Author Topic: Shooting the 45-70 Guide Gun (Read 1536 times)

Steve Pennington · « **on:** December 15, 2003, 01:34:40 PM »

I finally got to shoot the guide gun. I used 300 gr. Winchester Factory loads. It shot pretty good. Will give accuracy report when my scope gets in and I can do some real bench shooting.

The gun is a pleasure to shoot. Recoil is not as much as from my 30-06. I did notice some extra noise but nothing that causes me concern. I have a 1.5 - 4x Millet scope with millet rings on order, should be here tommorrow. I am going to handload 300 gr Barnes X bullets, as my first hunt with it will be an April Hog Hunt in Texas.

doorgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** December 17, 2003, 12:30:28 PM »

Steve: Your really going to enjoy your Guide Gun. Mine is ported, blued, and is scoped with a Leupold M8 2.5X scope. I shoot PMC +P+ 350 grain loads exclusively. It groups slightly over an inch @ 100 yards. I can't even get that with handloads. The PMC load uses the 350 grain Hornady FNSP, and is devastating on deer and hogs. You picked a great rifle to slay some of our big Texas Hawgs. April is a good month to be down here looking for them. Good luck, and let us know how it performs when you get it scoped.

Ruger4Me · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2003, 07:27:18 AM »

I also have a ported and blued Guide gun in .45-70 w/a 1.5-5x Leopold Veri-x 3, with the 300 gr. Winchester Factory loads, it will hold 1" to 2" 3 shot groups at 100 yards.

Have not started to reload for it yet.

Steve Pennington · « **Reply #3 on:** December 21, 2003, 10:03:03 AM »

I have not started to reload for it. I don't have dies or bullets yet. I am still trying to decide whether or not to reload. I may get some of the PMC ammunition first. If not I am leaning toward using Barnes X 300 gr.

Perferator · « **Reply #4 on:** January 01, 2004, 04:10:56 AM »

Another Guide Gun lover here. Mine is in 45-70, I've recently learned to reload due to the lack of ammo nearby. I guess that's the cost of having a non-30cal cartridge

. I can shoot groups just over an inch at 50yds with the standard open sights. Just put a red dot (4MOA) on it the other day and not yet used to it...we'll see about that on another day. Will be using the gun down in the swamps for coyote this winter. Just love deer hunting the cedar swamps with it!

Perferator

palgeno · « **Reply #5 on:** January 01, 2004, 07:07:43 AM »

Put a set of ao ghost ring sights on mine----fast aquisition, but takes lots of concentration to attempt precision for ammo testing---putting an SVL butt pad helped a lot at the bench. I do hand load for it and find that both light and very hot loads shoot well. Even the factory Garrett 420's will group at about 2 inches with these sights and my 58 year old eyes. Happy New Year Shooting!!! pg

Bill T · « **Reply #6 on:** January 02, 2004, 01:38:42 AM »

I have one also. Mine is ported and blued. No scope as of yet. I bought 500 cases from Starline and loaded the 405 Gr. Remington Soft Point over 43.0 Gr. of IMR 3031. Just about the factory duplication load. It shoots great. I really like the ports, and I'm glad mine has them. I've heard they discontinued the porting. This gun is one that I really enjoy shooting. It's a real "fun" gun. When the time comes to scope it I'm going with a Leupold Vari X II 3-9X 40MM with Burris Signature Rings. Bill T.

Mad Dog · « **Reply #7 on:** January 02, 2004, 08:48:17 AM »

Yep, got a blued guide gun, in .45-70. Everything, factory wise, that I have put thru it has been pretty accurate. I mounted a 1-4x leupold shotgun scope on mine. It is going to south Texas for a hog/javelina trip, in about 4 wks. I settled on using winchester 300gr. nosler partition golds for the trip, because I haven't had time to hand load for it, yet.

Mad Dog

Perferator · « **Reply #8 on:** January 02, 2004, 10:44:53 AM »

Quote from: Bill T

I have one also. Mine is ported and blued. No scope as of yet. I bought 500 cases from Starline and loaded the 405 Gr. Remington Soft Point over 43.0 Gr. of IMR 3031. Just about the factory duplication load. It shoots great. I really like the ports, and I'm glad mine has them. I've heard they discontinued the porting. This gun is one that I really enjoy shooting. It's a real "fun" gun. When the time comes to scope it I'm going with a Leupold Vari X II 3-9X 40MM with Burris Signature Rings. Bill T.

Fun gun is right! Last time out when we were just about finished I stood up from the bench, slinged up and emptied 4 quick shots into the 25yd pistol target. The ports really help on quick shooting. For a mad-minute there was BANG, lever,BANG, lever, BANG,lever, BANG! I put the gun down and laughed with the other guys. That red dot sight helped me keep 'em close, too.

Perferator

X-man · « **Reply #9 on:** January 14, 2004, 09:00:03 AM »

I have been considering picking up a Guide Gun for Moose. Anyone use one on 'em? I'm guessing maximun effective range would be around 200 yards given the rainbow like trajectory fo the .45-70? I reload, so I figure I can load the .45-70 a little hot, rather than go with a .450 Marlin. My favorite hunting area presents a lot of relatively "close" range shots, out to about 125 yards. This is mostly in scrub spruce and birch woods. Other times you are faced with longer, 200+ yard shots overlooking bogs/marshes or barrens. For that kind of hunting I usually use my Remington 700 Sendero in .300 Win Mag and have made "long" shots with it (put in a lot of practice/range time). I took three animals this Fall with it. Figure I need to challenge myself a little more. Have always liked the looks of the Marlin. I figure this will allow me to make those close-range "snap" shots I have presented to me quite often, as well as help me refine my stalking skills, by using the Guide Gun in more open terrain. I'll have no choice but to get closer to ensure a good, clean kill. Any comments or input?

yankees1 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2004, 07:43:00 AM »

Quote from: Bill T

I have one also. Mine is ported and blued. No scope as of yet. I bought 500 cases from Starline and loaded the 405 Gr. Remington Soft Point over 43.0 Gr. of IMR 3031. Just about the factory duplication load. It shoots great. I really like the ports, and I'm glad mine has them. I've heard they discontinued the porting. This gun is one that I really enjoy shooting. It's a real "fun" gun. When the time comes to scope it I'm going with a Leupold Vari X II 3-9X 40MM with Burris Signature Rings. Bill T.

Are you sure you need a 3-9 scope on a 45-70? I would think with the max range of perhaps 200 yards that a 1.5-5 would be better.

Bill T · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2004, 08:14:24 AM »

Yankees 1,

A 1.5 - 5 would be a good choice, but I'd rather lose 1.5 power on the low end to gain a full 4 power on the high end. Bill T.

Perferator · « **Reply #12 on:** January 23, 2004, 05:51:53 PM »

I suppose you could work up a good hot load with the 350gr RN or FN Hornady to shoot rather flat out to 175yds and beyond. Unless you are used to the lazer-like trajectory of a .270 or one of the new magnums I dont really consider the 45-70 trajectory "rainbow-like" unless it's beyond 200yds.

It's simply a fascinating round!

Perferator