Uses for a 45/70?

[Rockin Double B]

O.K., I' love my new, small, lightweight G2.  Now I'm trying to find uses for the calibers its frame can support (in the rifle configuration).   I've noticed many 45-70 barrels available.  Now, I shoot an old Springfield 45-70 and load for it but its uses seem very limited.  Is there something I'm missing?  What are so many people using this caliber (slow moving paper weight) for?    I just don't see that many people at buffalo shoots......could there be other shooting sports it is geared to?  Thank you.

[Varmint Hunter]

Hunting black bears over bait. P-E-R-F-E-C-T

[Keith L]

There was one guy here a while ago that used his for woodchucks.  Musta grown them big where he was from.

[RaySendero]

O.K., I' love my new, small, lightweight G2.  Now I'm trying to find uses for the calibers its frame can support (in the rifle configuration).   I've noticed many 45-70 barrels available.  .....  What are so many people using this caliber (slow moving paper weight) for? ..... Thank you.

[youthpastorjon]

I have never used it for this but I have talked to several guys who hunt whitetail with it.  If you have hunting somewhere where you aren't going to shoot long distance or need to clear some brush then I could see maybe using it.  It does seem like alot of lead for a whitetail though.

[Lone Star]

I've used the .45-70 extensively over the pat 35 years - out of numerous platforms - for deer to caribou to moose to brownies.  Is it the best  cartridge for any of these uses?  Well, what is the best  cartridge?

Where the .45-70 excels is in applying big game killing power from the relatively weak Contender frame.   IME the big flat bullet has a much more dramatic, immediate effect on game animals than smaller cartridges do.  A 300-grain bullet at 1600 fps or a 400-grain bullet at 1400 fps is adequate for most big game.  It isn't a long range chambering, it isn't a low recoil chambering, but it is an excellent choice for much short range hunting.   


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[rebAL]

check out http://www.garrettcartridges.com/lupoindex.asp

[Hopalong7]

If you really want to have some fun, try bustin' gallon milk jugs full o' water with a 45-70 loaded with a LBT stlye bullet.  To enjoy the dramatic effect you have to let someone else do the shootin' so you can watch the jug. Whoever coined the phrase DRT had to have a 45-70.   GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt 

[Davemuzz]

Try a 405 grain Cast Performance bullet over 50 to 53 grains of Varget. It's a great whitetail load out to 100 yards. Even 125 yards. It will kill further, but the bullet drops severely when you zero it at 100 yards. The solid 405 grain lead bullet will just flat out knock 'em off their hoof's and leave tracking to a minimum...if any at all. Also, the best shot is through the boiler room....but if you do "kind of miss" and send the big chunk of lead thru good meat, (like a quartering too shot...which I really don't like to take) it won't take out an entire hind quarter like a hollow point does. It's more of a big hole in, big hole out....bang, flop...maybe get up....but not run real far.

I have this in a Marlin 1895XLR. Excellent accuracy. I use a peep sight. A scope really isn't necessary....and a peep is more fun...plus you get better braggin rights. 

Oh....when I first got this gun I did use it to shoot groundhogs. I mean...heck...I had this darn accurate gun and the only thing in season was G-hogs! Big hole in and big hole out. And they just fell over. But.....you had to have 'em 100 yards or under. I did try a 200 yard shot once. I think I did a guess-ta-ment of 3 feet for the hold over. Me and my buddy got a good laugh...the 'hog ran. I have no idea how close I came.

Dave 

[onesonek]

With 3 round balls to 500 gr. heavy weights,,,use it for anything on this continent and then some.

Dave