I just bought my first lever gun yesterday. I am wondering if anyone can tell me what is the max range for takeing down Grizzly's and Moose? Open sights, I just can't seem bring myself to get a scope. I have hand scopes on other rifles, but I just didn't like them.
.45-70 Info needed
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The Army used to hold 1000 yard competition for the .45-70 Trap Door Springfield .
How good are you ? I an no where near that good .
God bless
Wtr
P. S. tou are in the wrong sub-forum .
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45/70 lever info
I quess that would depend somewhat on your eyesight. As young hmmm 60'sh my eyes aren't what they used to be but on large and or potentialy dangerous game I would try to get as close as possible and like they say take the best shot. I don't like to chase or follow up game so I treat every shot like I only have one and my life depends on it. I prefer a peep like lyman or williams with a large aperture sometimes with the insert out. Don't shoot over 200 yds for moose and use the heaviest bullet you and your rifle shoots well. I have encountered grizzly but have no desire to hunt them and have not had to shoot one yet. Also when I might chance a bear I'm loaded as heavy as possible any thing over 450 grains has good sctional density that means it will go in a straight line despite bones whatever. You didn't say if you plan to reload but lots of manufacturers are making heavier loads for the 45/70 now. Remember man used to live by black powder alone. Hope this gives you a starting point.
I quess that would depend somewhat on your eyesight. As young hmmm 60'sh my eyes aren't what they used to be but on large and or potentialy dangerous game I would try to get as close as possible and like they say take the best shot. I don't like to chase or follow up game so I treat every shot like I only have one and my life depends on it. I prefer a peep like lyman or williams with a large aperture sometimes with the insert out. Don't shoot over 200 yds for moose and use the heaviest bullet you and your rifle shoots well. I have encountered grizzly but have no desire to hunt them and have not had to shoot one yet. Also when I might chance a bear I'm loaded as heavy as possible any thing over 450 grains has good sctional density that means it will go in a straight line despite bones whatever. You didn't say if you plan to reload but lots of manufacturers are making heavier loads for the 45/70 now. Remember man used to live by black powder alone. Hope this gives you a starting point.
I am new to posting anything on forums. I thank you both for your useful information. I am not as good as I would like to be Wtr, but I can hit targets very easyly at 400 yards with open sights. Whitegorserider, thankyou for your useful information also. I am useing a 400 grain bullet. I don't have the tools "yet" to reload my own ammo, but I plant to get what is needed to do so.
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congrats on the new rifle. I like 405gr bullets or heaver but they have the trajectory of a brick so I limit myself to 100 yds or less, but I mainly hunt in wooded areas where it is not a problem. If you like open sights like I do you will love peep sights.
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I also own an 1895, but mine is scoped. I do own an unscoped .444S and it shoots very well with it's Lyman peep sight and I'm way better with it than the old irons. A couple of pretty powerful loads that don't also cost an arm and a leg are made by HSM and BVAC. They are 400gr loads (Speer bullets, I believe), one at 1800 FPS and the other at 1900 FPS. I'd figure the max range for the game you mentioned to be whatever you can consistently hit an 8" circle at or 250 yards, whichever is the shorter of those two. These loads are plenty powerful at the muzzle, but begin to loose steam after 150 yards or so, IMHO. There are other powerful loads available from Corbon, Buffalo Bore and Grizzly Ammo, but these two are lots cheaper to shoot. Here's some links to the companies selling these loads:
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/AMM905-5.html
PG 10 of this online catalogue
http://www.thehuntingshack.com/catalog/retail/Retail.pdf
PRACTICE makes perfect. The original .45-70 loads threw 500gr bullets around 1340fps - which will penetrate to beat the band on just about anything. I'd go with the biggest bullet you can comfortably hit a pie pan with offhand @200yds. The moose may tempt you to try 250yd shots; the bear may tempt you to try to get "too close" to keep him from eating you!
I'd talk to other locals there in AK and see what is working for them. Any professional guides there will have strong feelings about what should be attempted with what gun. I'd weigh thier opinions far above ours as they earn a living doing what you want to do....
I'd talk to other locals there in AK and see what is working for them. Any professional guides there will have strong feelings about what should be attempted with what gun. I'd weigh thier opinions far above ours as they earn a living doing what you want to do....
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The 45/70 load my Marlin fires is the Speer 400 grain at 1800fps. I've never shot a moose or grizzly but would guess not much over 150 yards for moose. A grizzly is a different story. You can't afford to NOT drop that bad boy DRT! You don't want to be too close, either. Your shot on old griz has to be near perfect or you'll have a tornado out for blood. Griz? Not OVER 100 yards max for the first shot. Remember you want to get as close as safety and reason permit. This is "hunting", not "shooting". Just MHO.
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The other army test showed that the 45/70 bullet at a MILE penetrates 9" of pine boards and into the sand beneath them.
Here's a link to a video that shows what a 525 g bullet will do out of an 18-1/2" barrel traveling at the incredible velocity of 1460 fps. This load and gun combo shoots to point of aim at 100 yards, but drops quickly after that. It's my SE go to do everything gun.
http://beartoothbullets.com/WMV_Files/45-70-525.wmv
Personally I wouldn't load that round to 1800 fps except for my single shot rifle. Look at Marshall's data for the piledriver:
http://beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/archive_open_sight.htm/21
Hope this helps.
Do you really have to shoot game that far away in the interior?
Best
Grizz
Here's a link to a video that shows what a 525 g bullet will do out of an 18-1/2" barrel traveling at the incredible velocity of 1460 fps. This load and gun combo shoots to point of aim at 100 yards, but drops quickly after that. It's my SE go to do everything gun.
http://beartoothbullets.com/WMV_Files/45-70-525.wmv
Personally I wouldn't load that round to 1800 fps except for my single shot rifle. Look at Marshall's data for the piledriver:
http://beartoothbullets.com/open_sight/archive_open_sight.htm/21
Hope this helps.
Do you really have to shoot game that far away in the interior?
Best
Grizz
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