In this guide, we’ll explore some of the best scope for 45-70 recommendations, focusing on durability, clarity, magnification, and overall performance to help you make an informed decision and elevate your shooting experience.
When it comes to optimizing the performance of a 45-70 rifle, choosing the right scope is crucial. The 45-70 cartridge, known for its powerful performance and historical significance, demands optics that can handle its robust recoil and deliver precise accuracy at varying ranges.
Whether you’re a hunter looking to take down big game or a shooter interested in honing your skills at the range, the right scope can make a significant difference. We’ve put together a list of top six scopes that match perfectly with this formidable cartridge. Let’s take a look.
Best Scopes for 45-70
1) Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32mm Riflescope
The Vortex Crossfire II 2-7x32mm Riflescope stands out as an exceptional choice for the 45-70, offering a perfect blend of durability, precision, and user-friendly features. It is made from lightweight yet durable aluminum which means the scope is designed for rugged use, ensuring it can withstand the powerful recoil of the 45-70 cartridge.
One of the key features of the Vortex Crossfire II is its Dead-Hold BDC reticle, which comes with .01 mil increments. This reticle allows for precise aiming at various distances, making it ideal for both hunting and target shooting. Whether you’re aiming at close or long-range targets, the reticle ensures accuracy and consistency.
The scope also boasts an extra-wide field of view, offering 12.6 feet at 100 yards. This allows you to see more of your surroundings, providing a significant advantage when tracking moving targets or scanning the terrain.
With its fast focus eyepiece, the Vortex Crossfire II ensures quick and easy focusing. The 3.9 to 4.7 inches of eye relief provides comfortable and fast targeting, even when using high-recoil ammunition like the 45-70.
Additionally, this riflescope is both waterproof and fogproof. The O-ring seal ensures that no moisture can penetrate the scope, while the fog-dispersing lens maintains clear visibility in all weather conditions. This makes the Vortex Crossfire II reliable and effective, regardless of the environment you’re shooting in.
Specifications
- Magnification: 2-7x
- Objective lens size: 32mm
- Eye Relief: 3.9 to 4.2 inches
- Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC
- Finish: Anodized
- Weight: 14.3 oz
- Material: Aircraft-grade aluminum
- Optical Coating: Fully multi-coated
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fogproof: Yes
- Shockproof: Yes
- Parallax: 100 yards
- Tube Diameter: 1 inch
Pros
- Very clear glass
- Tough as nails
- Easy to use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Non-illuminated
2) Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Riflescope
The Leupold VX-Freedom 3-9x40mm Riflescope is another outstanding choice for the best scopes for 45-70, offering exceptional quality and performance tailored for the demands of this powerful cartridge. With its Duplex CDS reticle and matte finish, this scope is designed for versatility and durability, making it ideal for hunters and shooters alike.
6061-T6 aircraft-quality aluminum is the material for construction implying the VX-Freedom is built to endure. It has been punisher tested to ensure it can withstand the harshest recoil, guaranteeing a lifetime of reliable performance. This rugged construction, combined with 100% waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof features, ensures that the scope remains functional and dependable in any weather condition or shooting environment.
The scope’s Duplex CDS reticle provides precise aiming points, enhancing accuracy at various ranges. The Twilight Light Management System adds up to 10 extra minutes of shooting light and significantly reduces glare, delivering crisp, clear images even in low-light conditions. This is a vital feature for hunters who often find themselves in the field during dawn or dusk.
Precision 1/4 MOA finger click adjustments for windage and elevation allow for quick and accurate modifications, ensuring your shots are always on target. These adjustments are user-friendly and provide a tactile response, making it easy to fine-tune your aim without losing focus on the target.
Specifications
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective lens size: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3.7 to 4.2 inches
- Reticle: Duplex CDS
- Finish: Matte
- Weight: 12.2 oz
- Material: 6061-T6 aluminum
- Optical Coating: Twilight Light Management System
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fogproof: Yes
- Shockproof: Yes
- Parallax: Fixed
- Tube Diameter: 1 inch
- Adjustment Type: MOA
Pros
- Low price
- Superior quality
- Clear lens
- Easy controls
Cons
- No adjustable objective
3) Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm Riflescope
The Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm Riflescope is a superb choice for the 45-70, offering a combination of durability, precision, and advanced features that make it ideal for a range of shooting applications. This riflescope is designed to handle the robust recoil of the 45-70 Government cartridge while providing clear and accurate sighting.
Key features of the Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40mm include its fully multi-coated lenses, which enhance light transmission for bright, clear images even in low-light conditions. The second focal plane reticle maintains the same size appearance across all magnifications, ensuring precise aiming at any zoom level.
The scope features a one-inch, single-piece tube made from aircraft-grade aluminum, providing superior strength and durability. This construction ensures that the scope is waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, making it reliable in any weather conditions or shooting environments. The hard anodized finish adds an extra layer of durability and helps to reduce glare.
The capped reset turrets allow for quick re-indexing of the turret to zero after sighting in the scope. These turrets provide precise and reliable windage and elevation adjustments, making it easy to stay on target. The adjustable objective allows for parallax removal and improved focus on your target, enhancing accuracy.
Additionally, the fast-focus eyepiece ensures quick and easy reticle focusing, allowing you to acquire your target rapidly and accurately. This feature is particularly beneficial when dealing with fast-moving game or in dynamic shooting situations.
All these features features cement the Crossfire II as one of the best scopes for 45-70.
Specifications
- Magnification: 3-9x
- Objective lens size: 40mm
- Eye Relief: 3.8 to 4.4 inches
- Finish: Hard anodized
- Weight: 15 oz
- Material: Aircraft-grade aluminum
- Optical Coating: Fully Multi-Coated
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fogproof: Yes
- Shockproof: Yes
- Parallax: 100 yards
- Tube Diameter: 1 inch
- Adjustment Type: MOA
- Adjustment Range: 60 MOA
Pros
- Well-built for longevity
- Very clear optics
- Easy to zero
- Great eye relief
Cons
- Lacks illumination capabilities
4) Sig Sauer Whiskey3 2-7x32mm Riflescope
The Sig Sauer Whiskey3 2-7x32mm Riflescope is a top-tier option for the 45-70, designed to deliver exceptional performance and reliability. This riflescope integrates advanced optical features with a robust construction, making it an excellent choice for hunters and shooters who demand the best from their equipment.
The Whiskey3 features low-dispersion glass, which significantly enhances clarity and color fidelity, ensuring that you get a sharp, clear image of your target. This is crucial for accurate shot placement, especially when dealing with the powerful 45-70 Government cartridge. The fully multi-coated lenses further improve light transmission, providing bright and vivid images even in low-light conditions.
As one of the best scopes for 45-70, it is designed to withstand harsh environments and the heavy recoil associated with the 45-70. The scope is both waterproof and fogproof, ensuring that it remains reliable and functional in any weather condition.
This durability is complemented by the capped elevation and windage turrets, which protect the adjustments from the elements and accidental changes, ensuring consistent performance in the field.
The European-style eyepiece on this contender for the best scopes for 45-70 allows for smooth and precise reticle focusing, making target acquisition quick and easy.
Specifications
- Magnification: 2-7x
- Objective lens size: 32mm
- Eye Relief: 3.5 inches
- Finish: Matte
- Lens Material: Glass
- Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fogproof: Yes
- Shockproof: Yes
- Parallax: 100 yards
- Tube Diameter: 1 inch
- Adjustment Type: MOA
- Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
Pros
- Excellent clarity
- Smooth zoom adjustments
- Good eye relief
- Light
Cons
- Small field of view
5) Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24mm Riflescope
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8x24mm Riflescope offers a range of advanced features designed to enhance your shooting experience. This scope combines high-quality optics with rugged durability, making it ideal for hunters and shooters who demand the best from their equipment.
One of the standout features of the Strike Eagle is its XD Lens Elements. These extra-low dispersion glass elements increase resolution and color fidelity, resulting in crisp, sharp images. The fully multi-coated lenses further enhance light transmission, thanks to multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces, ensuring bright and clear visuals even in challenging lighting conditions.
The scope features a second focal plane reticle, which maintains the same ideally-sized appearance regardless of the magnification level. This reticle is designed for precise estimating of range, holdover, and wind drift correction, with listed subtensions that are accurate at the highest magnification.
The glass-etched reticle allows for an intricate reticle design that is protected between two layers of glass, ensuring optimum durability and reliability. Moreover, the illuminated reticle provides precise aiming under low-light conditions, making it easier to acquire targets in dim environments.
The StrikeFire is made for rugged use as it is waterproof, fogproof, and shockproof, ensuring reliable performance in any weather condition. The fast focus eyepiece allows for quick and easy reticle focusing, enabling rapid target acquisition and precise shot placement.
Specifications
- Magnification: 1-8x
- Objective lens size: 24mm
- Eye Relief: 3.5 inches
- Reticle: AR-BDC
- Lens Material: Glass
- Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fogproof: Yes
- Shockproof: Yes
- Parallax: 100 yards
- Tube Diameter: 1 inch
- Adjustment Type: MOA
- Adjustment Range: 140 MOA
Pros
- Mounts fast
- Sight Clarity
- Durability
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Hard to turn zoom ring
6) Leupold VX-3HD 1.5-5x20mm Riflescope
The Leupold VX-3HD is designed with tons of feature to enhance the capabilities of the 45-70. You will not regret spending your hard-earned cash on it.
The first highlight is the Duplex reticle that is one of the most popular reticles in the world, defined by its heavy posts that stand out against cover in low light conditions. This makes it exceptionally easy to acquire targets, even in challenging lighting situations.
The simplicity and effectiveness of the Duplex reticle make it an ideal choice for the 45-70, ensuring that your aim is true whether you’re hunting or target shooting.
One of the standout features of the VX-3HD is the ZeroLock CDS-ZL (Custom Dial System). This innovative system simplifies longer shots by eliminating the need for holdovers or complex ballistic calculations. Instead, it uses a dial customized to your specific gear, allowing you to make precise adjustments quickly and easily, ensuring that your shots are accurate over various distances.
Leupold’s Elite Optical System is another highlight that makes the VX-Freedom one of the best scopes for 45-70. It provides superior light transmission, clarity, and resolution.
The DiamondCoat 2 coating enhances light transmission and offers the highest level of abrasion resistance, ensuring that your lenses remain clear and durable over time. The Xtended Twilight lens system is designed to optimize low-light performance, adding critical minutes of shooting light at dawn and dusk, when game is most active.
In addition to its advanced optical features, the VX-3HD is built to withstand the rigors of the field. It is both waterproof and fogproof, ensuring reliable performance in all weather conditions. The rugged construction ensures that it can handle the heavy recoil of the 45-70, making it a dependable choice for any shooter.
Specifications
- Magnification: 1.5-5x
- Objective lens size: 20mm
- Eye Relief: 3.7 to 4.5 inches
- Lens Material: Glass
- Reticle Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane
- Optical Coating: DiamondCoat2
- Material: 6061-T6 aluminum
- Waterproof: Yes
- Fogproof: Yes
- Shockproof: Yes
- Parallax: 100 yards
- Tube Diameter: 1 inch
- Adjustment Type: MOA
- Adjustment Click Value: 1/4 MOA
Pros
- Clear field of view
- Lightweight
- Clear reticle with clear definition
- CDS dial is a plus
Cons
- Not illuminated
Considerations When Choosing the Best Scopes for 45-70
Recoil Resistance
The 45-70 cartridge has substantial recoil, so a scope with a robust build that can withstand heavy recoil is essential.
The best scopes for 45-70 should be specifically rated as shockproof to ensure they can handle the rifle’s recoil without losing zero.
Optical Quality
High-quality, low-dispersion glass will provide clear, sharp images and better color fidelity. Clear glass means more visibility so that you can take down the target accurately without struggling. Fully multi-coated lenses enhance light transmission and reduce glare, which is important for clarity and brightness, especially in low-light conditions.
Magnification Range
A scope’s magnification can be fixed or variable. A versatile magnification range such as 2-7x or 3-9x allows you to adjust for different shooting distances. Higher magnification may not always be necessary for the typical range of a 45-70.
Reticle Type
There are various types of reticle to select from when looking for the best scopes for 45-70. Various reticles include BDC, Duplex, and Mil-dot. A Bullet Drop Compensator reticle helps with longer shots by providing holdover points.
The simplicity and visibility of a duplex reticle are great for quick target acquisition, especially in dense cover or low-light conditions.
Mil-dot reticle is also a great choice for those looking for simplicity.
A scope with an illuminated reticle is a bonus. The illumination is useful for low-light shooting, making it easier to see the reticle against dark backgrounds.
Durability
Durability is crucial when choosing the best scope for a 45-70 because the rifle’s substantial recoil can easily damage or misalign less robust scopes.
A durable scope, typically made from high-quality materials like aircraft-grade aluminum, and rated as shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof, ensures that it can withstand the heavy recoil and harsh field conditions without losing accuracy or functionality.
Investing in a durable scope means it will maintain its performance and reliability over time, providing consistent and precise aiming regardless of the environment or shooting scenario.
Weather Resistance
Outdoor shooting and hunting conditions can vary significantly, and a scope must perform reliably in all environments. A waterproof and fogproof scope ensures that moisture, temperature changes, and physical impacts do not compromise the clarity and accuracy of the optics. This resilience allows hunters and shooters to maintain a clear sight picture and precise aim, regardless of rain, snow, humidity, or rough handling.
Size and Weight
A lighter scope is easier to handle and won’t significantly add to the rifle’s weight, making it more comfortable to carry in the field.
Tube sizes are commonly 1-inch or 30mm; larger tubes can offer more adjustment range and durability but may add weight.
Eye Relief
A longer eye relief like 3.5 inches or more is crucial for avoiding scope eye due to the significant recoil of the 45-70. A generous eye relief ensures that shooters maintain a safe distance between their eye and the scope, mitigating the risk of injury while allowing for comfortable and consistent aiming.
Next Read: 5 Best Scopes for 450 Bushmaster
What Is the Best Sight for a 45-70?
The best sight for a 45-70 combines durability, clarity, and versatility to handle the cartridge’s powerful recoil and deliver precise accuracy.
A high-quality riflescope with features like generous eye relief, rugged construction, and weather resistance is ideal for this caliber.
Optics with a second focal plane reticle and fully multi-coated lenses provide a clear sight picture and accurate aiming points, while an adjustable objective or parallax adjustment enhances precision at varying distances. Additionally, scopes with illuminated reticles offer an advantage in low-light conditions.
Is A Scope Worth It for the 45-70?
Yes, a scope is definitely worth it for the 45-70, as it significantly enhances the rifle’s accuracy and overall performance. Given the 45-70’s considerable recoil and effective range, a high-quality scope provides clear optics, precise aiming, and the ability to make accurate adjustments for bullet drop and windage.
It helps shooters effectively engage targets at longer distances and in varying light conditions, improving both the shooting experience and hunting success.
Investing in a good scope ensures that the powerful capabilities of the 45-70 are fully realized, making it a valuable addition to the rifle for both hunting and shooting enthusiasts.
Conclusion
The right scope will not only withstand the significant recoil of the 45-70 but also provide clear, precise aiming to maximize the rifle’s performance. Features such as generous eye relief, a robust construction, and reliable adjustments are essential for maintaining accuracy and comfort.
We hope this review of the best scopes for 45-70 has been helpful and you have found a scope that suits your needs.