Author Topic: 45/70 vs 500sw(ENCORE)  (Read 859 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Dogmann

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 314
45/70 vs 500sw(ENCORE)
« on: May 10, 2007, 08:28:34 AM »
Well looks like after all these years of CONTENDER shooting  I am going to buy  it's big brother ENCORE! I'm  was wondering what caliber you would choose for ultimate one round hit KNOCK DOWN POWER for whitetail deer- 45/70 loads by GARRET/Buffalo Bore  or the 500SW. Shots would be out to 100yards.

Offline Grumulkin

  • Trade Count: (33)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2028
    • http://www.orchardphoto.com
Re: 45/70 vs 500sw(ENCORE)
« Reply #1 on: May 10, 2007, 02:20:22 PM »
Both the 45/70 and the 500 S&W are overkill for deer; they will kill them REALLY dead.  The 500 S&W is factory loaded to quite a bit higher pressure than the 45/70.

Between the two, my preference would be the 500 S&W.  In my mind, equal to the 500 S&W would be the 460 S&W.

Offline MePlat

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 601
Re: 45/70 vs 500sw(ENCORE)
« Reply #2 on: May 10, 2007, 05:46:53 PM »
I have both.  For the fun of it and the nostalgia of it it is hard to beat a 45/70 period.  With it you can run a 15 inch barrel to slightly over 2000 fps with the 350 Speer to over 1500 with a 550 hardcast.
Wide variety of loads for the 45/70 from trapdoor levels to the lower 40000 cup range.  Cheaper brass, easy to find bullet molds, etc..
Only thing is that recoil in a 15 inch tapered unbraked barrel is off scale with a violent whip.  I have more powerful calibers set up with a bull barrel and a good brake that are more comfortable to shoot.
Would a deer or even an elk know the difference between the two I hardly doubt it though.
You Know Me.  I Don't Have a Clue

Offline Redhawk1

  • Life time NRA Supporter.
  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (78)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10748
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45/70 vs 500sw(ENCORE)
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2007, 12:41:35 AM »
Grumulkin, I don't think there is any such thing as OVER KILL. Dead is Dead.  ;) ;D Now there are rounds that are a little big for certain game animals, but still useable.  ;D
If  you're going to make a hole, make it a big one.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,
Jesus Christ and the American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom

Endowment Life Member of the NRA
Life Member NA

Offline Lone Star

  • Reformed Gunwriter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2359
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45/70 vs 500sw(ENCORE)
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2007, 05:16:42 AM »
IME the larger the bullet/meplat diameter the greater the reaction of the animal to the hit.  I have .45-70 and .50-70 barrels for my Contenders and have killed deer with both.  At similar velocities and lung shots the deer went down immediately with both cartridges - they didn't die immediately of course but they did show violent reaction to the hit.  Because the recoil with high velocity loadings is so brutal, I use moderate loadings (400-450 grains at 1150-1200 fps).  With similar recoil I prefer the .50-70 for sub-100 yard shots, but there is little real difference.


.