Got a quick question for all the 45/70 guys

[gatersb]

Hey guys im sure you have all seen my rant on cast bullets lately.  Sorry just venting.  A couple of buddies of mine are setting their 7 mags this coming monday and i was wanting to set the 45/70.  The stand i'm suppose to be hunting is not going to have over at 125 yard shot.  So my question is should i set the zero for 100 yards on the hornady ammo or should i set it 3" high like the box says so it will be 4" low.  Just seems to me the midrange would be too high for closer shots that i might take.  Any info is welcome.  By the way the guys dont believe there 7 mags should drop much from 100 to 300 yards we will have to see come monday.

BG

[spikehorn]

My hunting sounds like yours the longest shot I've ever taken a deer at was 160 yards. I have one of my 45-70s sighted in about 1" - 1 1/2" high at 100 yards with the Hornady LE rounds. I will probably never have to take a 300 yard shot. If I ever do I'll just use kentuck elevation.

[petemi]

I guess I'm not understanding your question.  Sight it for 100 and you'll be fine.  If he's a bit further out Kentuck him a bit.  My last one with the .45-70 LE was at 220, no problem.  good luck,

Pete

[gatersb]

i was deciding to either sight in for dead on at 100 or 3" high at 100.  But it sounds like dead on is about right.

[thejanitor]

That seems like a lot of math to be thinking about when a deer walks out. I would set it zero on 100 and hold two inches high at the 125yd max shot. And hold an inch low if it walks out at 50 yds. (just an example.... if you test shoot for trajectory you will know where to hold) And just learn how to hold for the slightly longer shots. If you were going to have a 200 yd shot often I would set my scope different but if you set it for 100 and shoot it at some close and far targets and write where you hit both near and far. And remember it you will be set. But remember the close shots will be high, there was a post on the hog hunting forum here about how someone shot his new 45-70 at hogs at like 60 yds and he was zero'd at 100 and shot right over the necks.... I believe twice. He just didn't know where the bullet path was along the trajectory. His mistake helped me to do some extra home work and be aware of where the bullet is at A, B & C distances even though you are sighted in at D. Just my thoughts since you will be sighting anyway -one shot at 30 , 60 and 125, just for reference after you zero at 100 would be very helpful.
 Hope you get one. thejanitor

[xit]

I sighted mine three high at 100.  I then had a shot at a little buck at 45 yards.  I shot it in the neck and it killed it instantly.  I found the bullet up against the hide. on the far side.  I aimed dead on and it worked great.

[gatersb]

cool that sounds like a plan find out the trajectory on closer shots and dead on for 100. they will be slinging ammo at 300 yards but i honestly dont think they realize how far that really is   not saying they cant do it but it should be entertaining at least i dont have to wonder which bullet holes are mine should be easy to figure out

[LONGTOM]

I sighted mine three high at 100.  I then had a shot at a little buck at 45 yards.  I shot it in the neck and it killed it instantly.  I found the bullet up against the hide. on the far side.  I aimed dead on and it worked great.

At that close of a range I am surprised that the bullet didn't pass through.
I use Win 300gr HPs and have never recovered one at ranges from 30 yds out to over 175 yds.
All have been complete pass throughs.
Neck, head, shoulders or vitals made no difference.



LONGTOM

[petemi]

I sighted mine three high at 100.  I then had a shot at a little buck at 45 yards.  I shot it in the neck and it killed it instantly.  I found the bullet up against the hide. on the far side.  I aimed dead on and it worked great.

Frank, longtom, took the words out of my mouth........what were you shooting to not get a pass through on a neck shot??  Perhaps ya oughta check your load   I think my Daisy Red Ryder hits that hard.  Sorry, not meaning to be sarcastic, but that shot with a stout .45-70 load should have almost removed the head from the body and be long gone.

Pete

[bikerbeans]

gatersb,

Assumming you are shooting the Hornady LE 325s in your 45/70 then if you are zero @ 100 yards with a scope about 1.5" higher than your barrel centerline you should be fine out to you max 125 shoot.  Probably be one to two inches low @ 125 yards.  If you set the zero @ 3" high I wouldn't necessary count on being 4" low at 200 yards because your gun may shoot alot different than Mr. Hornady's test rifle. 

If you have time shoot the gun @ 50 & 75 yards as well as 100 yards and you get an idea of the rise & fall of your projectile. 

BB

[gatersb]

i will try thanks again guys

[Duckdog]

There'a lot of guessing going on without knowing the FPS and bullet coeficient.  With those three, if we knew the grains, we could get you right on the money.  If you want, my guess is that it  a flat nose 325 gr, so you could go as follows, based on sighting in @ 100 yds:
 1400 fps: 1.92" high at 50 yds and 3.29" low at 125 yds

 1500 fps: 1.58" high at 50 yds and 2.86" low at 125 yds

1600 fps:  1.31" high at 50 yds and 2.41" low at 125 yds

Should give you an idea.

[BBF]

The Hornady FTX bullet has a BC of .230 They show a max V for reloads(Marlin level) as 2150 fps