|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 791
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 791 |
I have seen larger game taken, but not deer sized. Anyone have pics, or performance info on the .45-70?
Thinking of getting a second guide gun. Do I lose much power from these short barrels?
Thank you all, very much
FMP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,236
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,236 |
I've taken several deer with the 45-70 Marlin 1895 Cowboy, 35 yds, Lyman 457193 bullet. 6 x 5, 235 lbs, unofficial score 148 4/8. That's me on the right . . . I'm 6'-2". Recovered bullet from deer above beside as cast bullet. Bullet as cast is 415 gr, recovered bullet weighed 413 gr. Finished rack from above deer. Took this 2 yr old bison bull with 45-70 Shiloh Sharps Hartford. Lyman 457125 bullet over BP. I have also taken 3 or 4 more deer with this cartridge. I don't have any doubt about what the 45-70 can and will do. Questions??? Fire away . . . I don't have any thoughts about the "short barrels", my Cowboy is 26" and my Sharps is 30", so can't be of much personal experience help.
Someday I hope to be the person my dogs think I am . . . The only true cost of having a dog is its death. Someone once said "a nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." Shiloh Sharps . . . there is no substitute. NRA Endowment Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 791
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 791 |
Otter, thanks for your post. What can you tell me about the cowboy model? I have always loved that gun. How does it shoot?
FMP
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,236
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,236 |
I've had my 1895 CB since 2004(?) and have been well pleased with it. 3 of the 7 deer (I sat down and actually counted ) I've taken with a 45-70 have been with this rifle, including last year - 2 each with my Sharps and my Rolling Block. It is heavy when you load one in the chamber and 9 in the tube. The bare rifle is 9.75 lbs (IIRC) and fully loaded is in the 11 pound range, still lighter than my Sharps (13#) and my RB (14#). It shoots well, I didn't have to experiment a lot with loads to find out what shot well. I have only shot it out to 150 or so yards and it was "minute of deer". I can shoot approx 4" groups (5 - shots) at 100 yards from a steady rest. Did I mention it is pretty heavy? But even so, it is not all that cumbersome in the field. Actually, it handles pretty well. If you can find one at your favorite gun store, give it a handle and see what you think. I like mine, and even at my size, it can be fairly punishing if loaded too heavy. The recovered bullet from that 6 x 5 (picture above) went through the right front shoulder, through a rib on each side and through the off shoulder before lodging under the skin. Can't ask for a lot more. Oh, I just use the barrel sights, no peep or scope, but I like open sights.
Someday I hope to be the person my dogs think I am . . . The only true cost of having a dog is its death. Someone once said "a nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves." Shiloh Sharps . . . there is no substitute. NRA Endowment Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,247 Likes: 1
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 46,247 Likes: 1 |
FMP,
I used a 45-70 w/ 525gn piledrivers on a couple of deer. Both shots were purposely taken ham to shoulder/ shoulder to ham in that order. Both deer dropped like a bag of hammers, and no bullets could be recovered. Ranges were 20 and 60 yds thru a lyman peep. I tend to work up one load for anything a caliber may be suited for. That particular combo IMHO is suitable for any game in N. America. Gunner
Trump Won!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680 |
Hornady 325 gr LeverEvolution
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,539
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,539 |
I shot one deer with a H&R buffalo hunter 32 in barrel with peep sights both ends 105 yards 300 gr bullet deer never moved
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,694 |
I've killed quite a few whitetail with a Marlin M1895 22" barrel and an aperture sight. I've used 300 gr. Winchester factory load hollowpoints, 350 gr. Hornady flat points in handloads, 400 gr. Speer handloads, and 405 gr. Remington handloaded. It's a hammer for sure and impresses game nicely.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 872
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 872 |
I have a Marlin Guide gun w/ported barrel. I picked it up in a pawn shop for $300 and had a gunsmith slim up the forearm so it would feel lika a m94. I haven't chronographed any loads so I don't know what the velocity difference is with the shorter barrel. The ports are great, recoil is insignifficant. I have taken a handful of whitetails with the Double Tap 300gr hp. My rifle shoots very accurately with this load and a williams peep. All shots were between 90 and 120yds. None of the deer went more than 20yds. I recovered one slug from a Texas heart shot (DRT) it expanded great and penetrated well.
"The world breaks everyone,and afterward, some are strong at the broken places" Hemingway
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,639
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,639 |
I shot my biggest whitetail so far with a ported Marlin GG using a 300gr Sierra and a dose of reloader 7. It went 4 feet and dropped like a rock! 10 points and 242 lbs.
Speak softly and use a big bore... Where's El Cid when we need him...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,896 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 20,896 Likes: 1 |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFtxM2muohk400+ Trophy Bull Elk, #6 World Record taken with a 45-70 Model 1885 open sights at 200 yards.
"I never thought I'd live to see the day that a U.S. president would raise an army to invade his own country." Robert E. Lee
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,532 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 9,532 Likes: 2 |
I've taken several deer with the .45-70. Mine is a Guide gun that I've equipped with Brockman's Rifles laminate stocks, and a Williams FP sight.
Loads I've used have been with a 420 (actual weight is 430) grain LBT-style hardcast (two brands), Hornady 300 grain, and Speer 300 grain UniCor. Two Hardcast loads, one running 1650 fps, and the other going mid 1800s. Both of the 300 grain loads run 2200ish, with the Speer being the better of the two bullets, and the one I am currently using.
The Hardcast loads didn't seem to down them quite as quick and there is less trauma around the wound, but this bullet would probably penetrate several deer, and is really better at breaking down bigger game.
The Hornady bullet tends to expand quicker than the Speer, and wastes a little more meat, and I am probably pushing it about as fast as one would like to push this bullet. The Speer is a tough bullet, can be driven harder than the Hornady, and is also suitable for larger game, though for biting, stomping stuff, I would go with the Hardcast.
It's more than needed for deer, but I still use and enjoy it.
I believe the difference in performance between a Guide Gun and a full length barreled rifle wouldn't be noticeable in the field. A 405 grain bullet going 1300 or so fps killed a lot of game before smokeless came along.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 791
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 791 |
1895 sbl .45-70 for 775..take it or leave it.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954 |
I have shot a number of deer and a few elk with the 45-70 and 45-90 in a Win. 86 with a 26 inch barrel and I have seen a number of elk killed with the Ruger No.1 and hot handloads..
It killed deer well, but I was never impressed with the way it kills elk in that they normally make too many tracks.
The best bullet I ever used was the 350 gr. Hornady, the rest were too soft IMO...A good cast lead bullet will penetrate well and will kill elk, but again they just make too many tracks before they go down..I have some of these kills on film.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680 |
Where are the pics guys? I would enjoy viewing them..
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 624
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 624 |
I have used one of my 45/70 rifles every year for 30 years.I love them
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,954 |
Elkhunter, I don't have any stills of 45-70 or 45-90 kills as I used them early on and never took a camera with me hunting until I got into the hunting business..However, I do have a number of elk kills on tape with a movie camera with the .45-70..I sometimes show them at SCI. Sorry.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,143 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 17,143 Likes: 4 |
I used 300 grain Hornandy HP's, on 2 doe's. I think they were a little to close to the muzzle.......
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680
Campfire Kahuna
|
Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 52,680 |
Killed an antelope with mine day before yesterday. No camera with me this time....
Liberalism is a mental disorder that leads to social disease.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,275
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,275 |
Antelope count? :)https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/4485110/Antelope_done_right#Post4485110
the most expensive bullet there is isn't worth a plug nickel if it don't go where its supposed to. www.historicshooting.com
|
|
|
|
604 members (10gaugemag, 1OntarioJim, 222Sako, 1lessdog, 160user, 007FJ, 77 invisible),
2,404
guests, and
1,290
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,151
Posts18,484,245
Members73,966
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|