The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Browning_grrl wrote:Why is 45-70 difficult to source? Obviously, it can be comparatively pricey, but Winchester, Remington and Hornady all make it, in a variety of bullet weights, and, here at least, it's readily available. Do the dealers in the UK not carry them because of low demand, or something else?

most ammo is expanding (hunting) style and unless you use the rifle for hunting you won't get expanding permission put on your certificate , to top this off there is a velocity limit in Scotland of 2450 fps which 45/70 struggles with so despite it being an awesome hunting round that's killed most kinds of stuff in the world our know nothing officials have effectively banned it.

Seriously?? 2450?? Muzzle or terminal? If it's muzzle and/or say 100 meters, that rules out the .308 as well.......

Its is a minimum velocity limit.

dromia wrote:Its is a minimum velocity limit.

Ahhhhh. Never heard of such a thing, but that makes more sense than an upper limit..... So, no shotgun slugs for deer in Scotland, then?

Hunter87 wrote:Hi all im seriously thinking about getting a marlin sbl in .45/70 but can anyone tell me how much ammo is and if ammo is hard to find for this gun.

I have a Marlin 1895SBL, and hand load for it (405gr lead). Brass and boolits from Andy Alwood in Bracknell. Leverevolution rounds are available for it, but they are soft tipped, so depends what you want to use it for. I use mine for target plinking. The hit to the shoulder is not that bad

Browning_grrl wrote:Seriously?? 2450?? Muzzle or terminal? If it's muzzle and/or say 100 meters, that rules out the .308 as well.......

yep , you can shoot the biggest red stag with a down loaded 243 win(100g bullet) but not a 45/70

Thanks guys I don't reload so I guess .45/70 isn't for me thanks for the heads up

tackb wrote:

Browning_grrl wrote:Seriously?? 2450?? Muzzle or terminal? If it's muzzle and/or say 100 meters, that rules out the .308 as well.......

yep , you can shoot the biggest red stag with a down loaded 243 win(100g bullet) but not a 45/70

I guess Vince Lupo got lucky with his Marlin 45-70 in Africa



Please note, I do not condone the use of a 45-70Govt for dangerous game. If you choose to, on your head be it ("it" probably being an irritable beasty...)

Another for sale post deleted, if people aren't going to abide by the rules and persist in turning this place into the Exchange and Mart then you can find another forum to post on.

Whizzbang wrote:

tackb wrote:

Browning_grrl wrote:Seriously?? 2450?? Muzzle or terminal? If it's muzzle and/or say 100 meters, that rules out the .308 as well.......

yep , you can shoot the biggest red stag with a down loaded 243 win(100g bullet) but not a 45/70

I guess Vince Lupo got lucky with his Marlin 45-70 in Africa



Please note, I do not condone the use of a 45-70Govt for dangerous game. If you choose to, on your head be it ("it" probably being an irritable beasty...)

A very interesting link Whizzbang. I am surprised and shocked that the P.H. allowed this guy to use such a cartridge to attempt his bid for "the Guinness book of records". Personally I'm not into big game hunting and African safaris but if I were I would hope that I used the right tool and not some cartridge that fails from my understanding to meet the normal legal requirements set in most African countries with regard to muzzle energy etc.

Isn't the equivalent of .375 H&H normally the minimum energy levels required to shoot the larger species in most African countries?
Also while I am a great fan of large calibre hard cast bullets, are they really appropriate for shooting some of the animals he shot.