Long range shooting .223 vs 45-70

[bluez]

Perhaps a bit stupid question, but a buddie of mine insist that it's easier to hit a target at 1000 yards with a 45-70 than a fast light bullet as the .223   even if the  trajectory of the .223 is much flatter at 1000 yards.

[Ranch13]

There's really not much to getting a 45-70 loaded with a 500 gr bullet to excellent accuracy at 1000 yds. Just need a good vernier sight, and some good wind spotting.

[243dave]

Some of those fellows with those target 45-70's do very well, for me, I'd rather do it with a fast twist 223 topped with a high magnification scope.  Check out this article of a guy shooting a mile with his fast twist 223, he's good!  http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/shooting-223-mile-1.php

[StrawHat]

For those of you prefering the 45-70, here is the Sandy Hook story.  Range testing the 45-70 out to two miles.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm

The furthest I have used any rifle is about 700 yards and it has been my 45-70.  It shoots a bit flatter than my 50-70 at that range.  I no longer shoot smallbore centerfire at long distances, for me, they are too wind sensitive.

[Freezer]

This should turn out to be a very intresting post. The 45-70 is less prone to wind drift and was one of the calibers used to wipe out the bullalo at distances up to 1000 yards but the recoil

[Ranch13]

The recoil of a 45-70 loaded as it was intended isn't bad at all. When you get into some of the longer cases that actually did have a hand in the buffalo hunts that's when recoil starts adding up.
It's nothing to shoot a 40 round match with the 45-70 and suffer no problems.

[diggler1833]

Competed in several service rifle matches out to 1K.  Technology has made an advancement in the shooting game over the last 130+ years.  If you think that some of those 1000yd shots with a .45-70 are impressive (which they are to me too by the way, gotta give credit where it is due and some of these old boys can shoot) they can still be shot well inside by a good shooter with a service rifle of today.

Really an apples to oranges comparrison.

[helotaxi]

Wind drift favors a streamlined bullet from a .223 both in velocity and BC.  Bullet drop is the easy part, regardless of how much it works out to, it is very predictable. 

[Ethan]

45-70 at 1000 yards? Honestly I never heard of a 45-70 being able to shoot 1000 yards accurately

[helotaxi]

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/index.htm

1000yd match shooting is older than the cartridge rifle.  Imagine shooting 1k with a muzzle-loader.

[Ranch13]

45-70 at 1000 yards? Honestly I never heard of a 45-70 being able to shoot 1000 yards accurately

 Creedmoor matches started in the 1870's, there were no plastic rifles and smokeless powder..
Lots of us shoot in bpcr competition to 1000 yds. Even women and kids do it.
Here's the results of a match held in  Phoenix recently. http://www.arizonasharpshooters.com/
 They shoot creedmoor at Lodi Ws. every month, the Nationals at the Whittingto Center are coming in July,this time of year there's a "buffalo" gong match about everyweekend somewhere with targets to 1000 and sometimes even a mile,,, the list goes on and on...

[StrawHat]

45-70 at 1000 yards? Honestly I never heard of a 45-70 being able to shoot 1000 yards accurately

Etahn,

Here is a link to work the Gov't did out to 2 miles, 3500 yards.

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm