.45-70 for deer hunting
I own a .45-70 handi rifle and am thinking of using it for deer this season. I know the ballistics are a bit better than a 30-30 but I have never hunted with or owned a 30-30. Anyone out there hunt mule deer with an .45-70 and how did it go. Other years I have used a 30-06 but gave that gun to my brother for his birthday and so that he would have a hunting rifle. If I don't use the .45-70 I think I will buy a Browning A Bolt in 30-06 for deer season this year and each year after.
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Well the 45-70 is a fine round and will stop a deer dead in it's tracks, probably overkill for animals as light as deer. I myself would opt for the new 30/06 that you spoke of. I hunt western mule deer a lot and have for just about 30 years and have used an '06 for almost all of it. In my experience shots have been from 25 yards to 400 yards. Several deer I've killed were 300 and 350 yards out and I for one would not want to be standing there with a 45/70 or 30/30 in my hands when the buck of your dreams is walking out on you at 300 yards. Get the 30/06, shoot it a lot until you know it inside and out and use that for your deer and elk hunts. Only shoot at distances you are confident and comfortable with while hunting.
Good Luck!0 -
I like my 45-70, BUT if you are going to shooting over 200 yards I would not recommend it. I thing my 30-30 shoots flatter than the 45-70 but I don't have the tables with me to check. If you are planing to get an 06 I would proceed with that plan.[^]
Self defence is an ablsolute and natural right. Keep your powder dry! J. Rau, Alaska0 -
As mentioned above the 45-70 is more than adequate for Mulies, but in a short barreled handi-rifle you need to stay under 200 yards, ideally 100-150, or you are going to have to do a fair amount of hold over.
Western hunting presents shooting situations that varry from a few yards to several hundred. So you should tailor your rifle to your hunting area. Canyons, woods, heavy scrub .... places with sight lines limited to around 150 yards maximum and the handi-rifle will do just fine. More open country take a flatter shooting rifle, or practice like crazy with your 45-70, and me IMHO I'd go w/ the flatter shooting rifle.
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I agree with the general consensus....45-70 in your situation is an overkill..30-06 is my choice of Caliber....You can load 110gr to 220 grain bullets and hunt Praire Dogs to Grizzly Bear....Kinda hard to improve upon Perfection.......
Captain Kirk, Tech Staff0 -
I have a Guide Gun that I swear by, but I have to agree with the other fella's here...go for the flatter rifle. Quite often you will have to go out beyond 200 tds and the amount of drop at that distance using a Handi-Rifle will be more than you want to play with. The 45-70, in modern hunting loads might do a little more meat damage than you are willing to deal with as well! You could alternately use "Springfield" loads to reduce the carnage, but then you will have to go with an entirely new set of ballistics tables and the bullets flight will resemble a thrown rock! As much as I love my Guide Gun and the 45-70 round...go with the flatter shooting 30-06.
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I always take along a bolt action 45-70 with heavy loads when hunting for deer, bear or hogs, but I only use it when it's raining, snowing or in close woods or brush when a scope and glasses are no good.
For open country use a flatter shooting round, but a 45-70 with 400 grain bullet at 2150 fps will do a good job out to 200 or 250 yards if you practice well with it and can stand the pain.
IS0 -
the .45-70 is a great round but it is overkill for deer .
i would advise going for the 30-06 because it shoots MUCH flatter , mild recoil and is awesome on deer .
hope this helped , good luck [;)]0 -
I've owned .45-70's and hunted whitetails and mule deer with them. It is a good brush rifle because it is too much gun. Blood trails are excessive and most deer go down immediately. The 300-grain loads work very well for deer. However, I can do just as much damage with an 06 with less expensive ammo and still have a longer range rifle. I sold my Marlin Guide Gun for a nice profit and replaced it with a 40-year-old Savage 110 with open sights. I had good luck with the Marlin and equally as good luch with the Savage as an all purpose truck and hunting rifle. As far as the other part of your question. I sold my Marlin Guide Gun and have kept a Marlin 336 .30-30 carbine for a camp and short range deer rifle. For deer hunting when you consider range, cost per round, accuracy with open sights, recoil and effectiveness on deer size game, I believe the .30-30 is superior to the .45-70. 0 -
Thanks everyone. I think I am going with 30-06 and just keep my .45-70 in the truck for those special occations[:D]
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