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First 45-70 deer #175047 11/07/2016 11:12 PM
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karl Offline OP
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So I picked up a 45-70 Encore last spring and spend the summer and early fall getting tuning it up and developing a load. I took it out last weekend for opening deer season here in Minnesota and connected with a nice doe at ~ 120 yards with a double lung shot. It was a bit farther back then I wanted, but worked well. She only traveled ~ 40 yards before piling up.

Since getting the pistol (stock), I installed a rubber grip and added a muzzle break (total length 15", ~13.5 barrel length) which tamed the recoil. I added a new forend, swapped trigger springs (2 lb pull, down from 4) and polished some surfaces. It is launching 300gn Barnes TTXS at ~ 1800 fps and groups ~2 inches at 100 yards.

The deer and pistol


The bullet passed between ribs on the way in. It ripped up the lungs and the top of the liver before exiting closer to the offside shoulder. The exit wound was ~ 1.5" in diameter. Based on the amount of blood, I probably hit some big vessels. Below is a pic of the entrance side lung showing the results of the bullet pedals opening as they entered the lung.

All in all, happy with the gun and load performance.

Last edited by karl; 11/07/2016 11:13 PM.
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: karl] #175048 11/07/2016 11:32 PM
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Hoggin Offline
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the 45/70 is almost enough gun
\:\)

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Hoggin] #175049 11/07/2016 11:39 PM
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tradmark Offline
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that barnes is just wicked. nice shooting.

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: tradmark] #175050 11/08/2016 12:05 AM
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Boartuff Offline
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Good lookin heavy recoiler. Congrats!


~BT~
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Boartuff] #175054 11/08/2016 12:33 AM
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Mark Hampton Offline
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Congrats on your 45-70 deer!

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Mark Hampton] #175055 11/08/2016 12:49 AM
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Ernie Offline
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Congrats Karl!


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Ernie] #175061 11/08/2016 1:14 AM
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Chance Weldon Offline
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Nice! Great shooting!


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Chance Weldon] #175064 11/08/2016 1:31 AM
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abner Offline
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Fantastic Karl - That 45/70 is a beast! Congrats.

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: abner] #175065 11/08/2016 1:40 AM
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KRal Offline
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Great start for the season! Congrats!


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: KRal] #175067 11/08/2016 2:03 AM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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Good shooting!!

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: KRal] #175068 11/08/2016 2:04 AM
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ruger4570 Offline
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Congrats. Great shot with a good looking Encore. I love the 45/70, but mine are in rifles.

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: racksmasher1] #175072 11/08/2016 2:20 AM
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Zee Offline
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Well done.


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Zee] #175081 11/08/2016 5:56 AM
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junebug Offline
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I have a 12 in CONTENDER and they are wicked on deer.

Last edited by junebug; 11/08/2016 5:57 AM.

junebug
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: karl] #175082 11/08/2016 6:20 AM
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pab1 Offline
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Congrats!


Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce.
Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper


Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: pab1] #175085 11/08/2016 11:20 AM
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dhom Offline
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Great job!!! Years ago I shot a doe with my 45-70 contender. Upon impact the deer took 2 steps sideways and fell. The load was a 400 gr Speer soft point with enough H 322 to get 1450 fps from a 14" barrel. Kinda like hitting her with a bowling ball.

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: dhom] #175095 11/08/2016 3:09 PM
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Okie Hunter Offline
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Congrats and good shooting.


With God all things are possible. Matt.19:26
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: racksmasher1] #175096 11/08/2016 3:13 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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Huge congrats!!!!!


"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"

I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: reflex264] #175101 11/08/2016 4:54 PM
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Ramjet-SS Offline
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Great job and a winning combination of gun , load and shooter.


You can't fix stupid!
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: racksmasher1] #175102 11/08/2016 6:55 PM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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sure as hell worked fine......


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Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: racksmasher1] #175109 11/08/2016 9:43 PM
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Hawkeye Offline
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Good shooting. I have always wanted to try that bullet in my SSK 45-70 Contender. I shoot the 300 grn JHP and it has never let me down. I think I have taken 3 doe whitetails with it.

Mike


You don't quit playing because you get old, You get old because you quit playing.
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Hawkeye] #175133 11/09/2016 1:18 AM
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Bob Roach Offline
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Your hard work payed off.
Great job, and a nice shot.

Bob


See You At The Range
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: racksmasher1] #175141 11/09/2016 3:07 AM
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High Tide Offline
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That is awesome. Glad that brake works well for you, because that 45-70 can kick like a mule. As another poster referred to...those Barnes are bad boys! CONGRATS!

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: High Tide] #175149 11/09/2016 2:29 PM
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karl Offline OP
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Thanks All!
I'm very happy with the pistol and how it works. The package works well. Now to arrange a moose hunting trip with some Alaskan family.

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: karl] #175152 11/09/2016 3:28 PM
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s4s4u Offline
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Looks like you brought "enough" gun, Karl ;-)

Good on ya!


Rod, too.

Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: s4s4u] #175160 11/09/2016 3:51 PM
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Russell Offline
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Congrats!


It's not the gun, but the man behind it.

Sheriff Russell Cottle, Ret.
USMC; 1967-1970; Vietnam-'68-'69
Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Hawkeye] #175172 11/09/2016 8:23 PM
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Sawfish Offline
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Great performance!


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Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: Sawfish] #175174 11/09/2016 9:55 PM
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csherrill Offline
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Congratulations!! The 45-70 is one of my favorite calibers.

Re: First 45-70 deer [Re: karl] #175267 11/13/2016 4:26 AM
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billa Offline
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Nice deer. The 45-70 is an awesome handgun round. A real hammer!


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... "
Matthew 28:19

Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since!
HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.

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