Author Topic: Forty Years with the .45-70. (Read 2047 times)

Bladeforger · « **on:** July 17, 2009, 12:21:10 PM »

My copy of Paul Matthews' book, Forty Years with the .45-70, arrived yesterday. I've begun reading it, and it's a good read so far. Anyone who likes the cartridge should get this book.

Keith

petemi · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2009, 12:41:44 PM »

I got my copy about a year ago. If you take a look at pages 182 -183, that's about where I am with shooting and vision. Great book with a lot of good information.

Pete

Bladeforger · « **Reply #2 on:** July 18, 2009, 03:03:55 AM »

Hmmm. He want from short-range with scopes, backed up by iron sights (about 1/3 of the way through the book) to 1,000 yard shots without scopes at age 71. I'm sure the next 2/3 of the book will explain how he got from one to the other.

(Probably lots of practice!)

Are you shooting with your left eye, yet? I'm already waaay past being comfortable with traditional post and notch sights; however, peeps are still okay with my 50+ eyes.

Keith

petemi · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2009, 05:00:25 AM »

I did my first serious left hand, left eye shooting last weekend with very encouraging results. My .45-70 Handi is scoped with a 3-9x50. I doubt if there's enough elevation in it to shoot 1000 yards, but I'm sure going to try it. I'll probably have to use the Mil Dots. We went to a 1000 yard antique artillery shoot last weekend, and I'm tellin ya that's a long way!

Post

jim36 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2009, 05:34:34 AM »

Why is it every time I get on the GBO forum, it cost me money?

After reading the post about the 45 70, I just ordered the book. Pete, this 45 70 Handi is kinda sorta my favorite. Hope your revecory goes great and the left hand shooting goes well also. From your post it seems to be doing great.
Good shooting my friend.
Jim

petemi · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2009, 07:01:42 AM »

Thanks, Jim. The .45-70 is my favorite too, and I can't wait to reload for it. It'll be fun trying some of Mr. Mathews' old timey loads.

Pete

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2009, 08:34:43 AM »

Good on ya Pete! I have trouble feedin my face with my left hand, let alone shooting.

That is something I want to start doing however, both with rifle and handgun. Man never knows when "Murphys Law" will come to vist ya out in the country or your own house for that matter. DP

45-70.gov · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2009, 08:49:28 AM »

Quote from: petemi on July 18, 2009, 05:00:25 AM

I did my first serious left hand, left eye shooting last weekend with very encouraging results. My .45-70 Handi is scoped with a 3-9x50. I doubt if there's enough elevation in it to shoot 1000 yards, but I'm sure going to try it. I'll probably have to use the Mil Dots. We went to a 1000 yard antique artillery shoot last weekend, and I'm tellin ya that's a long way!

Post

yea it is at least a kilometer!!!

probly like shooting a bow and arrow at 100 yards

jlwilliams · « **Reply #8 on:** July 19, 2009, 02:14:49 AM »

Quote from: 45-70.gov on July 18, 2009, 08:49:28 AM

yea it is at least a kilometer!!!

[/quote]

That gave me a chuckle.

v-man · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2009, 02:41:28 AM »

well, almost

petemi · « **Reply #10 on:** July 19, 2009, 04:33:19 AM »

Yeah, 93.6 yards short......close enough

Pete

Mike in Virginia · « **Reply #11 on:** November 28, 2009, 04:48:11 AM »

I discovered a little trick that may or not work for you. I'm 62, still shooting peeps effectively. Let's say you're in the woods or shooting against a background that's nearly the same color as your target, like a deer in brush on an overcast day or just after dawn. Your peep looks fuzzy and the front post is difficult to find. You just can't seem to zero in on the deer's shoulder 'cause the whole scene is just to blurry. It happened to me just yesterday. The trick is to pull the stock in to your shoulder as tight as possible AND get your cheek on the stock as close as possible to the peep. That "increases" the size of the peep, lets in more light, and makes it appear as as a ghost ring with the front post in sharp contrast. An easy shot. For me, it gives me the ghost ring without changing aperatures.

Lefty Dude · « **Reply #12 on:** November 28, 2009, 06:33:52 AM »

Most of us shoot with tinted or dark glasses. By doing this we limit or natural vision depth of field. The tinted lens opens our pupil and reduces our vision. Use only clear shooting or prescription glasses. You will find your vision seems to improve.
I am 71 and still use iron sights. If I use a scope I use only fixed powers. My favorite is my Redfield Cub 2 3/4 power. Over the past 45 years this scope has been on many Rifles, from 45-70 RB's to 22 Lr. It finally gave out and will be sent in for a full repair. The plan is to mount this scope on my Handi/.308. The .308 wears factory iron sights. With the scope rail mounted I can still use the Iron sights. I will use quick release mounts & rings. This way I will be able to use one or the other as necessary.

petemi · « **Reply #13 on:** November 28, 2009, 06:47:21 AM »

Where'd you guys dig up this old post? I sent Tim a copy of the book a little while ago. I hope he's enjoying it. I love to drag this out when the uninformed try to tell me the .45-70 is a hundred yard rifle.......Uh huh......how many hundred would you like?

Pete

jim36 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 28, 2009, 07:26:06 AM »

I'm with you Pete. It's funny this post has been resurected. I just started to re read the book again. It is totally a great read.
I think when I finish it this time I am going to put it on PAY IT FOREWARD and put a stipulation on it, so when the winner gets it, and upon finishing it he will have to put it back on the "PAY IT FOREWARD".
It will give a lot more people a chance to read it. It was just a thought but I'm gonna do it.
Good hunting and good shooting
Jim <>< <>< <><

quickdtoo · « **Reply #15 on:** November 28, 2009, 07:46:51 AM »

It's a great read, thanks again Pete!!

Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #16 on:** November 28, 2009, 02:46:46 PM »

I would love to have a 45-70 with good adjustable sights to stretch things out a ways, as a scope just isn't gonna get you very far.

brianscott12 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 29, 2009, 12:55:49 PM »

I've got to have a copy of this book. Where can I order it from or did I miss it earlier in the thread.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** November 29, 2009, 01:43:36 PM »

It's available lots of places, do an internet search.

Tim

http://www.amazon.com/Forty-Years-45-Paul-Matthews/dp/0935632840

silver surfer · « **Reply #19 on:** November 29, 2009, 03:00:34 PM »

A trick I learned years ago with an M-16 was when you cant find your sights (both) find the sky line. Bring the rifle into its natural stockwell look down the sights and bring up the front sight until you can see the skyline. This will illuminate the front sight enough to bring it back down onto your target.

Last Monday I was deer hunting with the BC. It was about 20 minutes past dawn when three does walked out. Down here in Ole Miss these swamps are still really dark. The green foliage and black wet tree trunks just suck up light. I sighted in on the lead doe without taking that into account, and shot clean over her back

. The 1st and 2nd doe ran off.

The third was a ways behind the leaders and I took my time, found my sights (better) and dropped it in its tracks at 125 yards! Its not the biggest deer I've ever shot, but it is one of the best shots I've made in years. One slight down side, those Remington 300 grn JHP's at 2400 fps make a real mess. Cleaning it was every bit as graphic as Tyke's pictures

. Those shells do a lot of damage!

necchi · « **Reply #20 on:** November 29, 2009, 04:27:41 PM »

Quote from: petemi on November 28, 2009, 06:47:21 AM

Where'd you guys dig up this old post?
Pete

Well it looks like Mike in Virginia is doing some study.

I love it when new to the site members read back posts, instead of asking a new question that's been answered many times "in depth" just weeks prior, on any forum or school of study
Don't get me wrong, all questions are good, but many times reading back even a few months you can find really great info without starting a sometimes controversy over opinion,,again. If you find the same topic, with the same answer, several times in past posts, you can pretty much know the right answer. The sticky's and FAQ's are really a good example, but so too, are the years worth of archives.