45-70 at 1,000 yards....

Glenner · October 15, 2009, 10:08 PM

Will a 45-70 shoot out to 1,000 yards?
If not, how far out is it ' ACCURATE '' ???

RedneckFur · October 15, 2009, 10:16 PM

they done it all the time back in the old days. I'm no 45-70 guru, so I can't give specific details, but its very possible.

You'll be working with lots of bullet drop and you'll likely need a vernier sight to do it.

riggins_83 · October 15, 2009, 10:21 PM

Straight from the Winchester website ballistics table:

45-70 Government
300 gr. Supreme® Partition Gold®

Yards Velocity FPS Energy ft/lbs Long Trajectory (in.)(200 yard zero)
500 910 551 -193.7

As a comparison the Winchester 180 grain accubond 300 win mag:

Yards Velocity FPS Energy ft/lbs Long Trajectory (in.)(200 yard zero)
500 2095 1754 -39

It has certainly been done but I'd be more likely to go with a 300 win mag versus 45-70 at that kind of range.

16 foot drop at 1000 yards and 910 FPS (43% of the 300 win mag velocity at that range) and subsonic for the past 100 yards... not sure I'd count on that. Cannot use standard irons or a scope.. will need a vernier sight for sure.

knight0334 · October 15, 2009, 11:03 PM

People shoot 45-70's a 1000yrds everyday. So long as the gun itself doesn't cause inaccuracy problems, accuracy is more a shooter problem than it is a cartridge issue.

You just have to get past the laser beam flat shooting bullet thing equaling accuracy.

My uncle and myself shoot groundhogs out to 550yrds(both have kills that far), and shoot at them even further with our 45-70's. A buffalo sized iron plate at 1000yrd wouldn't be much more difficult.

Malamute · October 15, 2009, 11:11 PM

There are several long range shooting events with black powder cartridge rifles. The Quigley shoot in Mt shoots out to 800 yards. Don't know what distances they shoot at Virgina City Mt.

The US military did some 45-70 shooting for tests out to a mile or more. Not sure what sort of accuracy.

In his book "The Winchester Lever Legacy", Clyde Williams remaked that with tang sights on 1886 Winchesters in various chamberings, hits on a 55 gallon drum @ 1000 yards was "unbelievable". He used mainly higher performance smokeless loads.

**JohnKSa** · October 15, 2009, 11:31 PM

http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm

The article in the link starts with the following paragraph:

THE SHOOTER at the heavy bench rest squinted as he aligned his .45-70 Allin-Springfield Model 1873 Army rifle on the distant target. The rifle fore-stock and barrel was cradled in a rest; the butt was supported by his shoulder. The rear sight was flipped up to its full height, so with no stock support for his head, the rifle tester from Springfield Armory worked carefully to align high rear and low muzzle sight on the speck that was the target - a surveyed 2,500 yards distant.

Fat White Boy · October 16, 2009, 12:08 AM

The .45-70 does it with a trajectory similar to a rainbow, but it still hits a ton....

kiwi56 · October 16, 2009, 03:16 AM

Hank Williams Junior and Mike Venturino were able to reliably hit a buffalo silouhette at 960 yds with both a 45-110 and 45-70
Billy Dixon made the most famous shot of all when he knocked an indian off his horse at a surveyed 1738 yards with another blackpowder cartridge that could have possibly been a 50-90

wvshootist · October 16, 2009, 08:33 AM

check out this article on the 45-70 tested at 2 miles range at the Sandy Hook proving grounds. Check it out @ the link below.

http://www.wahsatchdesperadoes.com/4...wo%20Miles.htm

An excerpt from the article .....

The Report of the Secretary of War, 1880, Volume III, under the chapter titled, "Extreme Ranges of Military Small Arms," had this to say:

"The firing was done by Mr. R.T Hare of Springfield Armory who has the enviable distinction, so far as is known, of being the only person in the world who has hit the 'Bull's-Eye' six feet in diameter at 2,500 yards with three different rifles, and who has ever fired at and hit so small a target as that described in this report at 3,200 yards.
In comparison with this, all other so-called 'long range firing' pales into insignificance. The gun was held under the arm, a muzzle rest only being used.

October 15, 2009, 10:08 PM	#1
Glenner Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 127	45-70 at 1,000 yards.... Will a 45-70 shoot out to 1,000 yards? If not, how far out is it ' ACCURATE '' ???

October 15, 2009, 10:21 PM	#3
riggins_83 Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2009 Location: Wherever I may roam Posts: 1,515	Straight from the Winchester website ballistics table: 45-70 Government 300 gr. Supreme® Partition Gold® Yards Velocity FPS Energy ft/lbs Long Trajectory (in.)(200 yard zero) 500 910 551 -193.7 As a comparison the Winchester 180 grain accubond 300 win mag: Yards Velocity FPS Energy ft/lbs Long Trajectory (in.)(200 yard zero) 500 2095 1754 -39 It has certainly been done but I'd be more likely to go with a 300 win mag versus 45-70 at that kind of range. 16 foot drop at 1000 yards and 910 FPS (43% of the 300 win mag velocity at that range) and subsonic for the past 100 yards... not sure I'd count on that. Cannot use standard irons or a scope.. will need a vernier sight for sure. __________________ l've heard police work is dangerous. Yes, that's why l carry a big gun. Couldn't it go off accidentally? l used to have that problem. What did you do about it? l just think about baseball. -Leslie Nielsen

October 15, 2009, 11:31 PM	#6
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 25,564	http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm The article in the link starts with the following paragraph: THE SHOOTER at the heavy bench rest squinted as he aligned his .45-70 Allin-Springfield Model 1873 Army rifle on the distant target. The rifle fore-stock and barrel was cradled in a rest; the butt was supported by his shoulder. The rear sight was flipped up to its full height, so with no stock support for his head, the rifle tester from Springfield Armory worked carefully to align high rear and low muzzle sight on the speck that was the target - a surveyed 2,500 yards distant. __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

October 16, 2009, 03:16 AM	#8
kiwi56 Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2009 Location: Auckland NewZealand Posts: 350	45-70 @ 1000yds Hank Williams Junior and Mike Venturino were able to reliably hit a buffalo silouhette at 960 yds with both a 45-110 and 45-70 Billy Dixon made the most famous shot of all when he knocked an indian off his horse at a surveyed 1738 yards with another blackpowder cartridge that could have possibly been a 50-90

October 16, 2009, 08:33 AM	#9
wvshootist Member Join Date: July 8, 2007 Posts: 37	hows about 2 miles? check out this article on the 45-70 tested at 2 miles range at the Sandy Hook proving grounds. Check it out @ the link below. http://www.wahsatchdesperadoes.com/4...wo%20Miles.htm An excerpt from the article ..... The Report of the Secretary of War, 1880, Volume III, under the chapter titled, "Extreme Ranges of Military Small Arms," had this to say: "The firing was done by Mr. R.T Hare of Springfield Armory who has the enviable distinction, so far as is known, of being the only person in the world who has hit the 'Bull's-Eye' six feet in diameter at 2,500 yards with three different rifles, and who has ever fired at and hit so small a target as that described in this report at 3,200 yards. In comparison with this, all other so-called 'long range firing' pales into insignificance. The gun was held under the arm, a muzzle rest only being used.

October 15, 2009, 10:16 PM	#2
RedneckFur Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2007 Location: Central NC Posts: 1,424	they done it all the time back in the old days. I'm no 45-70 guru, so I can't give specific details, but its very possible. You'll be working with lots of bullet drop and you'll likely need a vernier sight to do it.

October 15, 2009, 11:03 PM	#4
knight0334 Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2006 Location: Brookville, PA Posts: 442	People shoot 45-70's a 1000yrds everyday. So long as the gun itself doesn't cause inaccuracy problems, accuracy is more a shooter problem than it is a cartridge issue. You just have to get past the laser beam flat shooting bullet thing equaling accuracy. My uncle and myself shoot groundhogs out to 550yrds(both have kills that far), and shoot at them even further with our 45-70's. A buffalo sized iron plate at 1000yrd wouldn't be much more difficult.

October 15, 2009, 11:11 PM	#5
Malamute Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2004 Location: Rocky Mts Posts: 859	There are several long range shooting events with black powder cartridge rifles. The Quigley shoot in Mt shoots out to 800 yards. Don't know what distances they shoot at Virgina City Mt. The US military did some 45-70 shooting for tests out to a mile or more. Not sure what sort of accuracy. In his book "The Winchester Lever Legacy", Clyde Williams remaked that with tang sights on 1886 Winchesters in various chamberings, hits on a 55 gallon drum @ 1000 yards was "unbelievable". He used mainly higher performance smokeless loads.

October 16, 2009, 12:08 AM	#7
Fat White Boy Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2005 Posts: 1,276	The .45-70 does it with a trajectory similar to a rainbow, but it still hits a ton....