struck it dead center and went somwhere...but as far as we could tell it did not make it to the deer....on a positive note that branch had at least 12 points....Perhaps a larger caliber round would have made the difference
 
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