Please excuse my ignorance

[tbull55]

:? But, I have a question.  is the 45-70 the same as a 45 colt (long colt)?  I have mostly dealt with 9mm, .38, .40, and 45 acp in pistols.  I have been looking at a 45 colt single shot rifle to do some hunting with.  The rifle I'm looking at also shoots a 410 shot shell.  I figured it was a 2 for 1 deal, I could use the 45 colt for hunting and the 410 for messing around with or the (in my case) dreaded snakes.  I have read a lot of posts and have not seen anybody talk about hunting with the 45 colt (long colt).  I have read about some folks using the 45-70 or 45-90 or 45-100.  This confuses me, it seems that the 45 colt would be a good hunting round but, I really don't know.  Can anyone explain this to me?  I also wonder if going with a .44 mag or .357 mag in a single shot rifle would be better.  I know these might seem like stupid questions, but I would really like to know what the deal is and I'm sure the people on this forum can help.  I know there are other calibers I could look at but, I'm wanting to stay in the range of cal I have listed.  I currently have a 270 win. that works great, I guess I'm looking for something different and I have like single shots since I got my hands on a NEF 20 gauge.

P.s. the hunting I'm talking about is white tail dear and wild boar.

Thanks,
Tbull

[armory414]

tbull55, the 45 Colt is a different cartridge from the .45-70.  The .45-70 is much longer, and is generally considered a rifle round (though it is chambered by Freedom Arms revolvers and Thompson Center single shot pistols).  For a combination gun such as the .45 Colt/.410, there are typically accuracy problems.  In such guns you usually need a choke adaptor for the shotgun, as well as a longer chamber to accomodate the .410 cartridge.  This long chamber usually leads to accuracy problems for shooting the .45 Colt.  Instead of the "best of both worlds" you get the "mediocre of both worlds."  The .45-70, .45-90, and .45-100 are all black powder cartridge rounds, of which the .45-70 has survived to modern times and has been successfully loaded to smokeless powder pressures.  Which, by the way, means you have to be careful how heavy your charge is if shooting a particular gun.  The highest safe pressures can be shot in Marlin lever actions, but can be too powerful for most single-shot rifles.

As for deer hunting--a .45 Colt or .44 mag will do well for whitetail or boar.  A .357 mag is also adequate, but at shorter ranges and in the hands of a very good shooter.  If you want a single shot, I suggest looking into a T/C Contender or Encore, which can be converted between rifle/pistol with a quick barrel change.  The T/C system also gives you the option of switching cartridges, in case you don't like a particular round for your type of hunting.

[PeterF.]

The simple answer is "No", they aren't the same. .45 Long Colt is  a traditional pistol cartridge, as shot from the old Colt .45 cowboy revolvers.  They also show up, in single-shot rifles, in "Traditional Hunter" models.  Some folks like the idea of having several guns (handgun and rifle) that can use the same round; and it's popular in "Cowboy Action Shooting" (usually with lever action rifles).  
The .45-70, -90, etc. are big (long) rifle cartridges ... real heavy hitters, suitable for elk, bear, etc.  A .45-70 (etc.) won't fit in a 45LC gun; and, if it somehow did, it would blow it up.  The Long Colt is probably OK for deer, at relatively short ranges (maybe out to 125 yards), iffy for boar.  Some folks say you can't be "over-gunned" when going after boar, especially the bigger European varieties.  Check in with the Wild Boar Hunting forum, elsewhere on Greybeard.  You'll see a lot of discussion about what's appropriate ... and what's not.  Also, poke around the various ammo manufacturers' sites; you may find some pic's showing the relative sizes (and ballistics).

[quickdtoo]

Here are the 2 cartridge specs and history with cartridge drawings...

http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/4570g.html

http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/p45c.html

[gwhilikerz]

Your question about 45 colt/ 45-70 has been answered. I would like to say something about single shot rifles. It was suggested that you get a TC because it is easy to change between a rifle and pistol? I know you can change calibers on a TC by changing barrels. But I think it would be more of a hassle to change a rifle to a pistol.  The TC is a great gun if that is what you want. I would recommend a NEF single shot since you state you like your 20ga. NEF. With the NEF you can also change barrels (tho you must first send your gun back to the factory to get a new barrel fitted.). Once you have the barrels they are easy to switch.  And the best part is you can find NEF complete rifles for what a TC barrel will cost.
 Now if you just want an inexpensive gun for hunting/plinking and don't have "import phobia" then try the Rossi. Just some suggestions.

[tbull55]

Thank you all for the info, it has been very helpful.  I have been looking at the Rossi for sale at CDNN.  Can anyone tell me about how much the T/C Contenders go for?

Thanks,
Tbull

[Prince of Wales]

tbull55 they say the only dumb question is the one not asked. Never feel embarassed to ask. POW

[Sourdough]

Actually there is three differant loadings for the 45-70.  Low one for the old trapdoors.  Middle for the modern guns like the Marlin and Browning lever guns.  And high for Ruger #1s and #3s, Browning single shots, and modern properly converted bolt guns.  The H&R NEF falls in the middle group.