45/70 BC

[Singleshotsam]

I'm looking into picking up a BC 45/70 for deer hunting.  A friend of mine was telling me that a 45/70 is overkill for deer hunting, and that its only good out to 200 yards.  Since I've never shot a 45/70, I was wanting to gather some info from those that have used them.

Thanks in advance... Sam

[DC]

 The 45-70 is a great time tested round on deer and pretty much everything else in North America.  With Hornady's leverolution ammo, 200 yards is a given and if you are good 250 is not impossible. Actually if you learn the trajectory of the round, a lot farther is very possible. 

45-70's are very effective and carry with them the nostalgia of hunting with a cartidge that was popular in the 1870's....very cool.

[tykempster]

I've never tried this, so I wondered what a mil-dot scope would be like, as far as holding over for 45-70 trajectory.  With a 300 grain Remington at 2400 fps it looks like this-
100 yards-1 mil high
200 yards-dead on
300 yards-not quite 1.5 mils low
400 yards-3 mils low
500 yards-4 and a quarter mils low

So if the wind ain't blowing 500 yards is feasible.

Now, 300 grain Barnes originals (higher BC), with low level Ruger loads at 2500 fps
100 yards-1 mil high
200 yards-.2 mils high
300 yards-.9 mils low
400 yards-not quite 2.5 mils low
500 yards-4 mils low

Now, probably the best 45-70 combination, 400 grain Barnes originals at 2200 fps
100 yards-1 mil high
200 yards-absolutely spot on
300 yards-1.3 mils low
400 yards-3 mils low
500 yards-4.8 mils low with 1500+ ft lbs

Now just for kicks, 45-120 with 450 grain TSX at 2400 fps 
100 yards-1 mil high
200 yards-.2 mils high
300 yards-.9 mils low
400 yards-2.3 mils low
500 yards-3.8 mils low with 2000 ft lbs

To show what a horrible BC does, 45-120 with 250 grain TSX at 3000 fps 
100 yards-1 mil high
200 yards-.3 mil high
300 yards-1 mil low
400 yards-3.1 mils low
500 yards-6.1 mils low only 450 ft lbs

[JonnyC]

Just make sure there is nothing on the other side of the deer that you don't want to hit. complete pass through and then some. I hunt deer only with my 45/70. DON'T NEED NO STINKIN SHORT MAGNUMS!!!.

[LONGTOM]

I wonder how much deer is covered up with a mil dot at 3-4-or 500 yds?
I know the first deer I shot with the factory blade and bead sight on my 45-70 1886 take down Win. at about 175 yds dang near covered up 1/2 the deer.
It didn't take me lont to change the front sight to a globe with incerts and the rear to a adj. Williams thats for sure.


LONGTOM

[tykempster]

At 250 yards a mil-dot covers less than half a sheet of white paper for me.  I'll post a picture up soon...