Author Topic: 45-70 iron sights or scope  (Read 1497 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline hunterwinco

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Avid Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 162
45-70 iron sights or scope
« on: January 17, 2007, 03:56:51 AM »
I am looking to purchase a 45-70 and was curious as to what you folks do for sights?  Do you keep the iron sights or scope your 45-70's?  I am looking for one to play with.  I currently have a long range deer gun in my .270, so I guess I am looking for a big boy plinker! - thanks

Offline eskimo36

  • Trade Count: (156)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1359
  • Gender: Male
    • Adventure Rider
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #1 on: January 17, 2007, 04:12:22 AM »
It depends on your eyes, but plinking from 25-75 yards with open sights is fun with big bullets.  Past 50-75 yards my eyes can't deal with it, but up close it is great fun. I plink with a 500 S&W.
"one shot is usually enough"

Offline MSP Ret

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (173)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 8940
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #2 on: January 17, 2007, 04:20:38 AM »
hunterwinco, I agree that plinking with big bullets is a blast. That's another of the many reasons I am planning to have my .45 ACP Handi made up. Fun, cheap to shoot, easy to reload, and a real handy Handi with a nice short barrel. The possibilities for this beauty are endless....<><.... :)

So far the only name in the running is "fun-gun"...
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline 44 Man

  • Trade Count: (28)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2419
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #3 on: January 17, 2007, 06:32:08 AM »
Depends on what you are going to use it for.  Again, it's lots of fun plinking with my Buffalo Classic with open sights.  But if I were in the woods hunting, I'd want a scope on it.  44 Man
You are never too old to have a happy childhood!

Offline hunterwinco

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (1)
  • Avid Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 162
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #4 on: January 17, 2007, 07:14:29 AM »
44 man,    that is the problem and perhaps a symptom of our common disease, I don't know for sure what I would use it for!  I have a hornet, 3030 and I thought a 45-70 would complete my collection of "vintage" cartridges.  For the most part deer/moose hunting I use my .270 MkII.  If it is nasty, wet or snowing, I use my 3030 handi with the williams peep.  My eyes are still pretty good with iron sights.  I have been considering the BC, how much are they?  I have been looking at a regular handi in 4570 for 219.00 here in maine.

Offline Badnews Bob

  • Trade Count: (34)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2963
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #5 on: January 17, 2007, 07:21:06 AM »
Scopes are great but I like irons, I took a really nice buck at 150yrd this year with my iron sighted 22" .45-70 handi. Great rifle for the woods in my opinion. i can get a sight picture faster with the irons also, works for me.
Badnews Bob
AE-2 USN retired

Offline sureshot2040

  • Trade Count: (27)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 626
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2007, 08:13:06 AM »
i had a bc and slapped a creedmore tang sight on the wrist of it and shot right along side a 1500 dollar bpcr browning out to 500 yards
on a good day it would group around seven inches at that range
not to shabby for a 200 dollar used bc and a 25 dollar used tang sight
im in the process of getting another one as i write this
cant wait to try it with a 200 dollar lee shaver tang mounted on it
im not sure but i think it might be a sin to scope a bc :o
so be careful what thou do ;D
sureshot

Offline Dave Weiss

  • Trade Count: (10)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 222
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2007, 08:14:45 AM »
I've got my Handi 45-70 set up with a XS Ghost ring rear and a Williams Firesight up front. Very accurate/durable combo. My shooting is self limited to wthin 100yds.
I've been bowhunting for over 25 years, so with this little rifle I've quadrupled my effective range (I should have done this years ago).
FWIW, I ordered the Ghost ring at the same time I ordered my rifle and felt obligated to use it, I think I could have gotten good results with the factory irons, it's really not a bad set-up... Try the factory irons before you make any changes/purchases. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

>>>===> Dave
Hunt hard, shoot fast and trust your dog.

Offline dave hall

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 417
  • Gender: Male
  • The Great .458
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #8 on: January 17, 2007, 09:47:45 AM »
If I'm hunting open fields around my house I put the scope on the 45-70,because the shoot can be about 200 yds at the most.If I'm hunting any place else I use the irons in the woods and the swamp where I spend most of my hunting days.Dave
NEF Handi SB2  .45-120 Sharps.
Stoeger Coachgun 20 Ga.
Ruger  SP101 4.2"  .357 Mag.
Rossi Ranch Hand (Mares Leg) 45 LC

Offline Dillohide

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 273
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #9 on: January 17, 2007, 10:41:39 AM »
I have a fixed 4x scope on mine and love it ... sturdy, clear, good eye relief and draws light. Forgot how great plain old fixed power scopes are.

Offline pascalp

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • *****
  • Posts: 131
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #10 on: January 17, 2007, 11:13:31 AM »
As said previously, eyes sometimes don't give choice!. Open sight are hard for me, I could manage and like aperture.

My Nef sb2-457, is scoped only. The muzzle was threaded for suppressor use.

I own also an High-wall 45-70. I use both scope and aperture. I discover recently  NECG peep sight, the rear sight fit on weaver base, it's a matter of seconds to switch between scope and peep sight. To be honest the NECG is unfired, lack of time !!!

Offline FLNT4EVR

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (8)
  • A Real Regular
  • *****
  • Posts: 603
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #11 on: January 17, 2007, 11:35:36 AM »
I'm keeping the iron sights on mine, A scope just doesn't seem to belong on a 45-70.
" Act civilized...even if you ain't " 
 
" I won't be wronged. I won't be insulted. I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people , and I require the same from them. "
                                  John Wayne, "The Shootist"

Offline Dillohide

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Contributor
  • ***
  • Posts: 273
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #12 on: January 17, 2007, 05:38:03 PM »
Quote
I'm keeping the iron sights on mine,A scope just doesn't seem to belong on a 45-70.

I remember saying those exact words years ago regarding a 30-30 leveraction. One of these days your eyes may tell you different, like mine did.  ;)

Offline Joel

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 933
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #13 on: January 17, 2007, 06:02:21 PM »
If you're just going to plink with it, use whatever suits your fancy and you enjoy using.  I've hunted with mine for around 14 years now and hunt in pretty thick cover so I use  a scope(2-7 Leupold). There's not a pair of iron sights made that will match one for picking out a vital spot in heavy cover, or for that matter even spotting and accurately aiming at  a deer in heavy cover out at 50-100 yds early at first light or late. If you  decide to hunt with it and hunt out in the open or in open woods then again it won't much matter.

Offline Walks with a gimp

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 81
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #14 on: January 17, 2007, 07:48:05 PM »
I am looking to purchase a 45-70 and was curious as to what you folks do for sights?  Do you keep the iron sights or scope your 45-70's?  I am looking for one to play with.  I currently have a long range deer gun in my .270, so I guess I am looking for a big boy plinker! - thanks

  How much do these guns go for new in the box, the 32 inch barrel 45/70?

Offline quickdtoo

  • Global Moderator
  • Trade Count: (149)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 43301
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #15 on: January 17, 2007, 07:55:41 PM »
  How much do these guns go for new in the box, the 32 inch barrel 45/70?

Seems like that question was just asked!! ;D

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,108895.msg1098321752.html#msg1098321752
"Always do right, this will gratify some and astonish the rest" -  Mark Twain

Offline PlacitasSlim

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 214
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #16 on: January 18, 2007, 08:05:41 AM »
I put the optional Williams sight on my BC Classic last year and can shoot moa at 100yds sometimes. At 62 my eyes are not what they used to be. I love the iron sights on the 45/70 but then again my disability does not allow me to hunt anymore, so it is strictly for the love of shooting it. ;)

Offline Shawnee Gene

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Avid Poster
  • **
  • Posts: 124
  • Gender: Male
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #17 on: January 18, 2007, 10:01:28 AM »
I have a smith ent. rear sight on my bc and love it!
"Wheel guns are Real guns!"

Offline jack19512

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 639
Re: 45-70 iron sights or scope
« Reply #18 on: January 19, 2007, 03:09:51 AM »

 Do you keep the iron sights or scope your 45-70's? 





I wanted to keep mine with the iron sights but my eyes wanted a scope.   :)  That is if I wanted to shoot past 100 yards.