Who hunts whitetail with a 45/70

scott_r

scott_r

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 99.6%
223   1   0
Location
Behind a .204 Ruger
After comming home from bear camp I thought Id like 45/70 for bears and my rhino hunt Im doing in the future.
I was also thinking Id use it for prairie whitetail and was wondering if anyone else hunts in wide open spaces with it. Is it basically a hundred yard cannon? I assume its the same as shooting a 50 cal muzzleloader?
 
I have done lots of hunting with mine, but haven't shot a deer with it yet. Seems like the 1/4 times I take my tikka 6.5mm out, I see my deer... The last two were at 35'ish and 150. Wish I had the 45/70 for the close one but happy to have the 6.5x55 for the farther one.
 
With factory loads it's not much fun past 150 or so. But if you run hot handloads it will do 250 yards on a whitetail without much trouble, just got to know your holdover. I've owned a few and love this caliber!
 
I shot a lot quite a few whitetails with a .45-70 in past years, and found it very good. It drops them fast and dosen't make a big mess of the meat. The round has lots of power for long range shooting but hold over can be a problem. One year we spent a bunch of time at the range and a 300 yard shot was no problem, once we got it dialed in.
 
As above, you just have to learn your hold-over with the load your useing.
Lots of range time at various distances will do that.
Killing power is not in question at any range.
I use 405s & have shot 12" group at 420yds from a sitting position with my scoped Siamese. Pretty neat, you almost have time to lower the gun & listen for the bullet whistle & a whack as it hits :):)
 
This is similar to shooting the 38-55 at ranges outside of 150 yards.
Holdover is the greatest challenge.
If you can calculate and execute that properly, it's meat in the freezer. Regards, Eagleye.
 
I love my 45/70 so much, I thought id share some deer hunting time with it in the praries with some other like minded riflemen during their first week .

I learned a few lessons, as most deer dont stand still for a shot out west when they are being pushed.
Anyways long story short of it.... They are a great rifle for getin'er done at standing animals but hell bent horizontal trajectories on them running SOB's.

Yea I missed a nice buck at less than 100 yards with max hand loads while he was running full bore broad side.:redface:

I cant say a 308 or the likes would do much better either, as I/ we missed a mauler last fall that ran through in front of the point men... Probably the biggest buck of the season... missed with modern weapons?...:HR:
 
I missed one last day,that was his dad.With my ultra modern,270 wsm.A miss is a miss,but what I missed really hhuurrtt...
 
Killed a large whitetail doe over 30 years ago with a .45/70 Marlin 1895 using 300 gr. Hornady handloads. It died instantly at about 50 yards. Great "thick cover" round, but forget about Rhino's though.
Geoff
 
I have dropped the last dozen deer with the 45 70 from 30 yards to 300. The last buck litterally flipped a double gainer at 275 yards. The bullet entered just right of center in the sternum, and exited 1/4 inch left of the vent. He didn't move after that.
 
"Rhino tough". Check randy garrett cartridges for 45-70. Its taken the big 5 plus hippo and croc. Its plenty tough. I havent shot a deer with mine but a 300 yard cold bore shot at a whitetail would be a feat to be commended
 
In my experience, holdover is not the challenge. Range estimation is. It's one thing to know your holdover at 250 or 300 yards. It's another to be able to say the deer is at 275 and not be 6 inches high because it was at 250 and not as big as you thought. My 45-70 is much more a brush gun than a field gun. I'll take a 7mm to make an ethical shot at 250 over a 45-70 any day. But if you have something to judge the distance (landmark against rocks or other natural markers in a field you know the distance to) it's a lot of fun with a big bore.

Basically you need to eliminate some guesswork and do some homework to make a kill with a 45-70 at range.
 
thebigslide said:
In my experience, holdover is not the challenge. Range estimation is. It's one thing to know your holdover at 250 or 300 yards. It's another to be able to say the deer is at 275 and not be 6 inches high because it was at 250 and not as big as you thought. My 45-70 is much more a brush gun than a field gun. I'll take a 7mm to make an ethical shot at 250 over a 45-70 any day. But if you have something to judge the distance (landmark against rocks or other natural markers in a field you know the distance to) it's a lot of fun with a big bore.

Basically you need to eliminate some guesswork and do some homework to make a kill with a 45-70 at range.
Click to expand...
It all comes down to practice practice practice and knowing your sight-in and being well versed in range estimation. A handy laser rangefinder in your paws, makes life easier.
 
longbranch* said:
Killed a large whitetail doe over 30 years ago with a .45/70 Marlin 1895 using 300 gr. Hornady handloads. It died instantly at about 50 yards. Great "thick cover" round, but forget about Rhino's though.
Geoff
Click to expand...

It takes thirty years for the bullet to get to the target...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom