Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles new rifle

im looking to purchase a new rifle this year but cant decide in wich one to get. mabey you guys can help me out. im looking at the .270 or .45-70. wich would be better for game from blacktail deer blackbear. the .270 was my first choice because its got a long range but i am unsure of all the details on the .45-70 though. please help me out on this guys.thanks.<P> raiderboy [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img]

Both the 45/70 and the 270 will serve your needs.The range of the 45/70 while hunting for most shooters should be kept at 150 yards or less.The 45/70 is my favorie cartridge and the 270 is one of my favorites too.The 45/70 is the most powerful of the two but both are plenty powerful for deer and black bear.The 45/70 is mostly chambered in lever actions and single shot rifles with a few rare bolt actions here and there.The 270 is available in all action types.The 45/70 can easily take any big game including moose,deer,grizzly,cape buffalo,etc.The 270 on the other hand is mainly limited to deer,elk and black bear.I hope that this helps you some.If you want to know more about the 45/70 just post it here and I will answer you the best that I can.

thanks alot for that info. the .45-70 would only be used primarialy for deer, bear, and mabey elk. the same goes for the .270. i want a light gun but it does not have to be i was looking for a .270 with a synthetic stock,clip or box fed, and a blued barrel to prevent glare. the .45-70 i was looking at was in a magizine it was the guide gun i belive.thanks.<P> raiderboy [img]images/icons/cool.gif" border="0[/img]

Hi raiderboy. A couple of points. .45-70 ammo, in good hunting loads, isn't readily availible. It's very much a specialized round for handloaders, and heavy cover hunters. With specialized loads, it kicks much harder than the .270 as well. The .270 is availible everywhere, and can handle anything, except for the great bears (grizzlys, browns), quite well. <BR> If you buy a rifle in the .270, get a rifle with at least a stainless barrel. Then just apply a little spray paint to it, if you think it's too flashy. There really is no reason to buy a carbon steel barreled gun these days. Stainless works out much better in many ways. E

The 45/70 has bad trajectory. It would not be a very long range rifle. The .270 would be ideal for all medium game animals. anything bigger than a moose is more than a .270 can handle. Maybe even a moose is too much. The .270 would be good for black bear up to a point. Definitly not powerful enough for Brown bear. I would recommend the .270 for your uses. A 30/06 might be good too. It could handle all Black bear.