Keeping Only The 45-70 Rifle Dump The Rest

[huntersdog]

Like many folks, I want to just make life simpler with only 1 hunting rifle, will also have 1 .22 rifle and 1 shotgun (all single shot guns).
Anyone just use the 45-70 as their main hunting rifle from rabbit hunting to deer and Black Bear?
You can go from a Lyman 292gr bullet to over 700gr bullets or ya can also use round balls for small game.


Thank y'all!

[pietro]

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I keep things even simpler by using a .22 on small game, instead of constantly re-adjusting the sight(s) for the disparate loads.


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[Beagle333]

I have a .45-70 rifle and as soon as I get one of everything else and try it out against the 45-70, I may just do the same thing! (Still collecting and testing though) :wink:

[freebullet]

I've been shedding a few calibers but no way would one be enough. Finding a balance is not easy either lol.

[3leggedturtle]

I was thinking about slowly downgrading, if I got rid of 1 caliber per year, I would be almost 70 by the time I got down to just the 45/70. :violin::violin:

[btroj]

Simplify? Ha, not in my house.

I shoot for fun, not simplicity. I enjoy the rifles I own, each has a unique character and use.

Simplify. Ha, that is funny.

[cpileri]

what is your 700gr load????!!!!

[TXGunNut]

Simplify? Ha, not in my house.

I shoot for fun, not simplicity. I enjoy the rifles I own, each has a unique character and use.

Simplify. Ha, that is funny.

I'd never even try to simplify. Every rifle and cartridge has a personality to be discovered. Sometimes when I'm hunting I wonder why I have other rifles but they're all interesting, one rifle is a little like one book. Doesn't sound like much fun.

[GhostHawk]

Vive la difference!

Currently I have everything setup so I can shoot effective loads in all my calibers with only 2 or 3 powders.
Red Dot for everything pistol, although I am just starting to experiment with IMR4227 for the .357 mag and the .223 and 7.62x39.
IMR 4895 for my main rifle powder, although I also have some IMR 4350 and IMR 3031 on hand.

Considering that I reload for calbers from the 7.62x25 up to the 7.62x54r and .357 mag that is efficient enough for me.

[pworley1]

There were many families in the past that only had one rifle in the house for everything. It is not the best, but it has been done since matchlock days.

[EDK]

I like having lots of rifles (and handguns!)...in lots of calibers...that I can find ammo for easily. I like lots of powder and primers and lead for my boolit moulds too.

I have favorites, but I like using all of them.

[btroj]

There were many families in the past that only had one rifle in the house for everything. It is not the best, but it has been done since matchlock days.

They also got by with an outhouse, a single fireplace for heat, and traveled by horse, wagon, or foot.

I don't live like I'm in the 1700s so why would I shoot like it?

[Ragnarok]

lotta lead powder and brass for everything..thirty-thirty would do it all with less... maybe the .22 Hornet would do it with even less of everything...

personally.. I always thought a .44 mag carbine has a lot of what the big guns offer in a small-gun package...but that's just me

[sghart3578]

I admire your conviction and I confess that there have been times that I have considered the same approach.

For me, I enjoy shooting stuff I have never shot, just like I enjoy whiskey I've never tasted and horses I've never ridden.

I buy and sell a lot of guns. I have a core group of a few that are keepers. I just like to try a new gun and if the gun and I don't click then it is down the road. Just today I almost bought a 38 super for no better reason than I have never shot one before and I want it. But if I had to I guess could get by with 2 or 3.

Many guys would argue differently about your choice of caliber for the single gun concept but not me.

Best of luck.

[ReloaderFred]

The thought alone gives me the shivers, and maybe nightmares, too.......... I load for 32 different calibers, plus 12 ga. shotgun. I've got multiple firearms in almost all those calibers, and I can only think of one right now I'd sell..... (anyone interested in a 9mm Calico with two 50 round magazines?)

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Idaho Sharpshooter]

they also had the thrill of dealing with indians until about 1900 depending on which state you lived in.

Me, despite living in Idaho, I find the Virginia state law about only one gun purchase a month one I can aspire to.
For 2015, a 404 Jefferys and a 450/375 RUM to date, with another 257 Roberts and a 9,3x62 waiting for the stockist to get to them. Then, finish and checkering on the old FN 375 IMp. After that, just a Steve Earle Wesson #1 long range in .450-.400 Nitro Express 3 1/4" to get done. It can be difficult, but if it were easy we'd all do it...

Only one wife, I'm with you, but guns...

[osteodoc08]

If I HAD to simplify, it would be an auto for home defense and carry (likely a 1911, although I LOVE my P226), a 12 gauge shotgun (Either my Citori or 1187), a heavy weight revolver in 41 or 45 colt and my Marlin 1895GS. If I could get a 22, I'd get one of those too but could let the shotgun do its work.

Otherwise, i like my small collection. Each one has a uniqueness and if it "speaks to me" it gets to stay. If not, down the road it goes.

[Dan Cash]

Of the rifles i own, my .45-70 Marlin and .45 Colt 92 Rossi would be the first to go as the least practical.

[StrawHat]

I have written prior to this tread that the more I use certain cartridges, the less use I have for others. For example, the 45-70 has been one I am getting rid of by selling off rifles. The 50-70 does it so much better. But would it be my only CF rifle? Doubtful, there are many needs the 50 does not fill.

Kevin

[historicfirearms]

I would love to simplify my life by reducing the number of guns and cartridges I reload. I have guns that aren't even sighted in yet. Its kind of like putting off your chores, after a while it starts to nag on my mind. BUT, for the life of me, I can't quit buying new guns, let alone get rid of most of the ones I have.

[slim1836]

Did your wife have anything to do with this?
Have you been feeling Ill lately? Perhaps a quick trip to the doctor is in order.:kidding:

Slim


Like many folks, I want to just make life simpler with only 1 hunting rifle, will also have 1 .22 rifle and 1 shotgun (all single shot guns).
Anyone just use the 45-70 as their main hunting rifle from rabbit hunting to deer and Black Bear?
You can go from a Lyman 292gr bullet to over 700gr bullets or ya can also use round balls for small game.






Thank y'all!

[nekshot]

totally understand your thoughts. I started weaning myself off of hardware mainly because the next generation are ready and eager to have fun. I looked at what trips my trigger from my hip to shoulder and decided on the 35 caliber. But I would have no problem with only a 45-70 for the shoulder, heck you even can make a shot load for it if needed!

[Nicholas]

Early in my married life, I had a simplified gun battery, a Marlin 30-30, a 12 ga Mossberg with 2 bbls, a single shot 22, and a 357 DA revolver. In hindsight, that was about perfect for all my "needs" at the time - quail hunting, potting bunnies, not seeing deer, and flinging lead through the revolver. Would I go back to just that assemblage? No way! There is just too much fun and entertainment to be had with a more diverse collection.

[tdoor4570]

If I started to thin out my collection my wife would call the guys in the white coats to come and get me. But to each his own thin out if you want to, tyhat is not my style

[John Allen]

I have a .45-70 rifle and as soon as I get one of everything else and try it out against the 45-70, I may just do the same thing! (Still collecting and testing though) :wink:

Beagle, me too. Now I just have to find a way to hide another safe from the wife.

[EDG]

one is not much of a life
and you don't have much to post about either

[Bphunter]

I totally get where you are coming from. I used to have (and still do) way too many different rifle calibers to master them all. I've unloaded a bunch, but I still have a wide variety of lever guns. I have .22LR, .44-40, 45 colt, 38-55, and 30-30 lever guns. It's taken a LOT of time and money to find what all these rifles prefer in terms of hand-loads, but only the 30-30 still needs more load/bullet testing. If I didn't already have most of the work done, I would have done well to limit my collection to the minimum required for lever action cowboy silhouette rim-fire, pistol cartridge, and rifle. I just wasn't that smart!

[Clay M]

Fortunately I don't have to choose just one rifle,but my 1972 Marlin 1895 .45/70 would be one of the last to go..It was my main hunting rifle for many years ,until I got my .405 win's
Just like my old Fender Nocaster that I have played on gigs for so many years..Sometimes you just get bonded with a particular gun or guitar..

[starmac]

Well if a guy was going to cut back to just ONE, it would be hard to say he picked the wrong one. lol

I would dearly hate to have to pick in a case like that, heck how would a guy even decide which 45/70 he would keep?

[tdoyka]

i have a chance to pick one. it could be the 20 vartarg or 22-250ai or theres always the 30-40 krag. oh, the 444 marlin, no wait the 308 win. **** i forgot about....... i think i will just keep them all!!!

[WHITETAIL]

I have decided to get rid of a few guns.
Just so I could try others.
I have my eye out for a Mini 14.
Then I would have a whole new cal. to try out.:veryconfu

[A pause for the COZ]

The only way I will only have one in the house is if I had to bury the others to keep em hid.

[musgy]

I'd have to get around to firing some of mine before selling any... Sometime I let them age a little, like a fine wine. You can never have too many guns...

[FergusonTO35]

The .30 WCF will cleanly kill anything in Kentucky with the right boolits. Sometimes I think that if I had to do my career as a rifleman over I would have nothing .30-30's in several varieties for different types of shooting. Carbine with 113 grain boolits for small game and varmints, standard 336 with 150's for deer, heavy barrel single shot when you really need to be precise. Maybe even a 336XLR to keep things interesting!

[MT Chambers]

If my wife or the "state" limited me to one lever action, it would def. be my Marlin 45/70 Cowboy.

[TXGunNut]

If my wife or the "state" limited me to one lever action, it would def. be my Marlin 45/70 Cowboy.

I'd hate to be in that situation but my Marlin Guide Gun can do any big game hunting I need to do. At my age and marital status I'll walk away from any woman silly enough to make me choose between her and my guns.
Somehow, tho, I don't think this is the OP's situation.

[bearcove]

I agree with him just a 1895 will do.

But I really want to keep my 35 whelen and that 30-06. OH thats just thinking about out west and north in Ak. Back in Mo all the kids would need for deer is a 30-30 or a 35 rem so I'll just leave them there. Now what was I gonna get rid of??? That other stuff!!!! Naw those are just toys,, I'll just keep a few to play with.

[1Shirt]

Could never be satisfied with minimal fire arms------no NEVER! I can't even be satisfied with the one accurate load for each centerfire that I own, and have to keep trying for something more accurate! NEVER! Hurts my mind to even think of minimal firearms.

1Shirt!

[40-82 hiker]

Limitations of money and body have required me to stop loading various different calibers/rifles (can't sit/stand to cast and reload as much anymore, but have lead, primers, and powder to keep me going for the ones I still shoot). My old .45-70s are still going! I very much like that cartridge, but can't tell you why. ?? Really can't... I just like it. Can't tell you why I like Wild Turkey better than Jack Black, but I do. ? Just can't buy it anymore. [smilie=b: I pared down, but kept the guns I no longer shoot, though that is about to change. Need to move one along... :sad: If you don't need the money, just give them a rest and see how you feel in a year. ? If you need to sell, sell something to a friend with a condition you can buy back. ? I've done that, and did.

[MBTcustom]

The Marlin 45-70 is not a mistake. It is in my "Top III" list as one of the most effective rifles of all time for the price and weight.

[starmac]

If my wife or the "state" limited me to one lever action, it would def. be my Marlin 45/70 Cowboy.

If my wife limited me to one, she would be someone elses problem, as far as the state goes, what they don't know won't kill them.

[rickys2]

Hunting and shooting is like playing golf..... you can't use one club. [smilie=p: