Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 45-70 Squirrel gun

I've hunted with 45-70's for a lot of years. I've had a Shiloh Sharps in 45-70, a Mod. 1895, and an original Mod 1881. I love the 45-70 caliber. I got my Marlin Guide gun last year and this is the 2nd year of hunting with it. I mounted a 1.5 to 4 power Leupold with heavy Duplex and it fits the gun perfectly. I like the short maneuverability of the GG, it is just the ticket for the brushy cover that I hunt here in Michigan.

I have tried just about every factory load out of it and the one it likes best is the Rem. .405 Gov., it shoots very accurately with this bullet. To prove my point, the other day after deer hunting all morning I headed out for lunch. I had to pass through some hardwoods and spotted a big Fox squirrel in an oak tree. Fried squirrel is my favorite small game dish and I wished that I had my .22 with me. Then I thought if I could get a head shot with the 45-70 I would have my supper. Mr bushy tail was sitting tight watching me from his high perch. I moved to a point where I had the tree as a backstop. I got a solid rest against a tree and here's the results.

Could the 45-70 be a good all around gun?...

You better stick to the heavy bullets like you are so you don't waste any meat! LOL Nice shot and an interesting use of the weapon at hand! T.S.

Great job on the Tree Rat. Did the tree stop the bullet?

Just kidding. :>)

It mighta been 60 years ago that I read an article written by a guy who used his Trapdoor to kill squirrels on a regular basis.He shot the limb right under them and claimed the concussion knocked them out of the tree and stunned them long enough for him to retrieve them and cut the throat.

Of course, that was in a magazine instead of the internet , so he coulda been lyin' .

I've always been skeptical of those barking squirrel story's..

I've used a .54 cal ML for hunting rabbits successfully, so a 45-70 sounds kinda small and under powered . I really like the 45-70 and have three of them as well as a 45-90 . . .

Nice shootin'.

that is one big f'ing squirrel.

Big Mortie would approve!!!

My favorite squirrel load is a 255 grain cast bullet (lubed not sized), 13 grains of Unique (Kleenex tamped down on the powder).
I used this out of my Siamese Mauser with Willians reciever sight.

Jim

My favourite squirrel load is a .177 cal air rifle, but our squirrels are not big and ferocious like yours are. You might want to consider more gun.

I haven't gotten around to experimenting,,,,but often wondered about a single round ball loaded down to around 800 fps, for smal game at shorter ranges. I do question the twist rate and accuracy of such,,but I guess it can't hurt to try.
Unless somebody here has, and found it to be an exercise in futility?

I have some bad news for you. It appears that the bullet WAY overpenetrated!

Nice work! I have been pondering putting a 1.5 x 4 Leupold on my 1895 Limited III or getting a tang aperture sight for my aging eyes.

BTW, my rifle really likes that Remington factory load, too.

Ed

Very accurate rifles, but I'm afraid the local hay growers would not like 405 gr slugs bouncing across their fields amongst their wheel lines in our pursuit of ground squirrels.

i love my guide gun but my squirrel hunt with it left me with a mess of blood and fur and very little squirrel

Too bad it ruined the chances for a head mount for your wall.

I shot a coyote at 10 yards broadside last deer season with my guide gun with a hot 300 JHP load. I've never seen so much destruction. There were parts hanging out the back poop shoot and the entire off side of the dog was blown out. I can only imagine what would happen to a tree rat. I later shot a yote head on at 20 yards with the same load and the entire back end was gone. No, I don't have pictures. I will try this setup again if I get the chance.

Keith

The squirrels in Virginia are the reason we have so few wolves and grizzlies left.

Jim

And they're beginning to work on the Elk.....

For ground squirrels I've used 12 gr. Unique or 13 gr. Red Dot with either a 300 or 350 gr. cast bullet.

try 13 grains of unique and a.457 round ball. might have to use sometipe of filler to takeup space