I’ve been wanting to increase my number of leverguns I guess I just enjoy shooting them and hunting with them. I already have a .45colt lever gun, going to get a 30-30 and possibly a .357. Was wondering since I have a 45 colt that shoots plus p if I’m really gaining anything other than on something like elk with a 45/70. Mostly shoot blacktail but am looking into short range mule deer and maybe black bear hunting. Would it be worth it? I’ve never shot one but know they are quite the heavy hitter up to 200ish yards
45/70 worth it?
- Thread starter Csinn
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.45Coltguy
Member
Night and day difference. I truly like shooting my .45 Colt lever gun, but, a .45-70 is waaaay more cartridge. The only similarity is caliber size.
snowman357
Member
I have a ruger number 1 in 45-70, I hunt with it sometimes great on deer, dead right there. Its a fun range gun for shooting steel and new shooters always want to try it. If I didnt reload I would not want 45-70 for the ammo cost.
.45Coltguy
Member
Yes, there is the cost factor. Good point.
snowman, is that the new Henry revolver in your avatar?
Riomouse911
Member
The ammo isn’t cheap, so if you are a reloader you will be a happier .45/70 shooter.
I used to shoot mine a lot, but over the past few years I haven’t had many opportunities to get out there with them. (JM Marlin 1895 Guide Gun and 1895 CB.)
Stay safe.
I used to shoot mine a lot, but over the past few years I haven’t had many opportunities to get out there with them. (JM Marlin 1895 Guide Gun and 1895 CB.)
Stay safe.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
My 1895G was my first lever gun. I have enjoyed it immensely. Light and packs a big wallop. Gives me bragging rights over those .357, 30-30, and 44 magnum pea shooters. It doesn’t, but it’s fun to tease my friends. The brass can be more expensive, the recoil more. It uses more powder and factory ammo is not cheap. I like my 30-30, 45 Colt, .357, and 44 mags levers. Round it out with a couple Savages, and a .243 Winchester. But the 45-70 has stolen my heart.
I thought about 45 Colt (magnum) type loads versus 45-70. I can load 300 grained 45-70 well past 45 Colt at +P levels. Temper that with what do you really need with that level of performance? And who wants to stand behind a full power load too many times.
I thought about 45 Colt (magnum) type loads versus 45-70. I can load 300 grained 45-70 well past 45 Colt at +P levels. Temper that with what do you really need with that level of performance? And who wants to stand behind a full power load too many times.
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.45Coltguy
Member
Rio, those 1895 CB's are some nice rifles/shooters.
Jeff62
Member
Your post helped me make a decision. I have a Henry 45/70 and have killed a couple of deer and a wild hog with my 405 grain Linotype bullets running about 1850 FPS. I love that rifle.
I’ve been thinking about a 45lc and asking myself if there is a real need. There is not. But my 300 grain Linotype loaded to 1100fps out of my Ruger Blackhawk launched out of another Henry .........well why not.
Maybe a Bigboy steel?
Many thanks
I’ve been thinking about a 45lc and asking myself if there is a real need. There is not. But my 300 grain Linotype loaded to 1100fps out of my Ruger Blackhawk launched out of another Henry .........well why not.
Maybe a Bigboy steel?
Many thanks
.45Coltguy
Member
If your talking about the Big Boy Steel in .45 Colt, by all means, get one. Mine is my favorite lever gun to shoot. You won't be disappointed.
Riomouse911
Member
It is a hoss with the 26” octagon barrel and a magazine full of 550 gr RNFP’s. The rounds look like sausages when you are loading them in.
I will admit that I had the stock shortened a touch and a recoil pad added to the CB. The plastic buttplate was brutal on the shoulder with anything stouter than trapdoor loads.
Stay safe.
!!!!!!!!!!!YES!!!!!!!!!!
Reloading the .45-70 is easy and fun. And very much worth the little effort. But there is also black Hills Cowboy (1100fps) and HMS Cowboy (1300 fps) and neither have any hard recoil, just a push. There is no real need to go to the heavy loads or the +P (HMS Bear, Garret, Buff Bore etc.) unless you really are up against large bear, lions, charging SUVs or like to watch pigs explode like watermelons hit by a five pound sledge!
I am not especially fond of the Hornady LR ammo in the .45-70. It is accurate and kills stuff dead well out beyond 100 yards, even out past 200 yards but it also has a harsh, obnoxious, snappy recoil that slaps my cheek and makes me want to put it down.
Nothing is more funner than .45-70.
Keep back off that scope!
Reloading the .45-70 is easy and fun. And very much worth the little effort. But there is also black Hills Cowboy (1100fps) and HMS Cowboy (1300 fps) and neither have any hard recoil, just a push. There is no real need to go to the heavy loads or the +P (HMS Bear, Garret, Buff Bore etc.) unless you really are up against large bear, lions, charging SUVs or like to watch pigs explode like watermelons hit by a five pound sledge!
I am not especially fond of the Hornady LR ammo in the .45-70. It is accurate and kills stuff dead well out beyond 100 yards, even out past 200 yards but it also has a harsh, obnoxious, snappy recoil that slaps my cheek and makes me want to put it down.
Nothing is more funner than .45-70
.Keep back off that scope!
Ohen Cepel
Member
45 70 is a lot more than a 45LC +P, now, if you need that power is up to you.
Great round if you reload, $$ if you don't. I really enjoy reloading for it (as well as the LC) as those big bullets are easier to work with than something like a .22.
Big fan of both rounds. Heads up though, 45 70 isn't the same diameter as a LC so can't use the same bullets in both cases.
Great round if you reload, $$ if you don't. I really enjoy reloading for it (as well as the LC) as those big bullets are easier to work with than something like a .22.
Big fan of both rounds. Heads up though, 45 70 isn't the same diameter as a LC so can't use the same bullets in both cases.
.45Coltguy
Member
Yes, you are correct. .451-.452" as opposed to .457" for .45-70. Glad you mentioned that. Not sure what I had in mind there. Thanks again for the correction.
Charlie98
Member
Love me some .45-70! As some have mentioned, it's a handloader's dream, but not as inexpensive as some cartridges to load for... so if you are cost sensitive, that may be a deal breaker.
Nice thing about the .45-70 is you can load it down to more sedate levels. I have my 'recoil threshold' sorted out with my 12# Pedersoli 1885... anything over 1500fps with a 405grn cast bullet becomes unfun... so that is my maximum, and I usually load in the 1400fps range. I only shoot steel with mine, so I'm not so worried about terminal ballistics, but I don't know a lot of things that would survive 405grns of bullet, moving at 1400'ish fps. Truthfully, if I was to hunt with a .45-70, I'd load 300grn JSP's... trading some weight for velocity.
As far as lever-guns... I'm a Marlin fan, but The One Rifle I Regret Selling to this day is a Browning 1886 SRC carbine I had some years ago. That was a fantastic rifle.
Nice thing about the .45-70 is you can load it down to more sedate levels. I have my 'recoil threshold' sorted out with my 12# Pedersoli 1885... anything over 1500fps with a 405grn cast bullet becomes unfun... so that is my maximum, and I usually load in the 1400fps range. I only shoot steel with mine, so I'm not so worried about terminal ballistics, but I don't know a lot of things that would survive 405grns of bullet, moving at 1400'ish fps. Truthfully, if I was to hunt with a .45-70, I'd load 300grn JSP's... trading some weight for velocity.
As far as lever-guns... I'm a Marlin fan, but The One Rifle I Regret Selling to this day is a Browning 1886 SRC carbine I had some years ago. That was a fantastic rifle.
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I probably don’t specially with the new leverevolution rounds for 3030. My brother has a 308 that’s a good gun but 95% of the time our shots are within 80-100yards, maybe 200 max and rarely anything but blacktail so never thought I needed the range or power of a 308. The 45/70 would be a just in case thing like a close range elk or bear. How does the recoil feel compared to a 23/4” slug in a 20” barrel? I don’t know what it is but I love the way a levergun feels and shooting them is a joy to me.
rayatphonix
Member
I did the same thing with my CB. It’s the only way I could enjoy shooting heavy loads. I have Marlin Cowboys in 45-70, 38-55 & 30-30. I dont shoot them nearly enough.
FL-NC
Member
Sure, it would work for a black bear. When I was hunting black bear in Maine, the guides said the more traditional deer rounds like 270, 30-06, 308, 30-30, etc. are more than adequate for them though.
Charlie98
Member
Split the difference... find you a Savage 99 in .308!
99F .308 (L), 99 takedown .30-30 (R)
Riomouse911
Member
I had a 99F in .308 years ago. I had to sell it to pay the rent when I was between jobs as a college kidSplit the difference... find you a Savage 99 in .308!
99F .308 (L), 99 takedown .30-30 (R)
. That is my biggest ever gun sale regret.Stay safe.
jmorris
Member
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2005
- Messages
- 24,172
Even with “Hot“ loads the 45 LC gives up 800 fps/426 ft/lbs of energy to a “Marlin” 45/70 load.
You would also be getting into a different diameter of bullets. Note the 300 grain loads for the two above use different part numbers for the bullets. This is because the 45LC uses .452” diameter and 45/70 uses .458” diameter, your LC stuff won’t work.
The recoil of the .45-70 is a little over stated. Yes, it will wallop you with the +P bear loads but even then it is a hard push. Only the HLR gives that sharp snap, at least of the ammo I have used. As a 14 yo I would dove hunt with a 12 gauge pump, I guess I am recoil tolerant . The .45-70, it is just not as bad as often stated. One thing though, a 12 gauge pump shotgun does not have a scope and if your Marlin is scoped and you hold it a little loose it will try and come back at you. Busted my glasses once.
I hope for Trail Boss to come back on line. I still have a reserve, 900 fps loads are possible with the TB propellents and the .45-70 is then like shooting a big .22. I claim no expertise but my observation is that lighter bullets pushed faster in the .45-70 produce a sharper recoil than heavier bullets slower for the same energy level. Still having said that, I find the 300 grain Hammer Down/Fusion tolerable. I like and prefer the HLR ammo in my .30-30 but in .45-70, not so much unless I need to shoot way out there.
. The .45-70, it is just not as bad as often stated. One thing though, a 12 gauge pump shotgun does not have a scope and if your Marlin is scoped and you hold it a little loose it will try and come back at you. Busted my glasses once. I hope for Trail Boss to come back on line. I still have a reserve, 900 fps loads are possible with the TB propellents and the .45-70 is then like shooting a big .22
. I claim no expertise but my observation is that lighter bullets pushed faster in the .45-70 produce a sharper recoil than heavier bullets slower for the same energy level. Still having said that, I find the 300 grain Hammer Down/Fusion tolerable. I like and prefer the HLR ammo in my .30-30 but in .45-70, not so much unless I need to shoot way out there.Those are amazing looking gunsSplit the difference... find you a Savage 99 in .308!
99F .308 (L), 99 takedown .30-30 (R)
I very much would like a 45-70, maybe in a single shot. However, the cost is prohibitive since I don't hunt and would likely just use the old Trapdoor loads out of it. For my purposes, a 45 Colt would work just as good. That said, cost is the only reason. Even if one reloads, those big cases eat lots of powder, even for weaker loads. That's not even talking about sending 400+ grains of lead down range each shot.
