45-70 vs. 375 JDJ ?

[bigbore442001]

I was wondering if I really need to purchase a new barrel. I have been shooting a Super 16 in 45-70 for some time and have successfully taken deer, bear as well as wild pig. I would like to take a moose with it this October. I had a thought that , although shots tend to be close in NH, what if I had a shot present itself over 150 yards? Should I look into the 375 JDJ? Any comments will be welcomed. Thank you.

[jhalcott]

You can use heavier slugs in the 45-70 than in a 375jdj .You CAN practice out to 200 yards with your gun using 300 grain soft points.Velocity can reach 1900fps,but recoil is way up there at this speed.
  a 300 gr .458 started at 1900 fps will still have 1069 lbs of energy at 200.
sighted on at 150yds,it will be+2.2"@50,2.9"@100,0.0@150 and-7.4"@ 200.
 considering the size of the vital area of a moose,I'd stick with the gun I am used to.Besides ,you can buy an awfull lot of practice bullets for what a new barrel costs.
   But heck ,buy the new toy .You need some thing small for varmints anyway,don't you?     jh

[TopGun]

Hey bigbore,   I have a 6x6 315B/C Colorado Elk on my wall. :grin:  15" SSK 375JDJ-285gr Speer Grand Slam over 4064 at 1900fps velocitiy at 15' muzzle.  :eek: Three shots-all pass throughs on shoulder (not lung) all in 4" group. :eek:  Last 2 weren't needed as he got real sick after the first shot-In my 45-70, I shoot my 350 LCSWC and 350 Hornady SP to almost 1700fps and I don't think it can stopped in a big deer like an Elk or Moose. We'll see this year. :-)  I'd use this load to 200yd withought question but one must know the range. The 375 is flat enough to shoot to 250 without too much fear of shooting under or over.
Me? I'd buy the second barrel, BUT, it seems I always go for the 375 when I think the chips will be down. :?  The thing that's not fair to us is that there are just too many neat choices to make and not enough time nor money to hunt and use them all. :wink:  One year in Pa I shot 6 deer with available tags, and used 5 different barrels--that was fun!!  :grin:

[TopGun]

I forgot to mention that the 6x6 was an honest 175yds  away and slowly walking and bugling behid a cow. :eek:  Errnnnt!  :? He should have been paying more attention to me!! :shock: Topgun!! Killed 4 and counting! but guided friends into 21 other kills(Bulls and Cows). Only mine were with a HandCannon!!  

[bigbore442001]

I hate to buy a new barrel as I am pretty familiar with my 45-70. I spoke with one guide who said that most of the shots will be close. He is primarily a bowhunter and I believe his shots are less than 50 yards.

I spoke to a different guide who asked if the subpermittee( my Dad) will be carrying a rifle as he hunts mostly clearcuts and you could get a 200+ yard shot.

I am thinking about switching scopes. I have a 2-6 power Redfield on a 22 mag that I can put on the 45-70 to replace the 2x Burris. I may do that in case I need the magnification if there is a 100+ yard shot.

[Duffy]

Your 2X should be fine out to 150 yards at least unless your eye sight is a bit poor and you need the extra power. Unless you are going to have a chance to get hunkered in and wait for a shot the variable could be a hinderence.  That 45-70 should also work great, once that big hunk of lead get's moving it takes quite a bit to stop it. Besides you have more practice with it and that's what counts.
If you live where there's very LARGE horses around just stand back at 100 yards or better and take a visual on the vital area to get an idea.