45-70 for plains game?

[shark_za]

There was a stage when me and two friends all got Marlin Lever actions in 45/70 and took them hunting. I had the Guide gun and they had the longer barrel model.
I shot lots from Impala to Wildebeest with simple factory 350gr HP's , one shot an Eland with a Rhino solid shank. All taken with one shot and you could eat the meat up to the hole.
They will take anything cleanly in the bushveld at ranges around 100m.
That is the only limitation, if its 150m away it starts dropping fast.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i have three 35 whelen rifles, this #1 is my favorit and to say i like 45-70,s would be a underrated statment.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

i have three 35 whelen rifles, this #1 is my favorit and to say i like 45-70,s would be a underrated statment.

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@leslie hetrick
For m e for some unknown reason the Hiwalls are the the pick of them. Would love a couple of Browning Hiwalls to convert.
The next closest would have to be the classy little No3 Ruger. Just something about it Th a makes the No1 look ugly to me. Still wouldn't say no if someone gave me a Whelen in a No1 with a light 26 inch barrel.
Bob

 

[Mountain Man]

YES the 45-70 is fine, just fine. I posted a question and people who dont shoot the 45-70 had all the mumble jumble about how bad it is.

I have mine zeroed for a 325 gran semi jacketed hollow point. Its preforming fine as I type this.. My zero is good to 200 yards. One shot one kill on a 2000lb Eland. Im using hand loads are recommended pressures in the books.

You can up the range with the plus P type ammo. Leverlution. s with most rifles of any caliber it is shot placement.

 

[edward]

YES the 45-70 is fine, just fine. I posted a question and people who dont shoot the 45-70 had all the mumble jumble about how bad it is.

I have mine zeroed for a 325 gran semi jacketed hollow point. Its preforming fine as I type this.. My zero is good to 200 yards. One shot one kill on a 2000lb Eland. Im using hand loads are recommended pressures in the books.

You can up the range with the plus P type ammo. Leverlution. s with most rifles of any caliber it is shot placement.

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even without that long barrel the 45-70 WORKS

 

[sgt_zim]

YES the 45-70 is fine, just fine. I posted a question and people who dont shoot the 45-70 had all the mumble jumble about how bad it is.

I have mine zeroed for a 325 gran semi jacketed hollow point. Its preforming fine as I type this.. My zero is good to 200 yards. One shot one kill on a 2000lb Eland. Im using hand loads are recommended pressures in the books.

You can up the range with the plus P type ammo. Leverlution. s with most rifles of any caliber it is shot placement.

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Have you ever handloaded any of the bespoke lead alloys offered by Beartooth Bullets and Buffalo Bore (and others, just can't remember who off the top of my head)?

I shoot a 525 gr and a 425 gr at just north of 1600 fps, and I have it zeroed at 120 yards, which gets me to about 165 yards without having to adjust holdover for deer/pigs. The straight line penetration of those heavy, WIDE meplat bullets has to be seen to be believed.

 

[Mountain Man]

45/70 will take any of the plains game out to 200 yards. Past that no. I just returned used my Henry 45/70 lever action. one shot one kill it was great. Light in weight. 300gr. semi jacket hollow points worked well as did the 325gr Hornaday leverlution.

 

[crs]

Having just read this post again , I am impressed by the positive attitude and successful hunting of the 45-70 shooters and pistol shooters and amused by the negativism of the folks that are not 45-70 savvy.

Oh well, break time is over and it is time to get back to selecting bullets for large and dangerous game to use in my Beretta 45-70 DR. Right now it is regulating bullets of 350 and 400 grains, so it is time to try those 450 grain North Fork bullets. They were very effective on DG when shot from my Winchester 1886 .45-90.

For those worried that the 45-70 DR is not enough, I also have a .405 WCF DR that is proven with 300 and 400 grain bullets at 450/400 velocities.