44/70 or M1a

J

JamesA

New member
Wife gave me the go for either a 44/70 or an m1a. I have shot the m14's quite a bit and still marvel at their accuracy. I am not all that familiar with the 44/70 but I am a nostelga nut..Can anyone tell me the merits of owning a 44/70, costs of ammo, ect..thanks
 
My first question is what you would like to use the rifle for.

The 45-70 has a cool nostalga factor. I think factory ammo is pricey, but handloading will get that down.

I would like to have one "just to have", but if I could only have one, I would stick with my M1A.
 
If you`re not worried about price, there is no comparison. Get a M1A. They`re amazingly accurate, reliable, and if you want to shoot alot, cheap, there is surplus military ammo.
 
It's personal preference.

Either one will work for target shooting or hunting. Of course hunting with a scope is easier and you could mount a scope on a 45-70. So it's basically up to you.

As mentioned you really should reload for the 45-70. You will also be limiting yourself to about 200 yards for hunting but target shooting out to 1000 yards. This is because the target distants is a known factor.

Why not get both? I've been waiting for my Shiloh Sharps 45-70 since June of 1997. But I have a lot of fun with my M1A.
 
The 45/70 and the M1A are different beasts.. big and slow vs. smaller and faster. Both will work for target shooting (Even 1000 yds!), and for medium game. The 45/70 will have a large edge on big/dangerous game, though.

So, you should get 'em both. :D
 
I faced a similar decision. Lever action or AK. The folks at the "art of the rifle" forum said "get the AK, you can get a lever-action any time".

I'm telling you the same thing. You have the spousal ticket to acquire one for now. Make it the one that might be harder to get down the road, either for financial, political, or supply reasons.

Get the M1A.
 
I have both. I bought the Marlin 1895G to have a politically correct patrol rifle in my work car. I later acquired a M1A because I always wanted one and feared they would soon become not politically correct in the PDRK.
 
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