doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com 45-70 and big game?

1873 saw the introduction of two world famous cartridges which are still with us today, both in .45 cal. Namely the .45 Colt & the .45-70 US goverment. Trapdoor Springfields from 1866 until the introduction of the .45-70 had been built in .50-70 cal, except for the very first ones which were in a .58 rimfire to utilize the existing bores of the converted rifled muskets. Model 1866 Trapdoors used the original bbls bored out & lined to .50 cal but subsequent models were built from "Scratch". Any gun used p;rior to 1873 would not have been a .45-70. There were a number of single shot breech loaders introduced during the War Between the States, but the trapdoor Springfield was not among them. It saw the light of Day "After" the war, the design of a Springfield Armorer, Erskin Allen.

If you think that is a good stopper just remember to cut the barrels off real short so you can get it into your mouth quicker after you get the bear riled up after the first couple of shots.

For close range, 50 foot,or less a 12 ga with slugs is king.

You know AkMike...I did say "deer rifle."

Brian Pierce in RIFLE magazine did an article about the 45-70 in Africa. It was Marlin (now Remington, eh?) lever he used. Within the last 2 years I believe.

Rob

True, you did say your new deer rifle was a 45.. But the first sentence sounded as if it was a blanket staement and it was re-inforced by your selection.
But Geno was talking about bears, not going into the dens of deer.;)

We use a period to end a thought.

One thing we have established.

A .45 is hell on stumps....and Lowell likes short barrels.....Period.

Lowell: This is not meant to pick a fight, but just to get your thoughts. I'm sure it will kill a deer (so will a lot of small cartridges, under the right circumstances), not to mention a stump, but in a world full of rifles, how did a classic gun nut like you end up choosing a new-made Model 94 chambered for an antique handgun cartridge for your go-to deer rifle? If you wanted to go the minimalist route, why not a .30-30 Win. 94, of which there are about a jillion available? Just curious. TT

Elmer Keith proved you could kill plenty of deer with a .357 in a handgun. So a .357,.44 or a .45 in a rifle should work. And in some states, you can't use a .30 caliber rifle anymore. And Lowell is right, Joe. Remember- A stump in the hand is worth a short barrel in the bush............Denny Crane

I prefer a gun that doesn't splinter them up so bad....Stumps are quite tasty if yOu boil them for a few days.