Gentelmen, even though I don't go along with useing a 45-70 for anything like Cape Buffalo, I truely love this old war horse for what it IS designed for! You have to remember what the 45-70 was designed to do, and that was to kill a man, in war, not big animals that are far harder to kill outright than a man! We, today have re-assigned the old 45-70 for hunting the woods areas of the North American continent, for just about anything that walks there, if one takes into account it's range limitations, it is perfect for that purpose. I also think it is probably a pritty good cartridge for the larger plains game, and maybe the cats over bait in Africa, with quality bullets. But to insinuate it is even adiquate for Cape Buffalo, or elephant is, IMO, pure lunacy! I'm not saying it can't kill those animals if everything is perfect, but you can take my word for the fact Cape Buffalo, and Elephant, are not prone to offering anything like perfect conditions. But that was not the question asked here!



That said, I own three rifles chambered for 45-70, and I dearly love all three! They are a Pedersoli double rifle, a Ruger No1, and a Marlin old model 1895 with a straight stock, and cut down to a 16 1/4" barrel for bear protection while fishing in Alaska's salmon rivers. It beats hell out of the pistols everyone wants to carry for that purpose!



For deer, elk and moose I limit the range to 150 yds, and for bear the range does not go over 100yds. The rainbow trejectory is not the only reason I set these limits. By the time that punkin-ball type bullet gets to 200 yds, it has slowed down to the point that the FPE is getting pritty low. I use 400 gr bullets exclusively, and at 150 yds I can hit the vitals fairly easily, on muledeer, elk or moose. Black bear, however is another story, the vitals are fairly small, even on a large bear, and hard to find on the all black fur. If you miss this, even by a couple inches,on a bear, you are likely to loose the bear. Though the bear will die, he can travel a long way first. The layer of fat, and a very loose hide will close the bullet hole, and leave no blood trail to speak of. In the moss covered forest floor, he leaves no tracks, and the few blood spoor you will get, is soaked up by the moss! For this reason I limit the range on bear to 100 yds, because I can plant a 400 grainer in the vitals at that distance from a hunting possition, every time. Now I can post all bullets inside a 4" circle at 200 yds from a bench, in good light, but few bears are shot on a target range, in broad daylight. Those are the distances I require, and is not a rule you are required to follow. The distance where you can keep all shots inside a 4" circle in dim light, and from hunting positions, is your limit, but after 200 yds the power is getting very low for large animals.

For the most part, I agree with MacD as to maximum practical range. But I have shot my black bear some years ago with a 350 gr with the round nose tip filed flat to fit the tubular magazine. This was a 458 Winnie bullet. With the flat point pushing max velocities, the bullet punched through both shoulders with an exit hole of 3/4". This was shot at 225 yds through an opening through a bunch of trees. This was before the advent of 45-70 350 gr bullets. I was just lucky but I wouldn't do that again.

So, what would the trajectory be for a 300 gr and a 400 gr bullet in .45-70? IE: If you zero at 50 yards, where will it hit at 25, 75, 100, 125 and 150 yards? Is there someplace on the Internet that has this info?

Thank you,
Scott

What you need to do is range test the loads you are going to use at the ranges that you mentioned. I know it takes a bit of time but your rifle may or may not shoot to same POI's as the tables. Normally, my 400 gr loads are 1 1/2" high at 100 yds. and I use dead on hold up to 150 yds. While practicing on paper at 200 yds, I use a bit of holdover.

i bought a 45/70 for my dad its a marlin guide gun he wants a peep sight for it what do you guys suggest

I believe Ashley Outdoors makes a neat peep for the Marlin. Check Brownells, and possibly Midway or Grafs might carry it also.

According to Remington information, and some ballistic calculators, about thier ~1800 fps 300 grain loads:



+3" at 82 yards

+2.7" at 100 yards

-3" at 162 yards,

-10.2" at 200 yards.



So about a 150 yard deer gun using a point blank aim. Not sure what bullets I'd use on black bear though.

See http://www.montanavintagearms.com/1.html
Either that or buy an original Marbles off of Ebay.

Brent

I think you know I happen to shoot that load out of my 22" barreled Marlin 1895. I have it sighted in 3" high at 100 yards and it shoots about 3" low at 185 yards. You can hold high yet still on the animal to about 225 yards.

Williams makes a great peep sight for the Marlin. You can even get a combo that comes with fiber optic front sight.