Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Red dot for Henry 45-70

Hey guys, quick question...
I live in Montana and want to put one of those pistol red dots on a 45-70. I'm not looking for a tube type red dot as I want to maintain the looks of the rifle and I thought the low profile sights many are running on their pistols would fit the bill for <100yds here in Montana. And I admit to knowing nothing about these sights or if there's even anything made that'll take the thumping the 45-70 will give it. So I'm asking the experts here on the forum. Is this doable? Thanks for any replies:)

I think you’re asking about a reflex site…

It's certainly doable. I have a Trijicon RMR on a shotgun that has stood up to many 12 gauge 3 1/2" loads. So it would certainly stand up to a .45-70.

But I'd still go with a traditional red dot over a reflex. They really aren't much more obtrusive than a reflex. I thinks it's a better choice for a long gun. The Aimpoint Micro H and T series are fanatstic and will, likewise, hold up to a lot of very heavy recoil. I use an Aimpoint T2 on a semiauto 12 gauge slug gun.

I've got a Holosun 407cx2 on a Winchester 94 and I like it.. Doesn't change the weight/balance/handling enough to notice and is very fast to get on target. They're made to take slamming back and forth on the slide of a CF auto pistol so should hold up fine.

Exposed emitter on a hunting rifle?

That's a no from me dawg.

I hunt in rain, snow or shine.

Something like the Sig Romeo 5 may work well for you. To me, acquisition of the red dot comes more quickly with this than it does my pistol red dots. I'd put one on a lever gun without hesitation if I didn't need to use it in low light.

I know several guys with SBL/Romeo 5 setups. They like them.

George

You use some kind of lens cover on your scope or do you just use irons on rainy/snowy days ? If lens covers, why couldn't you use one of the fitted rubber covers that slide on over a reflex ? They come off as quickly and quietly as any scope lens cover.

A reflex sight. That was what I was referring to thanks for the help. Just something simple for my 62 year old eyes sounds good to me and here in the brush it'd be all I'd need. And not really change the guns looks or handling too much.

Whip, I am doing this on a similar project which involved a Savage 99 rebarreled to 450 Bushmaster. I literally looked at most every quality option and the choice I came down to is the Aimpoint Nano model but there is a more common model in the USA called the Acro. They work damn good, look good, and if you can mount them low enough, will co-witness with your iron sights. I am having to make a custom mount to get this as low as I need it. Super fast, and great for aging eyes like mine.

https://www.gandrtactical.com/Aimpoint-NANO-W-BT-39mm-High-Mount-Picatinny_p_1193.html

Flip ups on a scope. Open emitter in rain is going to be
FUBAR in no time at all once the cover is off.

Scope is pretty fubar in no time too. I've done more than my share of hunting in rain, sleet and snow with scoped rifles and all my scopes wear flip ups. I don't know about you but I usually shoot within a couple seconds after the covers flip up.

YMMV, but my rain and open emitter experiences were exponentially worse than my rain and scope experiences.

Do what works for you. I'd at least go closed emitter if I had to have a micro dot on a 45/70.

That said, my 45/70 has a Trijicon 1-4

I'm double digits with the Romeo 5 and have yet to suffer an issue. Hint.

Pretty dry here. Hint.












I'm double digits in open emitters too(507 K's) and patiently await the first issue. They are flogged upon without mercy,though it's dry here. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...............