Deer hunting with 45-70

[agallant80]

Work firewall blocks anything gun related and those forums are filled with too many wackos anyways. Anyone out there dear hunt with a 45-70? I am thinking instead of buying another 308or 30-06 of adding a decent scope to my Marlin 1895.

 

[aspeck]

Nope, but know some guys that do. It will work ... all about shot placement. Those are big bore, slow moving, brush guns. If your shots are 100 yards or less and lot's of brush to contend with, those are a decent calibre.

 

[WIMUSKY]

That's one good thing about an -06, not only are they longer range guns, they also have good knockdown power. Good all-around caliber for large game...

 

[agallant80]

I would love to get a new 06 but I am trying to use what I have.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Good -06s have gone crazy in price, especially in semi-auto.

If you're mainly hunting in the brush, your .45-70 will work fine as 'Speck stated.....

 

[agallant80]

I could always take my M1 and shoot iron sights if I wanted. I don't mind a bold gun for just hunting though. I like the TC Venture in 30-06. Super light weight.

 

[MTboatguy]

Here in Montana, a lot of guys carry the 45-70 as well as the 45-90 for elk and deer hunting, both are really overkill for deer, the main reason they carry them is due to the possibility of running into grizzlies during that time of year while they are bulking up for hibernation.

 

[JB]

I hunted with a Marlin 1895 for a while. Because I was hunting in brush I loaded 500 gr. lead. Cut down some trees with that combination but didn't get any game. :laugh:

 

[aspeck]

Okay, so according to JB, it might not be so good on animals, but it makes a great saw! LOL! Good one, JB!

 

[southkogs]

Folks in the area will know you took a poke at somethin' with the .45/70, that's for sure! I know a couple of guys who hunted with M1s and they seemed to like it. I've only ever carried a .243 or a shotgun. I've got my grandpa's .300 savage ... but it hurts to shoot that thing.

 

[MTboatguy]

I have been known to do a bit of shotgun logging in the past!

 

[agallant80]

I think I am going to give it a try. I ordered a scope, base and rings for it. Wife is going to one of those Mary K or Tupperware things on Saturday so I will head up to the range to sight it in on the 100 and see how the balistics change when going to the 200.

 

[MTboatguy]

No reason not to try with it, it will definitely bring a deer down, now remember in the past, people hunted with what they had and were very successful, they didn't have the options we have these days.

 

[aspeck]

Expect it to drop like a rock from 100 - 200!

 

[82rude]

I know several people that use the 45.70 on moose let alone deer.you should have no issues atall except from the latest greatest snobs that will wine because you are not using the bfg 9000.

 

[agallant80]

I know several people that use the 45.70 on moose let alone deer.you should have no issues atall except from the latest greatest snobs that will wine because you are not using the bfg 9000.

I have friends who would insist on a 300 win mag for a 50 yard shot....

 

[Bob_VT]

45-70 is my go-to caliber. I own a few of them and they are most effective if you reload your own ammo. Hop over to this forum http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/ and read up on the 45-70. You can load from mild to wild!

Read this too
http://home.earthlink.net/~sharpsshtr/CritterPhotos/SandyHook/SandyHook.html

 

[scarabite]

Use 7mm slightly larger than a 22 in diameter about 3000 fps on my hand load 148 grains. Big enough for bear not too large to waste deer meat