Looking for a good single shot 45-70 rifle

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DarrowAshford

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I am looking for a good 45-70 single shot rifle for hunting (Moose, Bear, Caribou). I really don't like the break action rifles as the look and function is unappealing to me. I have been looking at the Sharps 1874 as I really like the looks of them especially with the reproduction long scopes. But I want something that can take a higher chamber pressure. I am relatively new to hunting so I am not sure if it will be fine with the 29000 max PSi for the 45-70 for something like a grizzly bear and for shots within 1km. All info is welcome.
 
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bunny said:
Clarification on shots within 1 KM, will help us help you.
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I just don't plan on shooting outside of 1km. Mostlikely will keep shots to within 600m if possible because of the combination of drop and I am not the best shot. As well were I will be hunting is heavily wooded so I won't be able to see far anyways.
 
DarrowAshford said:
I am looking for a good 45-70 single shot rifle for hunting (Moose, Bear, Caribou). I really don't like the break action rifles as the look and function is unappealing to me. I have been looking at the Sharps 1874 as I really like the looks of them especially with the reproduction long scopes. But I want something that can take a higher chamber pressure. I am relatively new to hunting so I am not sure if it will be fine with the 29000 max PSi for the 45-70 for something like a grizzly bear and for shots within 1km. All info is welcome.
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as a long time black powder and smokeless hunter and shooter I wpuld suggest the following :
You need to focus on exactly what it is you want your 45/70 to do.
For starters, the long range shooting sports involving the 45/70 rarely allow anything but black powder, so muzzle velocity is low- below 2,000 FPS, and hand loading and casting your own bullets is danged near mandatory!
For a hunting cartridge, shots past 200 Meters are and unless one is an excellent shot, with a good rest and very good hand loaded ammoare very rare.
I suggest you get some books and start reading - and stay away from the yutube videos touting these BPCR cartridges as an everyman easy to shoot long range rig!
Cat
 
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First of all if your not the best shot like you say you are then you need to practice or give up on trying to shoot at long distance.I m a big fan of the 45/70 but at the distances you want to shoot there are better calibers out there.As far as the rifles out there for a single shot a Ruger no 1 or a Browning 1885 come to mind and yes both are available in 45/70
 
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I’ve had/have #1,#3,78,85 and a couple sharps. These are not long range hunting guns. 500 yd silhouette with a 45/70 rested is hard enough. A 535 gr cast kicks. That is the bullet of choice. There are lots of better long range cartridges. Long range hunting is the reserve for expert shooter. Best get a very good 22 and practice. Then shoot a hunting rifle at 100-300 yds till you are very proficient with it. Try hunting and restricting your shots to ranges you are sure of a killing shot. A good hunting buddy will give pointers and advice.
 
The modern repro 1874 sharps will handle marlin level loads, which are more than enough for hunting anything... Bullet choice is what makes the difference here. Don't judge the 45-70 based off paper ballistics or you will be lead to believe the bullets will just bounce off deer. Remember, the 45-70 at blackpowder speeds wiped out the bison.

If you want more power than Marlin level loads, get a Ruger No.1, which can be loaded up and will be nipping on the heels of the 458 Win mag.

45-70 is an awesome cartidge, literally mouse to Moose
 
Hissatsu said:
I’ve had/have #1,#3,78,85 and a couple sharps. These are not long range hunting guns. 500 yd silhouette with a 45/70 rested is hard enough. A 535 gr cast kicks. That is the bullet of choice. There are lots of better long range cartridges. Long range hunting is the reserve for expert shooter. Best get a very good 22 and practice. Then shoot a hunting rifle at 100-300 yds till you are very proficient with it. Try hunting and restricting your shots to ranges you are sure of a killing shot. A good hunting buddy will give pointers and advice.
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I've had the same rifles , I really should have kept the 78 . As you point out , the 45/70 is not a practical long range cartridge for most . To be honest , it would be at the bottom of the list for me . The OP is talking about shots out to 1km ?! The world loves an optimist I guess .
 
Raton57 said:
Can buy a 458 Mag and load it down also. I like a 350 grain Hornady round nose
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I have 2 .458’s and load the 350 to a reduced 2400 fps, but they are heavy weights coming in at about 10 lbs, not enjoyable to carry around all day.
 
Mr.Rigpig said:
The modern repro 1874 sharps will handle marlin level loads, which are more than enough for hunting anything... Bullet choice is what makes the difference here. Don't judge the 45-70 based off paper ballistics or you will be lead to believe the bullets will just bounce off deer. Remember, the 45-70 at blackpowder speeds wiped out the bison.
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good stuff here
big heavy slow cartridges..... its not about impact force or expanding bullets, its about momentum
new Cimarrons and Pedersolis can stand pressure too
 
Maybe this will help the OP out -

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gov1.jpg

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600 yards is only a 170" or 14 feet bullet drop difference from muzzle!

Maybe if he instead aimed for 1600 yard targets the drop would not be so bad.
 
Don't forget the time of bullet flight. Shots at 1000m must be carefully timed to insure that the season is still open, and that you're still in legal shooting light, when they arrive at the target. This is a critical point that is often ignored.


Okay, sorry, I'll stop feeding this troll.
 
Original 45/70 loads were very accurate to 1000 yards, but you had to aim 57 feet high, making shots on running deer a challenge for even experienced shooters.
 
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Hunter John said:
Ruger #1 would be my choice.
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I wanted a single shot 45-70, but then I found a #1H in 458 Winchester, which I decided was close enough, so I bought it. Two weeks later there was a Browning 1885 in 45-70 listed in the same local newspaper. So you know what I did...

That being said. This guy is so full of #### that his eyes are brown. Shots inside 1km...no #### sherlock!
 
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