45-70, what ranges do you shoot: hunting?

[Gdbyrd]

With a SRH in 44 mag I felt like I could do better than the gun could shoot.  I didn't feel comfortable shooting past 75 yards with storebought shells. 

For pigs and javelina, maybe a deer; what distance is the 45-70 capable of shooting?  Say storebought ammo and reloads, scoped.

Is it more of a under 100 yard caliber?  I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck.  Either I spring for a 308 barrel or I finally buy a reloader and work with what I have.

[shot1]

It all depends on your thought of range. If you don't want to have to do any sight correction for yardage and what to sight in say around 3 inches high at 50 yards then yes you can shoot out to between 100 and 200 yards with a 45-70 and kill a deer or what ever. It all depends on how much velocity of a load you can handle. Your point of impact would stay about 4" above or below your zero. If you want to spend a lot of range time learning where your 45-70 shoots at different ranges and then know EXACTLY THE YARDAGE TO YOUR GAME, then you can shoot out to or beyond 1000 yards. You will be aiming at the moon but you can hit pretty well out to 1000 yards. I have done it many times with my 45-70 Sharps rifle shooting cast 500 gr bullets with black powder that has a muzzle velocity right around 1100 fps shooting targets. Black powder silhouette is shot out to 500 meters at a ram target that is smaller than a deer in size with open sights rifles cast bullets and black powder over crossed sticks.

I you want a fine pistol for shooting deer and hogs out to between 200 and 300 yards without worrying about having to hold over or under your game get you a Encore in 308 Win or 260 Rem or 7mm-08 if you are having to shoot factory ammo. Hand loads will be much better but factory ammo will do.

[Artful]

200 meters off a rest is about my limit to hit the 10x12 metal targets I use.

[Tommyt]

YOU mention Getting into Reloading
Do it! you'll Never regret it. You don't have to have every gadget in the book
you can Reload for a fair Start up cost,Doing so will improve your shooting
In anything you shoot after a Press /Primer tool, Dies and
a Lyman dipper set for the Powder charge Any caliber you own or buy
you'll need dies and Brass thats not a big cost for starts on a new caliber
20 for a set of dies and if you spent another 20 you would have maybe
50 to 100 pieces of Brass maybe more
Now I said all this with out Powder and Primers and a Loading book but If you
choose your Powder well, you may be able to get one or 2 that will work in all your
Guns
 It will be the best shooting money you ever spent. guns and barrels will come and go but
Your Press will stay bolted down
I feel if a guy has ONE gun reloading for it is the right way to go
so many shy away thinking its so Complex like anything it can be if you take it there
but It can be very simple too
Good shooting
Tommyt

[rescue_171]

Crazy not to reload especially for the 45-70... I use a lee loader for every gun I have... Cheap and easy and you can use it at the kitchen table so no press to have to bolt down and use in one spot. Like the previous post said if you shop around you can use 1 or 2 powders to load for multiple guns. But it is a money saving investment.
Just for the 45-70 Walmart has run of the mill shells for $36.96 for 20 rounds..... I can load 20 rounds for my 45-70 with cast bullets for about $6 for 20 rounds which equals alot more range time..... Just my 2 cents

[Tommyt]

the 45-70 Walmart has run of the mill shells for $36.96 for 20 rounds

I don't check Loaded Price's that Post about knocked me off the Chair
Darn Prices How can anyone shoot with out Loading
I can't imagine
When I go to the range I take 300 rounds most time I shoot
Half, if I got a new-be with something I have
I'll let them shoot as much as they want
If I were paying $2 a round don't think I could let them shoot any

Tommyt

[qwikrick]

hell $36.96  

here in Calif. after tax a box of 45-70 is well over 40.00 bucks  

if I did'nt reload I would never shoot my Marlin .

[hunt4570]

I agree with what Tommy says.. Go get one of those Lee Aniversery kits and go from there. Thats how I started and has worked great for me. It comes with almost everthing you need to get started.