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Author Topic: Contender Carbine in .45-70  (Read 796 times)

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Offline Lone Star

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Contender Carbine in .45-70
« on: September 02, 2007, 05:37:19 PM »
I've had this sweet little rifle for several years - a Contender with the 16" ported barrel, laminated stocks and Leupold 2X scope - about 5.5# total.  The last couple days I've had it at the range sighting in for deer season here in Texas - my stand does not present long shots so I'm sighted in for 100 yards.  With RP 300 HPs it shoots 18-shot aggregates of 2.1 moa (3-shot groups) at around 1450 fps with BlueDot. This little rifle does not shoot its best off bags - I support only my left hand when shooting the smallest groups.  In the past this load has proven deadly on smaller deer out to 100 yards - 35 years of hunting with the .45-70 has shown me that high velocity isn't needed with this cartridge to kill animals well, particularly at short range.  I have tested 300-grain loads that give 1784 fps in this T/C - but recoil is much higher and accuracy is not as good.  Who else has a nice compact .45-70 T/C that they have used successfully?  What loads have you used on 'big' game?   8)


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Offline swampthing

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Re: Contender Carbine in .45-70
« Reply #1 on: September 03, 2007, 05:23:22 AM »
Well not a 45-70, my 18" .444marlin, shooting 280g LBT's at a "measly" 1250fps. is quite the package. Light, easy to point, accurate, quiet, powerful. While not my choice for hunting in wide open fields, I have never, ever, seen an animal in a wide open field, at least during hunting season.  
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Offline Bill,SC

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Re: Contender Carbine in .45-70
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2007, 06:56:28 AM »
Lone Star,

How many gr. of BD do you use for huning?

Bill
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: Contender Carbine in .45-70
« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2007, 12:53:02 PM »
Bill, check your PM box.



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Offline woodchukhntr

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Re: Contender Carbine in .45-70
« Reply #4 on: September 17, 2007, 01:32:14 AM »
I just picked up a Contender carbine with .22 Hornet Custom Shop barrel and a .22 L.R.  Am considering a barrel for deer hunting.  .45-70 and .30-30 are at the top of the list.  I am a little leery of the .47-70 because of the recoil in such a light gun.  Some years ago a friend had a Ruger #3 which I shot 3 times (luckily not off of a bench rest) and had to hunt up aspirins for the shoulder pain and headache.  Of course, shooting in the field and sighting-in are different things, but if you can't sight it in, you can't hit anything in the field!  I like the .30-30 because of it's versatility and I already reload for it.
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Offline BobT

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Re: Contender Carbine in .45-70
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2007, 04:29:16 AM »
I have a long .45/70 barrel on the way that was part of a package deal. I will be looking for some good loads in the near future. I have always liked the big rimmed cases and have had good luck with them in the Contenders/Encores. I'll let you know when I get a chance to shoot this one.

Bob 
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