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Scope for a .45-70 (hot loads)

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expeditionx View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote expeditionx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Scope for a .45-70 (hot loads)
    Posted: February/17/2009 at 23:26
Criteria is glass etched reticle, hold over points on the reticle (mildots or similar),
and a good amount of eye relief. So far the only possibility I have
thought of is the IOR low magnification scopes.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/17/2009 at 23:54

45-70 is a brute of a cartridge I have one in an encore pistol with a 1x Burris on it. I'd say stay with a fixed power or low power variable. I'd say forget balistic reticles they only work at the highest power and you really dont need 9x or higher with a 45-70  I'd use something like these:

10136 Leupold 1.5-5x20 VX-3 66380, Matte finish, German #4 reticle, 1" tube, xtended twilight lens system, 100% new 2009 demo model, used for current SWFA.com web pictures $552.00 $419.95
403280 IOR 4x32 Hunting Rifle Scope                                                                                            IOR 4x32 Hunting Rifle Scope
  • Matte
  • Post Reticle
  • 1"
SWFA: $359.95
More Info... Buy Now
11417 Aimpoint 9000SC 30mm Red Dot Sight                                                                                      Aimpoint 9000SC 30mm Red Dot Sight
  • Matte
  • 2 MOA Dot
  • 30mm
  • Free Aimpoint Bikini Lens Cover w/ Purchase
SWFA: $373.95
More Info... Buy Now
Just practice with it sighted at 100 yds and check to see where it hits at 50, 150 and 200 so you know where to hold. If your over 200 it's the wrong gun.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/17/2009 at 23:58
One other thought trajectory should be close to this musket scope and it has lots of eye relief:
8442 New Nikon 1.65-5x36 Omega Muzzleloader Riflescope                                                                       New Nikon 1.65-5x36 Omega Muzzleloader Riflescope
  • Matte
  • BDC 250
  • 1"
SWFA: $239.95
More Info... Buy Now

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote expeditionx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/17/2009 at 23:59
Will the low power hunting IOR scopes hold up to the brute recoil?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote expeditionx Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 02:52
This seems very interesting.
http://www.swfa.com/pc-12425-2173-leupold-1x14-prismatic-30mm-riflescope.aspx

I guess I need to see one in person to evaluate.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Big Squeeze Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 03:26
I`d forget about any mildots.
 
Red dots, the Leupy prismatics, Aimpoints, the 2.5x Leupy FX2 Ultralite with 4.9" of eye relief, the low variable VX2`s and 3`s with plenty of eye relief and goof FOVs are all great choices. Although it can be used on a 45-70, a straight 4x is too high a power for within 100 yard and closer timber, brush hunting. Your stuck with only the 4x should you have a 30 yard or less surprise.
 
I`d certainly put a much faster acquiring scope on it, rather than a straight 4x.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rancid Coolaid Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 07:24
I have an IOR 4X on my 45/70, reminds me of the range limitations (compared to my usual 300WM hunters), it is a great scope, I highly recommend.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John Barsness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 12:55
I have never found 4x too much for timber hunting. In fact I killed my first deer (over 40 years ago) with a 4x scope on a .30-30 at the range of 30 FEET, not yards. At 30 feet the field of view of a 4x is 2.5 to 3 feet, which is plenty for aiming at the front half of a deer--which is all you need, since they don't die very quickly when shot in the back half.
 
Hard to beat any of the good 4x scopes. With a plain plex-type reticle you have a second aiming point below the crosshairs, using the top of the bottom post, which given the range limitations of even a hot-loaded .45-70 should work very well.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 14:08
Back in the sixties 4X was considered the " norm " for hunting.   Unless you were varmint shooting at 300 yards!!!!  Shocked   ....then you would need a Real Varmint Scope  .............a  SIX POWER!!!    Wink
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 14:19
my dad's 30-06 still wears the same old leupold m8 6x36 it has the day he bought it 30+yrs ago.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 14:23
That must be one of those long range varmint guns.  Wink
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote pyro6999 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 14:25
Originally posted by supertool73 supertool73 wrote:

That must be one of those long range varmint guns.  Wink

yeah and its better than a .270 too!!Shocked
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Dogger Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 14:51

Agreed the fixed 4's and even 6's have worked in the past but with todays available choices and considering the rifle being scoped would you still go for a fixed 4X as the optimum choice?

I would rather have a lower bottom end if I jumped a deer at close range and had to get on target RIGHT NOW.  At the other end, I have often read (because I haven't done it) that 4X is just fine for 200 yd shots - probably the maximum practical range for this rifle.
 
Just a point for discussion since he has yet to make a choice.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 15:00
I have shot lots of deer at 200+ yards with a 4X.   Also 6X's.  They just look a little smaller.   Laugh
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 16:15
I also like a low range variable on heavy recoil rifles, possibly a straight 4x will do.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 16:56

How do you guys think the trajectory would compare with this scope:

8442 New Nikon 1.65-5x36 Omega Muzzleloader Riflescope                                                                       New Nikon 1.65-5x36 Omega Muzzleloader Riflescope
  • Matte
  • BDC 250
  • 1"
SWFA: $239.95
More Info... Buy Now

with a 300 grain 45-70 at 2000 ft per sec I get this:
Yards100 0.0   ZERO  
125 -1.5                  
150 -3.8                
175 -7.2                
200 -11.6                
225 -17.3                
250 -24.3                
275 -32.7                
300 -42.8
Using a musket with a 250 gr Barnes sabbot .451 diameter 150 gr of tripple 7 at 2227 fps
Yards 100 0.0                
125 -1.1              
150 -2.9                
175 -5.5                
200 -8.9                
225 -13.3                
250 -18.8                
275 -25.5                
300 -33.4                

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote trigger29 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 19:45
Originally posted by pyro6999 pyro6999 wrote:

yeah and its better than a .270 too!!Shocked
 
You must be off your meds again. I'll take a .270 any day of the week, twice on Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and four times on Friday over that other thing using the same case. I think I feel the same way about those that you do the 6.8s.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote John Barsness Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 19:47
The deer I shot at 30 feet with a 4x was shot RIGHT NOW. I was walking slowly up a ridge in thick ponderosa pine when it stood up fropm its bed, and I put the reticle on the deer and pulled the trigger. It took as long as it takes to bring up a rifle.
 
I hear this stuff about how a 4x or whatever is slow for close shooting. What is slow is the shooter, not the scope. If you have practiced raising a rifle and aiming quickly, then a 4x will do fine. If you haven't, then a 2.5x won't help.
 
95% of all shooting is the shooter, not the scope or the rifle or whatever. The only thing most options we keep being offered do is confuse us before we buy a scope, and then confuse us again when we need to shoot fast. The "secret" to fast shooting is choosing one system (preferably with no options, so we don't keep fiddling with the scope) and then practicing with it until shooting is second nature.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bricat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/18/2009 at 20:25
This past year I have become a big believer in the fixed 4, Zeiss Conquest 4X32 to be specific. Simple and durable. I shot this season's six point at 189 yards, no visual problems whatsoever, watched another deer from ranges right under my treestand out to 200 yards, if I wanted to shoot him at any of those ranges it would have been no problem at all as I felt no handicap whatsoever using only a four power. I am a new convert to the fixed powers and a strong believer at that. I also have one on my Ruger #1 (45-70) it's held up quite well to the punishing recoil of that beastly gun.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote olywa Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February/22/2009 at 23:04
I have a Sightron SII 4x32 on my Ruger #1 in 45-70. No complaints whatsoever.I initially put a Leupold VX-II 2-7 on this rifle. I much prefer the Sightron.
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