Thread: 45/70

Originally Posted by Beaker

I must admit, the first shot did kind of make a mark.... I'm not a 170kg recoil rest....
And the guy that handed it to me hand a smile right through the process, and a laugh at the end.

However, if tucked in tight, it's a seriously hard hitting round and easy to shot for both tall lanckyy folk and also vertical challenged. With some serious damage to the recipient.
Big lead and slow repetition this is a great round.

Oh and BP loading is a possibility


For fucks sake, just buy a NZ one.

Can't be assed with the hassle of taking one over.
Might even give it to my brother when I am finished with it. Not a hassle getting it out of Canada but the normal import bullshit for here. I would have no use for one here anyway.
I would rather carry a decent handgun but that is a huge hassle over there. It can be done but I have not got the time to do all that is required to carry one so big rifle it is.
Beside why pay higher NZ prices when I don't have too? More money for some Canadian whiskey

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300gr might be a bit light for bear protection, they use 400gr and up for bear protection.

Garrett Cartridges Inc.

I have carried one of those in AK for Bear Protection,they are handy and will do the job well.I take it it is for protection against Brown Bears?

Heavy as F'ck Hard cast was what most people used,me included.Some people even made up Solid Bronze projectiles on lathes and sold them.

You are only going to get one shot off in most situations anyway so it has to count.What will stop a charge is the smashing of its shoulder or central nervous system.

A Pistol or Revolver is handy in that its always on you,but harder to use under stress.

Carbine is handy too but impossible to have on you at all times.

Rifle is what you carry when looking for Bears,the other two are what you happen to have when the Bear is looking for you.

I think I have a 500grn 45/70 mold over here.Want some hard as F'ck bullets sent over?

If I was going to buy a gun for Bear protection again,I would get a U/O shotgun cut it back to 18" and load two slugs in it.Most encounters happen when the Bear and man are taken by supprise and snapping off a tang safety is alot quicker than thumbing back a hammer after you have jambed your hand through the leaver .

Speaking from experiance your Adrenalin level will spike to unforseen hights and you might have a "Code Brown" if one of the Buggers rockets out of the Willows at you.

Load you 45-70 with a heavy load, you likely get only one shot,

Now for real bear defense, go buy a quality can of bear spray, including holster, it is far more effective, it is shitloads lighter, and it wont be leaning, some place else, or slung over you back, when you need it.
And if you really are concerned about bears, rather that just loading sum brass boomers, Take a bear awareness course,
There must be a thousand bear, questions, what gun, what load, slugs or buckshot etc, on Alberta Outdoors if you want to go look.
I have been charged twice, and it will happen in the time, it took you to read that,

If it's the Sierra 300gr it's way too soft for that application. If it was me I would buy a couple of boxes of ammo over there. You can get all sorts of stuff that is more suitable. I wouldn't muck around loading for bear with what is available here. There is the school of thought that says if a bear attacks from cover you will never bring a handgun let alone a rifle up in time.

My brother in law is a geologist in Alberta. Previously he was up round yellowknife when he had his first bear encounter. He had done a course through the company and was "armed" with bear spray. It was taking the rubbish out to the fenced dumpster behind the apartment block!. It was recommended going in pairs which he didnt do. Bear spray works he says. Clean undies though when he got back inside.

FFS! I asked for good components for a 45/70 that were available in NZ.

Didn't expect a lecture from David Attenborough and the rest of the Animal Planet Team.








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R93 I've had 2 good mates do a few seasons of that job all there gear was provided including guns if that helps you..
You'll get good at cutting firewood and cooking
Edit: one of them would be happy to chat with ya if ya needed to no anything

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If it was me I would buy the Marlin in Canada and happily shoot 405 grain factory loads. No mucking about with handloads for something you will probably only ever shoot at targets for familiarization. If you do have to defend yourself against a bear it will be at fairly short range and the 405 grain bullet will do a far better job of stopping it than any 300 grain bullet. JHP's will only annoy a big bear!

Originally Posted by BRADS

R93 I've had 2 good mates do a few seasons of that job all there gear was provided including guns if that helps you..
You'll get good at cutting firewood and cooking
Edit: one of them would be happy to chat with ya if ya needed to no anything

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Cheers. One of my best mates has guided on the lease next to where I am going for the last 5 years. He is a guide here as well.

I know about the firewood but we have a cook It is the horse stuff that has me worried. Never met a horse that liked me.

I have to bring all my own gear including rifle. My mate had to as well. He has some Canadian guides he worked with here helping him this season getting their Kiwi experience.

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Originally Posted by gundoc

If it was me I would buy the Marlin in Canada and happily shoot 405 grain factory loads. No mucking about with handloads for something you will probably only ever shoot at targets for familiarization. If you do have to defend yourself against a bear it will be at fairly short range and the 405 grain bullet will do a far better job of stopping it than any 300 grain bullet. JHP's will only annoy a big bear!

I am buying the rifle there. I have also been given the advice to just use factory ammo.





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