Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles boredom poll: hunting with a 45-70

I killed a hog at 15 paces years ago. Load was Hornady factory Leverevolution 325gr FTX. Gun was a 19" barreled H&R rifle. Pig was DOI (dead on impact). I'm fairly certain the meat was cooked on the side facing me too.

Thanks, Dinny

I never think of a .45-70 but what I don’t think about the kid with the H&R .45-70 that I was helping sight in his rifle. After a few not so well placed shots on the target, he turned to me and said, “It is hard to see the target through these tears.” Never had much use for one myself.

I’ve only taken two Bison in the lower 48 in North Dakota. Both bulls were shot with seperate bullets. First was a Buffalo Bore 430gr hard cast. Shot him in the shoulder at 75 yards. It was a one shot kill. Found the bullet in the off shoulder.
Second bull was taken two years later with an HSM Bear Load bullet. IIRC it was also 430gr. The HSM ammo did not shoot as accurately as the Buffalo Bore stuff but was adequate for 45-70 ranges. Shot him in the lungs with one shot at 50 yards. He walked a slow circle then laid down. I should mention that the two bulls were shot with different rifles. Both were Wild West Guns creations but configured differently.

Now that is funny !!

My .02 cents of a 45-70 story - I was at a public range right after Marlin brought out their new lever gun in 45-70 when a guy showed up one with the first one I had ever seen, he opened a full box of factory ammo and started trying to sight it in. Well, he proceeded to fire the full 20 round box one shot after the other, when he stood up from the bench he had a stunned look on his face like someone had just landed a knockout punch to him, his eyes were glazed and he was wobbly trying to stand. Right then I decided that I did not want anything to do with one in a rifle that light. I suspect that it could have been bought pretty cheaply at that moment.

drover

Back in the 90's I used my Browning B-78 for whitetails and elk using paper patched pure lead bullets. The deer load was a 320 grain at 1900 fps and the elk load utilized a 510 grain bullet at 1650 fps (ouch). Never came close to finding one in deer but, found these 2 in elk against the hide on the off side. Game either dropped or didn't move over 20-25 yards. Put a lot of meat in the freezer with this combo.

assorted deer, 3 armadillo , 15 to 20 pigs. 1 huge bison , ( tad over 2400# ) several fox and one really unlucky crow . 1886 Winchester if anybody cares

I have a very nice, never used Marlin ‘95, with a mold for 430 grain wide metplat bullet mold. I would limit it’s use to nothing larger than African Elephant! memtb

There is no comparison. I would avoid the Henry like it was the pox...

I live in Iowa in the NW part of the State This is where the prairie pot hole starts I want an 1886 in 45/70 26 octagon I want to get set up with sticks sitting over a travel areas and the open State ground. There are some pretty big bucks but hard to hunt because of the open land. Id like to plink one off the sticks. I have a 444 Marlin and 44 Marlin 336 and Ruger carbines in 44 Just wan to pot want at a 45/70 range on to me the open grounds of my youth.

Shot my model 95 yesterday!! It is a kicker.. I would sooner shoot my 340 or .375 any day>> Still a great bear gun for camping.. I have shot whitetails and antelope with mine.. Never carried it elk hunting as I usually hunt very open country!!

Same situation here! I hunt varied terrain, and have an all purpose rifle. The Model 95, is pretty specialized! memtb