.45-70

[Karl B. Andersen]

I'm thinking of a .45-70 for deer, boar and maybe even an elk. I believe I have read a 16" barrel is best for this caliber.
Anyone have experience with this setup?

[bigbore442001]

I have one of the Super 16 45-70 barrels that TC made in the 80's. With it I have taken deer, black bear, wild boar and moose. It is an excellent round for the TC and will take most North American game within 150 yards.

I does give one heck of a kick. It is a gun you have to work up to. I find that I can shoot about 5 shots and then I have to rest. I'll shoot something like the 22 lr then go back to the 45-70.

[Redhawk1]

I'm thinking of a .45-70 for deer, boar and maybe even an elk. I believe I have read a 16" barrel is best for this caliber.
Anyone have experience with this setup?

I like the 14 inch barreled 45-70's.  Deer , hog and Elk can be taken, as long as you are within range and your skill are up to it.    I would not go past 100 yards. JMHO.

[poncaguy]

I have 1 16" Contender, with brake, 45-70. Very accurate to 100 yards for me (no scope). My 460 Encore kicks a lot more than the 45-70....IMHO. I find I usually take my 7-08 Encore most of the time when I deer hunt, 357 Max at times.

[fyrepowrx]

I have used the 45/70 for quite a while...i currently have it in a 14" SSK barrel, a 21" carbine barrel, and a Ruger #1.

last month is used the SSK to take elk & buffalo, couldnt ask for better results. The guide was also impressed, especially when the elk went straight to the ground & never left his tracks.

I had a 16" taperd barrel TC barrel, and a 16" TC bull, and a 12" TC hunter all in 45/70 also, the 16's didnt balance quite right for me, & the 12 was a bit short for my taste.

whatever length you get, make sure there is a brake on it. The heavy loads were tolerable, but having fired 45/70's without a brake it does help. i dislike the blast from guns with a muzzle brake but i also dislike guns that kick so hard i avoid shooting them...

Factory 300 grain loads are quite good, and work well on deer, hogs, etc...for big stuff i like the 350 grain hornady bullet in my handloads. That bullet shot through the elk after breaking the shoulders. I did get the one back from the buffalo, it was just under the hide on the offside.

i am going hunting for big stuff again in a few months, Asiatic Water Buffalo are next, havent yet decided if i'm using the 45/70 or maybe a 375JDJ, will post some pix of whatever i shoot along with gun info, but chances are it'll be the 45/70 with 400 grain hard cast loads.

if you arent going to shoot anything bigger than deer there are a lot of other calibers that work fine without the recoil, but if elk, moose, etc are on the menu then its hard to go wrong with the 45/70 if you arent shooting much past a hundred yards or so...

hope this  info helps some...

here's a pic of the hunt:

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/phpbb2/album_pic.php?pic_id=1060&sid=13d581421c2ac6cd034151bf3a25817f







 




 

[poncaguy]

Nice elk..........I'd like to hunt elk someday!

[Redhawk1]

That is a good Elk, and with a handgun at that..

[Skeeterbaymac]

I have never used my 45-70 barrel on deer.  But it works great for bear and moose. Like others have said, I  too keep my shots within 100yds.

 For deer I would imagine that a 300 grain bullet would be more than enough.

 I do not find the Factory 300 grain load to be all that bad for recoil.  But I have tried a few hand loads  that were beyond what I could stand for recoil,  (read way beyond) and I am not all that recoil senstive. I have a couple of rifles in 45-70 and recoil in them can be rough when using bullets over 405 grains and pushing them on the faster side.  I have settled on the Horandy 350 grain round nose for bear and moose and it has done all I have asked of it. It hits black bear like a sledge hammer and has always left an exit wound.    

I did not get a brake on my barrel and wish I had now.

Hope this helps you.

[dscp]

the contender is able to take more than many rifearms .speer 45 colt for ruger and contenders only ...since the encore is much stronger than the contender...one should be able to shoot much hotter rounds in the encore.  the manuels show 3 levels  1) old rifles 2) marlin lever(new) and  3) ruger 31 and bolt actions . i would put my contender in catagory 2) with the new marlins......can i put my encore with the catagory 3) ruger #1  and bolt actions ...i cannot seem to find reloading date specifically for the encore...is the such avsailable
would relish any info.
thanks , dscp

[handirifle]

dscp
Just as an FYI.  The H&R SB2 frames, the ones that are built for the likes of 308, 30-06 etc, are, according to Marlin, in the level 2 class of 45-70 loads, right along with Marlin leverguns.

If it were me, I'd stay at that level (or below) with ANY break open firearm.  The Ruger #1 is one VERY strong action.  The SB2 action will not handle the magnum chamberings the Encore does though.