With me it started with muzzle loading rifles I used for hunting. In my state of Louisiana primitive weapon hunting evolved step by step for years. If you load a 150 grain Pyrodex Load in a Thompson Encore .50 cal with a 300 grain sabot bullet, you have a modern 45-70.
A modern 45-70 will knock down any big game animal on the face of the earth, its all how you load it. Factory loads are available from anything from Whitetail Deer to Elephant, and the 45-70 is proper for anything in between. Its only drawback is trajectory at long range. However within my 300 yard limit, and generally much less, I’m never handicapped with a 45-70.
My normal hunting load and I see no reason to change anytime soon is the Hornady 325 grain flextip bullet. It works in my Lever action and Single Shot. I have been looking at Barnes Vortex rounds real hard as the ones I’ve tried in other rifles have been extremely accurate.
Unfortunately you can’t get a new H&R 1871 Buffalo Gun anymore, I love mine and it was my first 45-70. It never failed to give a one shot knock down on Bucks and Boars in the Louisiana back woods. Now I have a Henry Lever Action 45-70. I own fine rifles and this is certainly one of them, accurate, functional, and just plain beautiful.
For those that will be hunting our Primitive Deer Season next year in Louisiana a new Single Shot rifle is about to enter the hunting world. The Henry Single Shot will be out right about now in 44 magnum and good old 45-70 for us “One Shooters” in Louisiana and 223 and 308 for everybody else. Once again it looks like Henry made a good move with this beautiful and practical rifle.
For deer, wild boar, and bear (any bear) you could not ask for anything better. Yes it kicks, so it is not for the timid. I use it for deer hunting for a good reason. There is an old saying, “Why walk ten feet through a Louisiana briar patch, when you can walk a mile around it.” I really don’t like following up a deer shot with a light rifle back in there where you don’t want to go. A 45-70 settles that problem…Pass it on.