45/70 Contender Carbine

[greenrivers]

What is the flatest shooting load for this carbine? I hunt a varied area where thick brush limits shots to very short ranges but clear cuts can open shots to three hundred yards or more. What loads are available that will not stretch a contender reciever but extend the range to it's limits safely.

[Slowpoke Slim]

So you're asking how to make a 45-70 NOT a 45-70?

The Contender is only rated to "Trapdoor Springfield" pressure levels. That doesn't give you much trajectory to work with.

I guess about the best you could do would be to load a 300 gr bullet to "Trapdoor max" loads. Zero it at 100 or 150 yards, and then lob some at 300 and see how much hold over you'll need.

I shoot and enjoy 2 different 45-70's myself. That being said, I would not select that caliber for the hunting situation you've described.

[Doublebass73]

My guess for the flattest shooting factory round safe for a 45/70 Contender would be the Hornady Leverevolution 325 grain FTX. Here's the specs - http://www.hornady.com/store/45-70-Government-325-gr-FTX-LEVERevolution/

Nothing in my Lyman reloading manual is equal to that. They also have a new 250 grain "monoflex" but they don't have any specs on their website for it so I'm not sure if it beats the FTX or not - http://www.hornady.com/store/45-70-Government-250-GR-MONOFLEX/

[Graycg]

If you want a 2-300 yard caliber, invest in a 7-30 waters barrel and use a spitzer bullet!  Either that or learn how to estimate range very well and know your 45-70's trajectory VERY well.   
 
regards,
 Graycg

[Camp Cook]

I was at the range yesterday with my 22" s/s Custom Shop 45-70 carbine barrel I have one of the new style 2-7X33mm Redfield Accu-Range reticle scope mounted with Leupold QRW rings on an MGM 6 hole base loaded up with my 325gr Hornady FTX reloads I have it zeroed 1" high @ 100 yards.
 
Someone had put a 20lbs propane bottle up at 200 meters there were some smaller holes in it so I could still see my hits I held the dot on the bottom post on the center weld line of the bottle and watched 3 325gr FTX blow holes into a 2 1/2" triangle about 1" over my hold. 
 
Here is a pic of the reticle to give an idea.
 

REDFIELD Revolution 2-7x33 Riflescope, Accu-Range Reticle (67085)      [/t][/t] [/t]   I see no reason that you can't reach out too 300 yards but in order to hit you need a range finder and you will need to know your hold over.   In other words the limitations of this cartridge are up to you = practice enough and you will be able to do what you want the bullet will still have enough momentum to reliably kill if you do your part.

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[greenrivers]

Camp Cook, the multi plex scope is a really good idea, one I should have thought of. I do have lighter bullets cast that I am working up loads for them now. I also have a 7-30 waters,204, 22hornet to go with the 45-70 Contender. There are various other caliber rifles in the safe including a custom .243 and two 30-06's. More power is not what I am looking for. I did not discover the 45-70 until a couple years ago and have developed a fondness for the caliber. In a contender carbine it is a sweet carrying rig.  Is your Redfield caliber specific?

[Camp Cook]

Yes and no Redfield does a group 1 & group 2 list but I do not look at it at all even my Leupold scopes that have either Varmint or Boone & Crocket reticles I do not follow the charts I figure out the distances by shooting at different distances.
 
Example my 21" barreled 375RUM loaded with 260gr Accubonds @ 3020fps is zero'ed for 200 yards this gives me when aiming with the second B&C reticle line down a 460 yard zero.

[Camp Cook]

I was out blacktail deer hunting in a new area I just found this morning its 5 - 6 minutes drive from my house to the logging road then another 20 minutes to a new logging slash the mtn is also honeycombed with hiking/dirt bike trails I took my Contender in 45-70 loaded with 325gr FTX.
 
I didn't see anything but the area is full of promise deer tracks everywhere guess I need a crappy day for the deer to stay out of the bush or keep moving around a bit later in the morning.
 
After hunting around for about 3 hurs I was finally getting back close to my truck when I came across a 10 gallon white rectangle jug so me being who I am couldn't pass up a chance at shooting at a target in the bush I loaded up one of my bear stopper 430gr cast WLNGC's to see where they hit @ 100 yards because I couldn't remember it has been a year since I shot them.
 
My hold was good just above the blue label appr 2/3rds up the jug I have to say I was surprised that my 430gr load dropped so much they hit hit dead center but about 15" low...
 
Note to myself shoot more of these so I know where to hold and remember to mark it down so I don't forget again...     

[greenrivers]

It sounds like the area you hunt is quite a lot like where I hunt in the mountains. The logged off areas can open shots a long ways and the rainbow like trajectory of the caliber can make for challenging shooting. I believe that a multiplex and some of the creative sighting in is a very good idea. Combined with three hundred grain type bullets for deer, and the heavies when sitting for bear would be just what is called for. Though the Contender carbine will not be going away, I think that a new fund for either a Ruger or highwall is in my future, Lord willing.

[Camp Cook]

I'm in south west British Columbia, Canada only a few miles from the border east of Vancouver I am hunting the Cascade mtns.
 
I'm hoping to head out again this morning won't be able to get there until after 8am though have a couple of things to do first taking the 45-70 again if I can pull it off and yes it is raining.   
 
Instead of another rifle why not consider a longer reaching Contender barrel/cartridge combo I'd recommend a 309JDJ gives 150gr @ 2700fps = a 300 yard plus light weight combo or a 375JDJ I have a 21" factory tapered barrel that I had JD Jones rechamber to 375JDJ I am getting 2280 - 2300fps with 260gr Accubonds = 300 yard thump anything in North America except grizzly and I even hunted grizzly with mine.
 
I have a 21" factory tapered 30-30 barrel that I had a fellow (that cannot be mentioned here on Graybeards) rechamber to his wildcat 308X444 = 150gr @ 2620fps shot my largest antlered mule deer buck @ 210 yads with this combo actually just put a new scope onto this barrel need to get to the gun club and sight it in I will be taking it up the mtn behind my house as soon as I do.   
 
Oh and I fish for salmon about 400 yards in front of my house... 
 

[greenrivers]

Good luck on your hunt today. I wish that I were there to join you! That is an area that I have read about since I was a young teen, and would like to someday at least visit. As noted above, I do have the Waters barrel for my Contender, and for the moment have my sights set on a highwall as my next purchase. The custom wildcat that you mention sound interesting, can you give out more info on the cartridge?

[Camp Cook]

Thanks I didn't see anything Monday but I got out of here late and just as I was getting to were I was going to get out of my truck another truck was comining out the other way turns out it was a friend of mine he had been in the area since daybreak and had seen two 2X2 bucks and 5 does he passed on the bucks said they were far to small, after chatting for almost an hour I hiked around but saw nothing.

I went out again this morning took my Contender 45-70 loaded it with the 325gr FTX loads I was mostly hunting heavy timber where shots at the most were 50 - 60 yards but then I would break out into the logging cut where shots were the furthest shots could of been out to 300 - 350 yards.

I am good out to 250 yards so I didn't feel like I didn't have enough rifle/cartridge/load even in the cuts I figured I would be able to close the gap by at least 100 yards if I spotted a shootable deer.

After hiking around for a couple hours I left and tried a new area after hiking into old growth trees that had a lot of low undergrowth I spotted a 3X3 blacktail buck standing broadside to me when I was aiming all I could see was his rib cage the rest was behind trees the shot was appr 50 yards uphill from me bullet hit about 1" high of center of chest and exited about 2" below the backbone thru the off side rib cage the deer dropped instantly.
 
About 15 inutes earlier I had snuck to within 7 - 8 yards of a doe saw 11 does this morning as well.

I didn't have a camera with me so no photos yet I now have the deer hanging behind my camper in my backyard I'll get a couple pics later when my wife gets home.
 

[greenrivers]

Congratulations! It is amazing how easy it can be at times, and how frustrating other times. Last year I passed on a three hundred plus yard shot at a nice buck that was up the mountain from me. Although I had my 30-06, the angle and no rest made for unsure conditions. Yours was a steep angle, entering midway up the ribs and exiting two inches below the back bone! Nice performance though. No tracking is way better than even a good blood trail. Once the trigger is pulled, it is all work from that point on, but the promise of a good steak is assured. Looks like a good chance of snow for our season next month. Flying back from the Canadian border yesterday, we had snow showers before leaving and found the top of Katadin covered in snow.

[Camp Cook]

Took a couple pictures but they are very poor I have the deer skinned out now and at the butchers going to take the head/hide up into the hills this morning I'll take a couple of pics of it with the rifle before I cut the antlers off.
 
I made it to the gun club with my 4 1/2 year old son yesterday afternoon needed to sight in my 308X444 barrel it pissies me off Greybeard had a arguement or something with the fellow that designed and rechambered my 30-30 barrel to 308X444 (444 Marlin brass necked down with 308 Win dies) so his name is a forbidden word here so I can't even type in the proper name of my wildcat cartridge.
 
Anyway there was my morning spew now I hav a coffee so I'm good...   
 
I mounted a Leupold compact 3-9X33mm duplex scope with my 150gr Rem Core Lok loads @ 2600fps its now zeroed 1 1/2" high at 100 yards and dead on at 200 yards I'm thinking this is the perfect blacktail deer combo on my mtn.
 
I read an article last night by he that cannot be mentioned on his Triad of 7mm/308/358 cartridges all 3 are based on the 444 Marlin brass his comment on your 7-30 barrel was if you have a 7-30 that is accurate do not waste your time rechambering to his larger cased 7mm B**** the gains are minimal compared to the gains for the 308....

[greenrivers]

I think that I would have to agree with him about the caliber difference although you are very quickly closing in on 30-06 territory! I am quite satisfied with the 7-30 and it's performance. I do though intend to get into Cabela's before their scope sales are over. I would like to stay with the Nikons that I have on my other barrels (except the 45/70, I have a new Weaver on that). But they have some very interesting prices on a new Leupold. I may have to get one. The scope that is on it now came with the barrel and is not something I want to keep on it. It seems o.k. but could let me down when I need it. The rifle and barrels are something that I bought for my youngest daughter to use, but I may have to get another. I like them!

[Camp Cook]

Ok finally got a picture of the little guy...
 
I was out again this morning to take the pic took my 4 1/2 year old son with me so we did a hunt I carried the 308 WinX444 it was windy and drizzling we saw 6 does.
 
With the wind blowing towards us 3 of the deer hardly seemed to notice us as we walked towards them finally at about 75 yards 2 of them started up the cut the other just stood there eating away even with my little guy talking and kicking rocks we were able to get within 5 yards of it wish I had the video camera with us...
 
Turns out where the deer was standing the wind was swirling so it could not smell us.
 
As soon as the rain stopped we didn't see another deer.
 

 

[greenrivers]

Well done with the picture. That is a nice looking deer, good heavy rack too.
With all the deer your seeing, the heard numbers must be up well. That kind of experience for a young future hunter will also insure a future partner that enjoys the sport as much as wee do and has a health view of the world. It is really fun to watch the maturity grow.

[Camp Cook]

Thanks = I have a 26 year old son as well he was my hunting partner since he was 5 - 7 bought him the 30-30 Contender when he was 10 then he went away to a boarding college in Alberta for 5 years came back right when the little guy was born.
 
So I understand the importance of getting them involved actually after working for 30 years I took the last 1 1/2 years off and stayed home went hunting/fishing/camping with the young lad we even went on four 9 day trips and a multitude of 2 - 7 day trips that same 30-30 Contender frame is now set up witha 16.5" 22LR barrel and a 21" 410 barrel the butt stock donated to us by a fellow here on Greybeards is cut shorter to fit him.
 
Here is the little guy on a mule deer hunt with me and his older brother I'm holding a Robinson ARms XCR-L in 6.8SPC older son has my original hunting rifle that I gave to him my grandfather gave to me it is a Husquavarna rechambered to 270 Weatherby by my grandfather we were between Manning Park and Princeton.
 
I just realized that that was Oct 4/10 almost exactly 1 year ago to the day...