Best Scope for 45-70 Rifles – Top 10 Best 45-70 Scopes Reviews

Even though it was originally designed in 1873, the 45-70 cartridge, and the rifles that fire it, should still be near the top of every big game hunter’s wishlist. This cartridge has lost none of the power or speed that first made it popular among hunters in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Check out the list below to gain knowledge on what scope is the best scope for 45-70 rifles and to get the most out of this hard-hitting caliber.

The stopping power of the 45-70 cartridge is one of the most impressive things about it. Capable of taking down the largest of North American game such as moose and grizzly bears, as well as many African game species, the 45-70 not only serves well as a primary hunting rifle, but it also makes for an ideal guide gun or defensive weapon when trekking through thick brush in bear country.

If you don’t have time for the details, check out the list below for the best rated scopes for 45-70 Rifles:

1. Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope
2. Simmons 3-9x40mm Riflescope
3. Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Riflescope
4. Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24 Riflescope
5. UTG 2-7X44 Scout Riflescope
6. Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm Riflescope
7. Vortex Optics Copperhead 3-9×40 Riflescope
8. Primary Arms Classic Series 1-4×24 SFP Riflescope
9. TRUGLO HuntTec Illuminated Reticle 4x32mm Compact Scope
10. UTG 3.8″ ITA Red/Green CQB Dot Sight

Understanding 45-70 Cartridge

There are several notable attributes of the 45-70 that make it an outstanding cartridge for certain shooting situations. The two main attributes are power and speed.

Power

The original 45-70 cartridge, then called the 45-70-405, used 70 grains of blackpowder to propel a 405 grain bullet at 1350 feet per second (FPS) with 1600 foot pounds of muzzle energy. Keep in mind that the original 45-70 cartridge debuted in 1873 and you can see why it quickly gained so much popularity.

Thanks to modern propellants and bullets as well as general advancements in both rifles and cartridge design, today’s 45-70 cartridges are even more impressive.

Let’s take a quick look at the stats of two different modern examples of 45-70 ammunition.

AMMO TYPE	BULLET STYLE	BULLET WEIGHT (GRS.)	VELOCITY (FPS)	MUZZLE ENERGY (FOOT POUNDS)
HSM Ammunition – Bear Lo​ad	Round Nose Flat Point Gas Check	430	1801	3098
Remington – High Performance Rifle	Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point	300	1900	2450

As you can see from the table above, modern day 45-70 loads are very powerful. North American big game hunters can ethically take down any size game with these loads. From the biggest bull moose to the meanest wild hog to the gnarliest grizzly bear, the 45-70 cartridge has the stopping power to get the job done.

Speed

While the 45-70 is nowhere near as fast as some of the flat shooting varmint loads like the 22-250, that doesn’t mean it is slow. For the impressive amount of energy these loads carry, pushing 2000 FPS is still blazing fast. This is especially true for the ranges that this round excels at.

A 45-70 lever action rifle firing modern loads is best used for shots on game within 200 yards. Longer shots can certainly still be done relatively accurately, but those are best left to target shooters and not ethical hunters.

Range

The more limited effective range of the 45-70 might seem like a negative, but it was simply never designed as a long range hunting weapon. The main reason for this is the bullet drop that comes along with the speed of the bullets and the low ballistic coefficient carried by bullets of this size. In other words, the trajectory of the 45-70 round is very steep.

For example, the Remington round mentioned in the table above drops 33.8 inches from 200 yards to 300 yards! That is almost three feet of drop in a 100 yard span. There are just too many things that can go wrong with that type of bullet drops that ethical hunters will keep their shots at 200 yards or below.

Despite the relative range limitation, a rifle chambered in 45-70 particularly excels at two things.

Brush Gun

There may not be a better or more effective brush gun than a lever action rifle chambered in 45-70. The weight and energy of a 45-70 bullet delivers the deep penetration and devastating power required on tough game at the ranges usually encountered while hunting in heavy brush. However, the lower speed of a 45-70 load also prevents destroyed meat on thinner skinned targets such as whitetail deer.

Lever action rifles, which the 45-70 is typically used for, provide the fast follow up shots and fast target acquisition that hunting in thick brush can also sometimes require.

Guide Gun

A 45-70 rifle also makes an excellent guide gun. Its combination of stopping power, fast follow up shots, and easy handling allow for accurate shots when a dangerous situation arises.

A guide gun is a firearm intended to stop dangerous game at close ranges if the need arises while on a hunt. Typically carried by a hunting guide, a guide gun is usually of a large caliber, equipped with open sights or red dot sights, has short barrel length, and is easy to handle.

The use of a 45-70 rifle, such as a 45-70 Marlin lever action or a 45-70 Henry lever action, as a guide gun is very popular amongst guides in Alaska and North America. However, they also make for great guide guns in the thick brush of the African wilderness and any other locations with dangerous game in the area.

With all that being said, let’s talk about scopes for a minute before getting into the list.

Considering the best range to use the 45-70 cartridge at, you won’t need a scope with a lot of magnification. This is especially true if you plan to use it as a guide gun. In fact, a 45-70 guide gun would be better off with no magnification in order to keep target acquisition of potentially wounded or aggressive game as fast as possible. High light transmission rates and illuminated reticles are also important things to look for in a 45-70 scope. The thick brush the 45-70 excels in can give hunters more challenging lighting conditions so it is key to have a scope that can gather any light that is available.

Keep reading to help you decide on the best scope for 45-70 rifles and your specific shooting needs.

Best Scope for 45-70 Rifles on the Market Reviews

 1   Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope

The Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint 2.5-10x56mm Riflescope is a perfect match for 45-70 lever action rifles. You won’t have to worry about changing batteries or not being able to see your reticle in low light conditions with this scope. Fiber optic technology automatically adjusts the brightness of the illuminated center dot in the reticle to the current light conditions and the tritium lamp illuminates the dot without the need for batteries or circuitry.

This extremely rugged scope is built to last with an aircraft grade aluminum housing and features a low profile design. With fully multi-coated optics, zero forward light emission from the tritium lamp, and a standard duplex reticle, the Trijicon TR22 AccuPoint is right at home on top of any 45-70 rifle.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Standard Duplex with Illuminated Center Dot	2.8” to 4.1”	20.7 oz.

 2   Simmons 3-9x40mm Riflescope

For the budget minded shooter, the Simmons 3-9x40mm Riflescope is a decent option. The fully multi-coated lenses offer a bright sight picture for accurate shooting in dim light while the exposed, knurled turrets allow for precise adjustments to windage and elevation.

The magnification range on this scope is ideal for the sub-200 yard shots that the 45-70 load excels at. The Simmons 3-9x40mm Riflescope is 100% waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof for reliable performance in all conditions.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Truplex	3.75”	10.0 oz.

 3   Vortex Optics Strike Eagle Riflescope

The Strike Eagle scope from Vortex Optics is built with speed and versatility in mind. With a true 1x level of magnification on the low end, close range and point blank targets can be engaged with ease. If an injured hog is charging, the Strike Eagle will help you deliver a bone-crushing 45-70 round on target.

The illuminated BDC3 reticle pairs exceedingly well with the 45-70 round. It features a design that quickly focuses the shooter’s eye on the target and powerful illumination that performs well in any lighting conditions. The magnification throw lever gives shooters the power to quickly adjust their zoom with the flick of a finger and the fast focus eyepiece keeps the sight picture clear. Built to last with a 30mm main tube and one piece construction, the Strike Eagle is waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Illuminated BDC3	3.5”	18.5 oz.

 4   Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24 Riflescope

The Athlon Talos BTR 1-4×24 Riflescope strikes a great balance between guide gun and brush gun scope. The 1x magnification makes it easy to engage nearby targets while the 4x magnification level offers enough power to make most shots in thick brush.

With up to 6.26” of eye relief, this scope can also be mounted farther forward on the gun to allow for shooting with both eyes open. This is important because it preserves your peripheral vision so you can stay aware of your surroundings while shooting. The Athlon Talos features single piece construction and is heat treated for extra durability.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Illuminated AHSR14 SFP IR MIL	3.5” – 6.26”	18.0 oz.

 5   UTG 2-7X44 Scout Riflescope

A scout rifle scope is an ideal match for a 45-70 lever action rifle, and the 2-7×44 Scout Riflescope from UTG is an excellent option. Built on UTG’s True Strength Platform, this scope can easily handle rough conditions and heavy recoil without missing a beat.

Waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, this scope also has great light transmission with a 30mm main tube and a 44mm objective lens. The illuminated Mil-Dot reticle is glass etched and allows for range estimation and the side-mounted parallax adjustment keeps the reticle sharp and in focus.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Illuminated Mil-Dot	9.5” – 11”	25.4 oz.

 6   Leupold FX-II Ultralight 2.5x20mm Riflescope

The Leupold name conjures confidence in shooters and hunters across the world thanks to their decades long reputation for building outstanding optics. The FX-II Ultralight stays true to that reputation and is right at home on any 45-70 rifle. The 2.5x magnification is ideal for accurately engaging close range targets in thick brush.

With Leupold’s Twilight Max Management System, the FX-II offers optimal low light performance. Shadows gather a lot faster in heavy cover and having the confidence to gain a sight picture in low light is vital. The Leupold FX-II Ultralight delivers on all fronts.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Wide Duplex	4.9”	6.5 oz.

 7   Vortex Optics Copperhead 3-9×40 Riflescope

The Vortex Optics Copperhead 3-9×40 Riflescope is a solid, budget option for any 45-70 hunting rifle or brush gun. With features common in higher end scopes, such as single piece construction, anti-reflective glass coatings, and a locking diopter, this scope is a great value.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Dead-Hold BDC	3.8”	14.8 oz.

 8   Primary Arms Classic Series 1-4×24 SFP Riflescope

If you are in the market for an affordable 45-70 guide gun scope, look no further than the Classic Series from Primary Arms. This 1-4×24 scope features a duplex dot reticle. The center dot illuminates in red and makes it easier to center on both stationary and moving targets.

With 4.9 inches of eye relief on the 1x magnification level, this scope is comfortable to shoot. With excellent light transmission for its objective diameter size, the Classic Series will perform well in low light conditions.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Duplex Dot	3.5” – 4.9”	17.0 oz.

 9   TRUGLO HuntTec Illuminated Reticle 4x32mm Compact Scope

The HuntTec from TRUGLO is another good option for the budget minded hunter or shooter. With a fixed magnification of 4x, this scope is ideal for hunting deer in thick brush. The illuminated floating cross duplex reticle allows for both precision and accuracy at shots 200 yards and below.

The HuntTec comes with a pair of Weaver style rings for fast mounting right out of the box and is water-resistant and fogproof.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
Illuminated Floating Cross Duplex	4.0”	Not Listed

 10   UTG 3.8″ ITA Red/Green CQB Dot Sight

Whether you are hunting wild hogs in thick brush or backing up clients on a guided hunt, the UTG ITA CQB red dot sight is up to the task. The 4 MOA center dot can be turned to green or red depending on the shooter’s preference and the lighting conditions of the area.

The integral Picatinny mount, emerald lens coating for brightness and clarity, and precise click adjustment increments, the lightweight ITA CQB Dot Sight from UTG is built to last and built to perform when the pressure is on.

RETICLE	EYE RELIEF (IN.)	WEIGHT (OZ.)
4 MOA Red/Green Dot	Infinity	9.4 oz.

Putting It All Together

The 45-70 is a very impressive cartridge. Perfect for big game hunting and as a guide gun load, the 45-70 has the stopping power to take down most big game species including moose and grizzly bear. Although it drops rapidly after about 200 yards, the 45-70 is hard to beat at close range or in thick brush. Look no further than the list above to help you choose the best scope for 45-70 rifles on the market today.