my reason for posting this thread is for information. any of you who have a rifle chambered in 45-70, i would like some feedback on them. i have been thinking about getting a rifle in this caliber and would like to hear your comments, suggestions, likes and dislikes. if i were to get one, it will be as the others, i will buy a set of dies and reload for it. another point, what kind of price should i be looking for in one used? thanks in advance for any help with this.
45-70
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Wow axxe a fella could write a book about this topic. The 45-70 is such a cool caliber every gun guy should have at least one, however there are so many nice rifles to choose from it becomes very personal. I owned a Sharps that was used only at the range. Then I decided I wanted something more for hunting, so I sold it and bought a Marlin 1895 with the 22" barrel. That was a big mistake....what I didn't realize was I needed them both and I'm still kicking myself for selling the Sharps.
The 45-70 is a reloaders dream. Loaded to Trap Door level pressures it is a pleasure to shoot, but if you get an invite to hunt Moose in Alaska the 45-70 can be loaded up and will do the job. My Marlin shoots very well with cast boolits and down right unbelievable with 300gr JHP's.
I would say narrow your choice down to the style of rifle you like, whether it's, single shot, traditional lever, or cowboy and go for it.
The 45-70 is a reloaders dream. Loaded to Trap Door level pressures it is a pleasure to shoot, but if you get an invite to hunt Moose in Alaska the 45-70 can be loaded up and will do the job. My Marlin shoots very well with cast boolits and down right unbelievable with 300gr JHP's.
I would say narrow your choice down to the style of rifle you like, whether it's, single shot, traditional lever, or cowboy and go for it.
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Axxe...from a reloading stand point it is a very straight forward cartridge to work with. The big straight walled cases are well suited to lead bullets and small charges of pistol powders. If you are going with a Ruger #1 or a Sharps you have almost unlimited bullet selection, because you don't have to be as concerned with OAL If you plan on shooting long sessions from the bench you might want to stay with the lighter bullets to reduce recoil. That's not to say the traditional 405gr cast bullet is punishing, but even traveling at factory duplication velocity it can wear on you when shooting from sand bags. Unique and 2400 are very popular powders for shooting cast boolits. Everybody seems to be able to get good accuracy in the 1000 - 1250fps range with either one of those powders. If you want to push your bullets faster for hunting IMR4198, IMR3031 and RL7 are the favorites. I use IMR3031 and 300gr JHP's in my hunting loads and 2400 with a 405gr cast boolit for paper punching. Truth be told...you could use a 405gr cast boolit for everything that needs to be done with a .45-70.
If you are the type of reloader that likes to try all different kinds of components and experiment the 45-70 will keep you busy for years.
If you are the type of reloader that likes to try all different kinds of components and experiment the 45-70 will keep you busy for years.
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Hey axxe, sorry I haven't chimed yet. I must have missed your post.
Hyphenated has explained the 45-70 pretty well but I'll share my own viewpoint. I initially bought one due to lust for the long barrel of the 1895CB when I couldn't justify the expense of a Sharps replica. After having spent time shooting it, mostly at the range but some successful hunting too, I have found it is the one cartridge I can't do without. The other calibers in the cabinet are useful and fun but disposable to some degree.
The 45-70 is so versatile and successful as to make me a disbeliever that our federal government was ever responsible for having commissioned it into existence. Even at it's inception it was produced in at least two variants of powder charge and projectile weight. Also, a cartridge that has been in use, continuous use, for over 130 years will have experienced extensive testing and evolution by shooters of all kinds. And it still has shown there is more left to discover with it by ingenious tinkerers. My wife even owns and shoots one. She too has discarded the factory ammunition for one of my home made rounds that suits her and the rifle better. The same rifle she uses with mild recoiling cartridges to harvest deer in the woods could be loaded with grizzly bear level armageddon rounds that will take out elephants and cape buffalo.
There are a lot of wonderful cartridges in the world that do stupendous things with a lot of variety. Without prejudice I can honestly say there is no other round that can perform with such versatility, begs to be customized by the reloader, and has so much panache of history accompanying it. It offers more for more people than anything else. And if you want to use yours for one, single, focused purpose it will please you that way too.
Hyphenated has explained the 45-70 pretty well but I'll share my own viewpoint. I initially bought one due to lust for the long barrel of the 1895CB when I couldn't justify the expense of a Sharps replica. After having spent time shooting it, mostly at the range but some successful hunting too, I have found it is the one cartridge I can't do without. The other calibers in the cabinet are useful and fun but disposable to some degree.
The 45-70 is so versatile and successful as to make me a disbeliever that our federal government was ever responsible for having commissioned it into existence. Even at it's inception it was produced in at least two variants of powder charge and projectile weight. Also, a cartridge that has been in use, continuous use, for over 130 years will have experienced extensive testing and evolution by shooters of all kinds. And it still has shown there is more left to discover with it by ingenious tinkerers. My wife even owns and shoots one. She too has discarded the factory ammunition for one of my home made rounds that suits her and the rifle better. The same rifle she uses with mild recoiling cartridges to harvest deer in the woods could be loaded with grizzly bear level armageddon rounds that will take out elephants and cape buffalo.
There are a lot of wonderful cartridges in the world that do stupendous things with a lot of variety. Without prejudice I can honestly say there is no other round that can perform with such versatility, begs to be customized by the reloader, and has so much panache of history accompanying it. It offers more for more people than anything else. And if you want to use yours for one, single, focused purpose it will please you that way too.
hyphen and rooster, thanks for the information and your personal experiance with this caliber. very much appreciated. i think that i would like to go with a single shot in this caliber if i decide to buy one. H & R 1871 has a break open rifle called the Buffalo Classic that might be the one i get. it would be mainly for fun target shooting and could be used for hunting if i ever wanted to use it for that. i have just always wanted a rifle in this caliber. a friend of mine had a Ruger #1 chambered in this many years ago and remember how much fun it was to shoot. thanks guys.
nothing wrong with the wife having her own rifle! it's nice your wife enjoys that rifle and i bet you both enjoy shooting them. my wife and i shoot together sometimes and we both enjoy shooting. right now i am looking for a 357 magnum with either a 4" or 6" barrel for her to target shoot with.
My wife already has her .44 mag Super Redhawk with a 7" barrel.
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Similar situation at our house. Mine is a CB and hers is an unported G model. I have a 45LC Taurus so I can use one ammo belt for both rifle and pistol. She also has an 1894C paired with a Blackhawk stainless 6.5" barrel .357.
The family that shoots together........is always polite to one another.
The family that shoots together........is always polite to one another.
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Axxe, I love my Marlin 45-70, I'm not a reloader yet but I'm planning on becoming one for darn sure. The only thing I don't like about the gun is that damn trigger.
Do your self a favor and buy a Marlin lever gun in 45/70 it is just as accurate as the single shots. I had a Original Remington Rolling Block re-barreled to 45/70 with a green mountain barrel and before that a handi rifle in 45/70. I found the Marlin lever gun to be the best of the three and is now my go to deer rifle for woods hunting. I shot a doe three years ago at a 190 yards a one shot kill through the front leg and through the heart and out the other side with my own cast bullet reload. If you get the Marlin lever gun and shoot cast bullets I would get one with the Ballard rifling. I know folks say that the micro groove will shoot cast bullets but I know for sure the Ballard ones excel in it which is why Marlin went back to that rifling for the 45/70.
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I have two Lever Action Marlins; 45/70 and .44Mag.
guys, thank you all for your input and suggestions. again this will be strictly a bench or target rifle and have no plans on hunting. unfortunatly i haven't hunted in over 15 years or more and just don't have the time like i use to for it. so i pretty much just shoot paper these days.
Just to let you know I have known two people with the bufflalo classic and both of them had problems with the factory peep sights shooting LOW low enough that it was a problem sighting them in. They did not want to spend more money on different sights so they traded them off. I had a standard handi rifle in 45/70 and to be honest with you, you really would be better off with a Marlin Lever gun. Just my opinion but I have been down the handi rifle road. Nothing wrong with them but I think the Marlin Lever guns are nicer guns and I just did a quick price check at Guns America and they wanted $459.00 for one. I paid $550.00 for my Guide Gun new out the door three years ago. They might be more now but I would suspect not that much for the standard Walnut and Blued version.
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I just got my Marlin 45/70 a bit over a month ago and love it. I'm going to reload and so far have really only reloaded some black powder loads for it. Shoots amazingly well with those. I have some new cast bullets in that I plan on using smokeless powder in and will be trying those out soon. It's a great round and the Marlin is a nice gun to shoot it in.
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