I want a gun that is powerfull enough for hunting moose but is small enough to grab when I go out at 4am to start the generator each morning. I know the Contender can't shoot the heavy stuff like Buffalo Bore makes for Marlin 1895. So I am wondering what commercial loads are about the heaviest and if they would be good enough for moose at 50yds or so? Would love to hear from anyone who has a Contender 45/70, their experiances with it, any hunting stories, pictures recomendations etc.
Thanks,
Josh

I've never owned or fired a TC, so I can't comment on those.

Why not an 1895GS? You'd be surprised at how compact they are, and it's nice to have a few extra rounds in the pipe. I absolutely love mine!

I don't have anything against the Marlin, in fact it is more likely I will get one of those than the Contender. Just that I would really like something pistol sized so it would be easier to carry around the yard when I have to be out late at night.
Pobably I will be getting the stainless Guide Gun but I absolutely love the 1895 Cowboy.

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Well I got the Guide Gun and now I am getting the Contender, it's got a 10" 22 barrel on it now but will have a 45/70 as soon as possible. and probably a 45/410 too particularly if I can find one that is smooth bore instead or rifled.

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Hi: I shoot a T/C carbine with a custom 26" barrel but you might look at Black Hills Cowboy loads, 405 grn fpl, 1250 vel. I know it will be slower but that should still put you in the stout 44mag area for energy & Taylor KO. The other factory load is Remington 405 grn sp (R4570G) 1330 vel. Either load should not exceed that 28,000 cup your looking at for safety.

I think I am going to have to get into reloading so I can make up my own loads light enough to be safe but with hard cast pullets so they penetrate.

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I have been loading for my 22" barreled 45-70 T/C Contender carbine for about 5-6 years now and have found it to be an extremely accurate/versatile fast handling rifle.

Basically I use Level 1 reload data as a starting point and have loaded jacketed & cast 300gr to 430gr bullets.

My load data is locked away in my gun room right now so if/when you get your new barrel send me a pm and I will share my loads.

H322 is my powder of choice for the 45-70.

I have shot the t/c with a 15 inch 45-70 with muzzle tamers and its a handfull
it would drop a moose with a stout load pushing a 420-500 grain bullet.
I also have a 35x444 which is a 444 marlin necked down to 358, I pack a 220 grain bullet over h322 or h4895 and they both heart stoppers.....

Still haven't got a 45-70 barrel but did recently pick up an 8" 357Max, that should be good for caribou, black bear and marginal for moose at close range with 200grn hard cast. I think when I get a 45-70 it'll be a shorty like 8" or so loaded with trailboss powder.

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I have a 14 in 45/70 w/muzzletamer. I have killed 3 deer and 2 boar with it and have had no problems w/it. Used to have the 450 mag in the encore version. I shoot the Hornady leverevolution in 325gr. I really have enjoyed shooting and hntg w/it.

I've be using the T.C.'s for quite a few years ,my son shot a cow with the 45/70 about four or five mile up the Glenn highway from Palmer, he was 14 or 15 at the time,300 gr hard cast, light load ,would have to check the notebook for the load but recoil similar to a 44 mag, bullet broke ribs on both sides and the off side shoulder. We can't be to far from each other soif you would like to try out the 45/70 let me know.love the smell of gunpowder. Alex

aaalaska,
Thanks for the offer, I would love to give that a try. with you having so much more experiance with guns and shooting I doubt I have anything you'd particularly want to try but if you haven't shot an AR or would like to try a Guide Gun with +P 45-70 loads I'd be happy to let you shoot them.
My email is knifemaker@earthlink.net
Josh

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In 1988 while stationed in Maine i was lucky enough to draw a moose permit. While being scoffed at, I had decided to take my moose with a 14" TC in 45/70 and never wavered in my endeavor. I took a handsome bull moose opening day at 87yds using a 400gr cast bullet with 1 shot. It dropped him like a sack of tators. I reload my own shells and practiced with it all summer just to get ready for my hunt. Best dam hunt i've ever had in my life. This is one of my most favorite barrels for the contender. I have over 50 barrels to choose from. My most favorite barrel of all those will always remain the 7TCU.

I have a 16 inch 45-70 with muzzle brake on my G2 Contender. Remington 405 gr soft points are the bullets Ive found that work the best. I tried Hornady 325 gr lever evolutions and their fine-if you dont plan to use your hands for a few days. When I set it up as a carbine its not nearly as bad. Both rounds are accurate.

I have a 14" 45/70, never had the oppertunety to shoot a moose, but have taken several large hogs and deer with it, started with the 405 gr Remingtons...plenty of juice!

The knock down is amazing with this cartridge/ setup using the TC. I don't think there is anything on the north american continent that it couldn't bring down used in the proper hands. I also have a 444 marlin which is pretty awesome too but i don't think it can compete with the 45/70 when it comes to knock down of big critters. I was even amazed at what it'll do to a bowling balls using 300gr hollow points.....what a hoot that was.

JD Jones of SSK says its the best 150 yard sledghammer, period... I read that somewhere years ago..

JD is about as knowledgeable as they come reguarding the TC and i have no doubts in my mind that he is 100% correct in his estimation of the power of the 45/70 contender. If you don't wanna be a believer......just shoot one sometime and you will be.

Oh, I have one... and I am a believer...

My buddy here where i live raises a couple hundred head of buffalo......he said i could shoot one if i was of a mind too, so I think i'm going to give mine another real good test. Buffalos are MONSTERS. I'm debating on if maybe i should use a 500gr bullet instead of my result proven 400gr'er. I've shot the 500gr and man does it hurt.

As I said a couple years ago I have a 22" 45-70 barrel I now load only 325gr Hornady FTX @ 1850fps I would not hesitate to shoot a moose @ 200 yards with this combo but I now also have a 21" barreled 375JDJ and load 260gr Accubonds @ 2280fps = 300 yard moose combo...

Well.....i'm looking at what is going to take a Buffalo at 50 to 75yds and put it down hard using my 14" TC in 45/70. I perfer the up close and personal approach myself.

I don't know about the buffalo, its just going to stand there and look at you.. kind of like shooting a cow....

I grabbed the horn of a huge bull once (28 years ago) it was on the other side of a fence it didn't like it... I'm not planning on doing that again...

HAHAHA......i wanna see you walk out on the praire alone and get within 50 to 75yd's and shoot one that you think is going to just stand there and wait for you to shoot it cause i think you got a rude awaking coming my friend......shoot well or run like hell cause it'll surely out run you.