45-70 With a Red Dot

[jkbrea]

So I bought this 1895 XLR back in '07. I love it but since a shoulder replacement, those 2100+ fps rounds take their toll. I thought I needed those for grizzlies while elk hunting. But....hunters are using 10mm pistols for bear defense out here! So I figure 405 Core-Lokts at 1600fps will do the job if needed and still take elk, and no shoulder pain!
I removed my scope and put a Holosun 507C on it. Today I zeroed it at 100 yards and got just over an inch with 3 shots. The Holosun has 3 options. Circle, circle/dot, or just a dot. I like the circle/dot combo. I found I could hit 200 holding between the dot and bottom of the circle and 300 by holding at the bottom of the circle. Actually there is a short vertical line at the bottom of the circle. Holding on the tip of that line was dead on at 300 yards.
The Holosun makes the rifle much easier to carry while hunting all day and less than 300 yards is easy and quick without a scope.....for now.
I know I've posted pics of this rifle, but not the results.
Just thought I'd post in case someone else goes this route.

20241116_103659.jpg

results.

[Nath]

How much red dot?

I've been using it in 3030 but it seems spikey at 6gn plus but I'm only around 1100fps.

[wvfarrier]

I run a trijicon rmr on all my 1892s. I drilled and tapped them to hold a small picatinney rail section.

[ywaltzucanrknrl]

Yes, not sure you need to suffer under those 2100 fps loads. I have a friend here who shot his bison over your way with a 405 grain over black powder out of an original trap door carbine and it fully penetrated the critter with two loads. He tells me the load is running a sedate 1300-1400 fps.

[jkbrea]

Yes, not sure you need to suffer under those 2100 fps loads. I have a friend here who shot his bison over your way with a 405 grain over black powder out of an original trap door carbine and it fully penetrated the critter with two loads. He tells me the load is running a sedate 1300-1400 fps.

Exactly! It took me alot of shoulder pain and $ to come to that conclusion. My two hunting rifles are a 30-06 and my 45-70. Oh...and a suppressed 6.5 CM for looong shots on speed goats.

[Bill in Oregon]

Fine-looking Marlin. Love the Holosuns.

[yooper2]

All you gain with loads over 1500fps in the 45-70 is a flatter trajectory and the abilty for tougher bullets to work properly but it comes at a pretty high price.
I've gone from Keith style loads to much more moderate bp velocity loads. My most used for plinking and deer from my leverguns is 22gr of 2400 under the Gould bullet. Shoots well in all of them, mild, and effective with soft (cheap!) alloys.

Eric

[Grizz]

All you gain with loads over 1500fps in the 45-70 is a flatter trajectory and the abilty for tougher bullets to work properly but it comes at a pretty high price.
I've gone from Keith style loads to much more moderate bp velocity loads. My most used for plinking and deer from my leverguns is 22gr of 2400 under the Gould bullet. Shoots well in all of them, mild, and effective with soft (cheap!) alloys.

Eric

Exactly. I think "around" 1500 is a sweet spot. My one load is around 1300 from a pistol, around 1400 from the guide gun, and around 1500 from the 32" barrel single shot. seems reasonable to me. kind of automatic self adjusting, just pick the gun that gets the desired effect.

[1972RedNeck]

All you gain with loads over 1500fps in the 45-70 is a flatter trajectory and the abilty for tougher bullets to work properly but it comes at a pretty high price.
I've gone from Keith style loads to much more moderate bp velocity loads. My most used for plinking and deer from my leverguns is 22gr of 2400 under the Gould bullet. Shoots well in all of them, mild, and effective with soft (cheap!) alloys.

Eric

Meh. I have never seen an elk drop faster than when hit with a 405 gr hardcast leaving the muzzle at 2400 FPS (45-90).

1500 fps would get the job done, but another 1k literally knocks them off their feet.

There is nothing on planet earth that I would feel under gunned against with my 1886 Japchester.

Trapdoor Springfield, not so much...

But then again, an 1895 Marlin is rated for T-Rex...

A heavy, large sized chunk of lead will likely get the job done regardless of the speed.