45-70

[Rhudson89]

I've a fancy for a 45-70 govt specifically a marlin 1894 just wondering if anybody has one/uses one? Are they any good? Could you go stalking with one for example? Also would I need to be a club member to get a slot on my FAC for one? I've got plenty of ground to shoot over with a healthy population of red deer but is that enough?
Any thoughts would be much appreciated

 

[Jimboblincs2]

I have a sbl, never shot a deer with it, but it is conditioned for deer, fox and AOLQ. Most of the deer I shoot are 150 yards plus so 45/70 is not ideal.

 

[Rhudson89]

Jimbob was getting a slot for one easy enough? And more importantly do you enjoy shooting it?

 

[Smellydog]

Always wanted a 45/70 my self.
Believe it or not it can do an awful lot.
In a strong action like a Ruger #1 be wound up. The Marlin can take level two loads but there is nothing lacking in the standard or Springfield loads.
It can be loaded with a ball and have it pop out for rabbits even.
Don't be put off by loopy traj. It's nothing that a range finder can't help you with it.

 

[Dodder]

I've got a .444 Marlin which I have authorised for deer. I had a bit of a struggle to get it conditioned for deer as most ground isnt authorised for more than .30cal use. This is a bit crackers as a .308/.30-06 bullet is just as lethal and would probably carry further but rules is rules. If you have land with reds I wouldnt have thought it would be an issue - good luck.

I've always fancied a .45/70 but would be torn between a Marlin or a Ruger No1.

 

[iain b]

I've got a no.1. when I get a load sorted for it then wild boar.....

 

[Jimboblincs2]

Yes the slot was easy to pick up and it's fun, always get the, "what the fluff" is that when I shoot it on the range, most people want a go but not many have a second shot, I do load it pretty hot with 405g bullets.

 

[Dodder]

.45/70 for boar? Sure you'll be using enough gun?

 

[Andy RV]

I've got a .444 Marlin which I have authorised for deer. I had a bit of a struggle to get it conditioned for deer as most ground isnt authorised for more than .30cal use. This is a bit crackers as a .308/.30-06 bullet is just as lethal and would probably carry further but rules is rules. If you have land with reds I wouldnt have thought it would be an issue - good luck.

I've always fancied a .45/70 but would be torn between a Marlin or a Ruger No1.

So was I, so I bought both!

 

[stalker.308]

I’ve got one conditioned aolq. If you look at Uk home office guidance you’ll see it’s on the Uk species list (not foreign game as primary reason). You’ll need to look carefully at loads to make it Uk legal, I use hot day 325g flexitips.

Any questions pm me, I’m no expert but love it here on fallow to just drop them where boundaries and then runners are an issue.

 

[iain b]

.45/70 for boar? Sure you'll be using enough gun?

Best to be safe. Don’t want a angry piggy running round do we.

 

[tusker]

45/70 will roll over boar like rabbits. I had one for a few years on many driven boar trips bloody wonderful.
100 yards max. I had a Marlin 1895 guide ,wish I still had it.
Tuskdr

 

[enfieldspares]

A rubbish cartridge which only survived into the 20th Century because the American Army once used it.

There are better out and out hunting cartridges some American, some British. .405 Winchester, .450 Nitro Express and etc..

But if you still want to scratch that itch look at .450 Marlin. It's to the .45-70 what the .375 Winchester is to the .38-55.

 

[Laurie]

A rubbish cartridge which only survived into the 20th Century because the American Army once used it.

OMG I just hate fence-sitters who say that something is so ..... but then again ............. !? Ha! Ha! (PS I hope you weren't planning on being issued an ESTA to visit the US.)

 

[Smellydog]

A rubbish cartridge which only survived into the 20th Century because the American Army once used it.

There are better out and out hunting cartridges some American, some British. .405 Winchester, .450 Nitro Express and etc..

But if you still want to scratch that itch look at .450 Marlin. It's to the .45-70 what the .375 Winchester is to the .38-55.

Level three 45/70 loads are on par with 450 marlin and the brass is easier to come by.
Of course there is better but if we are to do away with freedoms of choice who decides the one cartridge we should use? You?

If we employ the theorem " more is better" should we only be using 50BMG?

With a handle like Enfield spares I assume you like nostalgia, maybe you like the 303brit. A cartridge that was outdated when it entered service!

 

[Laurie]

The 45-70 is quite a cartridge with heavy loads in the Ruger No.1 - a very nice rifle too. An old range shooting friend used to have one which he shot with hard-cast lead bullets and a case stuffed to the gills with a duplex load of Unique and H4831. He would go around touting it to innocents promising (with a straight face even) that 'It doesn't kick, not even a little.' (Lying b*stard!) Not comfortable shot prone, would have been not too bad shot offhand.

His son though had the Safari version of the No.1 in (I think) .416 Remington Magnum for a while for use on cape buffalo in southern African shooting holidays. Even with a mild load (by 416 standards) you felt it shooting from the sitting position.

 

[enfieldspares]

I think that the idea of level 2, level 3 is folly.

Better IMHO to actually get a firearm chambered in a calibre where out of the packet its ammunition is already at that 2,000 fps to 2,200 fps benchmark.

The idea of taking a black powder design, "hot rodding" it, yet using cases still bearing the headstamp of the blackpowder parent doesn't appeal.

Yes your level 3 are only going to be used by you in your Ruger. I know that.

But I just feel it's a potentially unsafe practice. Load high pressure loads in cartridges where there's no doubt of what it is.

Thus my reference to .38-55 and .375 Winchester.

 

[Smellydog]

I think that the idea of level 2, level 3 is folly.

Better IMHO to actually get a firearm chambered in a calibre where out of the packet its ammunition is already at that 2,000 fps to 2,200 fps benchmark.

The idea of taking a black powder design, "hot rodding" it, yet using cases still bearing the headstamp of the blackpowder parent doesn't appeal.

Yes your level 3 are only going to be used by you in your Ruger. I know that.

But I just feel it's a potentially unsafe practice. Load high pressure loads in cartridges where there's no doubt of what it is.

Thus my reference to .38-55 and .375 Winchester.

Original 45/70 cases were of balloon head design. Current brass is of solid head design.
You argument of safety is flawed sir.

 

[Smellydog]

The 45-70 is quite a cartridge with heavy loads in the Ruger No.1 - a very nice rifle too. An old range shooting friend used to have one which he shot with hard-cast lead bullets and a case stuffed to the gills with a duplex load of Unique and H4831. He would go around touting it to innocents promising (with a straight face even) that 'It doesn't kick, not even a little.' (Lying b*stard!) Not comfortable shot prone, would have been not too bad shot offhand.

His son though had the Safari version of the No.1 in (I think) .416 Remington Magnum for a while for use on cape buffalo in southern African shooting holidays. Even with a mild load (by 416 standards) you felt it shooting from the sitting position.

Anything from .375h&h, lobs 400grn bullets or more I shoot off hand or if sitting my back is upright and a newspaper or magazine is stuffed in my jacket at the shoulder.
Do not shoot them as a bench rifle!

 

[enfieldspares]

But SD the headstamp still says .45-70. And they will still, level 3, both chamber and fire in a Trapdoor Springfield. I've reloaded and shot balloon head cases...Dominion .455 Colt...head construction construction per se isn't always relevant.

The .455 Colt was more powerful in balloon head than British .455 MkII in solid head.
The practice of loading high pressure smokeless loads in cases headstamped identical to the original low pressure blackpowder or blackpowder equivalent load isn't safe housekeeping.