Worth scoping a .45-70??
I have a Marlin .45-70, I thought I may use it for deer this season. What is the effective range and is it worth putting a scope on it, or should I just use it as a short range gun?
Depends on the loads. 300 gr. Shoots flat to 150.
I had a “scout scope” rig once. Fixed 2.5x. It helped me see things in the shadows, log or hog type of thing. I think you’d like it on that platform. I have a Sharps that I shoot 500 gr. BP eleven loads. Those are about like a 12 ga. Shotgun slug. Past 100 yds if you misjudge range by 20-25 yds you might miss a small deer. Like mortar fire! But it would not really benefit from a scope.
Depends on the loading and platform. But generally speaking optics give a visual advantage.
In most cases a low power scope will help you find
a hole thru the brush. On one of our Africa hunts I built a special 458 based on a Remington 700 action for Colleen with a 4X scope on it and built a 416 Remington on a Sako with a Leupold 1.5X4 for Kase and built a BRNO in 416 Rigby with a Leupold 1.5X4 Burris for myself but I think Kase shot it a lot more than I ever did. He had the hots for anything 416. I have built several short rifles for myself for Africa but they never ending up being shot in Africa. The only exception I can think of was a Ruger #1 in 470 Nitro that I used on monkeys.
The top gun is the BRNO in 416 Rigby and the bottom gun is Colleen's 458.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025031020344467cf4ce42d3ef.jpg)
The next gun was a Browning BAR we built for Kase in 416 Taylor. He used it with iron sights.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025031020400367cf4e2328d12.jpg)
Winchester 94 Scout
I put in a couple of bids on this but didn't get it. 1952 Winchester 94 with Redfield mount and Redfield 2x.
![[image]](images/uploaded/2025031218151567d1cf3372be1.jpg)