Top 11 Best Scope for 45-70 Rifles 2024 [Buying Guide]

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Most people believe rifles chambered in .45-70 Government do not need a scope. Here at Hunting Mark, we disagree and if you’re here, chances are you do too.

best scope for 45-70

Henry All-Weather With Skinner Sights Scope Mount.

Before we get into the scope for the 45-70, let's look at why it could use a scope. Then we’ll talk about what to look for in a scope as well as some specific recommendations for you to look over as you hunt for that perfect scope for your trusty .45-70.

A Brief (But Important) Background on The .45-70 Rifle

In order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been, or so they say. With that in mind, let’s talk about the .45-70 in general, and what that means for our scope choices.

When people talk about long-range shooting, the venerated (OK, more like old) .45-70 Government rarely comes to mind for most people.

However, those who know their gun history know that the .45-70 was actually one of the first long-range rounds, uh, around. 

best scope for marlin 45 70

Way back in 1879, the US Government conducted the Sandy Hook Tests where they took early .45-70 cartridges to the range, shooting the black powder round at 2,500 yards with iron sights and hitting the target.

Now, keep in mind this was intended to be a volley-fire weapon at the time, so it was basically fired like a mortar at an extreme angle. Reasonable aimed fire was only really good for a little over 200 yards.

With today's modern powders, projectiles with improved ballistic coefficients can reach out even further of course, provided you use the scope for a .45 70 and a longer barrel.

As most modern 45-70 "Gummint" rifles are carbines with barrels under 20 inches, reaching a mile is impractical. Also, you have to aim about ten feet over the target to get there. 

While the idea of a volley-fire gun like the Martini-Henry never really caught on in the US, the .45-70 gained a huge following with big game hunters, particularly out west. 

While long-range fire with the .45-70 isn’t super practical, it is absolutely phenomenal at putting down game animals inside 200 yards, even very large game like buffalo

Modern .45-70 rounds loaded hot with monolithic bullets are thoroughly capable of taking any game animal on the planet, including Africa's Big 5.

45 70 scope

To all my fellow hunters, a word of caution: If you intend to shoot dangerous game rounds in a .45-70, make sure you are using a modern rifle capable of handling it, like the Ruger No. 1, or a modern rifle like the Henry Big Boy or Marlin 1895. Using the Leupold VX-Freedom, which is considered the best scope for the Henry Big Boy 44 Magnum rifle, can help improve accuracy and increase the effective range of the rifle, making it easier to hit targets at longer distances or in low light conditions.

Older .45-70s, especially the Springfield trapdoors, simply cannot handle the pressures created by the hot round and will turn into a hand grenade right in front of your face.

Things to Look For in A Good Scope for .45-70 - Buyer's Perspective

Since most people shoot this time-tested round in a carbine, we will focus on, but not limit, discussion to scopes for the shorter barreled rifles. 

The best scopes for .45-70 in this case are low power. You just don't need high magnification shooting out to 150 yards, which is where the .45-70 excels. 

Other key points to consider are:

Long  Eye Relief

A 400-500 grain bullet moving at 1,200 FPS  generates a lot of recoil. Make sure you have enough eye relief to avoid scope-eye (the technical term for when the eyepiece of your rifle scope smacks you in the face).

45-70 scope

Right to left: .308 Win, .45-70, and .444 Marlin.

A long eye relief keeps you from having to deal with this, and the ensuing laughter from your buddies as you explain what happened.

Solid, High-Quality Construction

As noted, the .45-70 has some punch on both ends. The best scope for a 45-70 can handle the recoil. A low-quality scope can lose zero very quickly here.

Simple Reticle

The best scope for a 45/70 won't have a mil-dot reticle, BDC reticle hash marks, or a lot of other stuff. A plain duplex reticle is entirely enough. The one exception would be if you really want a bullet drop compensator for long range shots, but it’s extremely hard to find a BDC for this caliber.

A carbine .45-70 is not a tactical tack driver. If you can put every shot in the magazine tube in a small pie plate at 100 yards, that's considered acceptable accuracy by many lever action shooters, and is more than good enough for hunting. 

Low Magnification Range

Simply put, .45-70 is best used as a short-range round. After 300 yards, you’re basically firing artillery and hoping for a hit. At close range though, this is a devastating round that can anchor game animals with authority.

Many people use .45-70 for big game hunting and dangerous game as well, from wild hogs on up to large bears and even buffalo, and if that’s the case, you definitely want a low magnification for faster target acquisition.

Trust me, when that angry bear you didn’t see stands up out of the brush and charges, you don’t want a super high magnification to deal with. You want a nice, quick scope with low or no magnification so you can find the target quickly (before it finds you).

Out of all the scopes we tested, these are the ones we had the most success with on .45-70 rifles.

PRODUCT

DETAILS

Products

Vortex Optics Crossfire

Vortex-Optics-Viper

Vortex Optics Crossfire II

  • Magnification: 2 - 7 x
  • Diameter: 32 mm
  • Fog proof
  • Material: Aircraft Grade Aluminum

Leapers UTG BugBuster

UTG-BugBuster

Leapers UTG BugBuster

  • Magnification: 3-9X
  • Diameter: 32mm
  • fog proof
  • Weight: 0.87 Pounds

Leupold VX-Freedom

Leupold VX

Leupold VX-Freedom

  • Magnification: 3-9x
  • Diameter: 40mm
  • Weight: 12.2 oz

Primary Arms Classic Series

Primary Arms

Primary Arms Classic Series

  • Magnification: 1-4x
  • Diameter: 24mm
  • Weight: 16.7 Oz

EOTech EXPS2 Holographic

EOTECH-EXPS2

EOTech EXPS2 Holographic

  • Magnification: 1 x
  • Diameter: 0.85 in
  • Weight: 11.2 oz

Aimpoint ACRO P-1 Red Dot Sight

Aimpoint-ACRO

Aimpoint ACRO P-1 Red Dot Sight

  • Magnification: 1 x
  • MOA: 3.5 MOA
  • Weight: 2.1 oz

Sig Sauer Romeo Red Dot

Sig-Sauer-Romeo

Sig Sauer Romeo Red Dot

  • Magnification: 1 x
  • Diameter: 24 mm
  • Weight:0.4 oz

Vortex Razor Red Dot Reflex

Vortex-Razor-Red-Dot-Reflex

Vortex Razor Red Dot Reflex

  • Magnification: 1 x
  • Battery Type: CR2032
  • Weight: 1.4 oz

Trijicon RMR Type 2 Adjustable

Trijicon RMR Type 2 Adjustable

  • Magnification: 1 x
  • Battery Type: CR2032
  • Weight: 1.2 oz

ATN ThOR 4 384 Thermal Smart HD

ATN

ATN ThOR 4 384 Thermal Smart HD

  • Magnification: 1.25 - 5 x
  • Diameter: 19 mm
  • Weight: 4.4 Pounds

ATN X-Sight II Day/Night Vision

ATN X-Sight II HD 5-20

ATN X-Sight II Day/Night Vision

  • Magnification: 5-20x
  • Diameter: 85mm
  • Weight: 4.4 Pounds

Best Scope For 45-70 [Top 11 Scopes]

1. Vortex Optics Crossfire II - Rimfire Optic

Vortex Optics lists the Crossfire II 2-7x32 as primarily a rimfire optic, and when you look at the three available reticle choices, you’ll understand why. 

best scope for lever action 45 70

The Crossfire II Scout Scope is perfect for the Marlin 1895 or Henry Big Boy.

The crosshairs are simple and the holdover marks are meant for shooting at 100 yards or less. That is ideal for the .45-70, which has a trajectory surprisingly similar to a .22 long rifle bullet. Some people will say that this being a rimfire scope, it won't hold up to the .45-70 recoil.

Don’t listen to them. It will. It’s just about shockproof, in fact.

After sighting this one in, you can rest assured that your zero will remain spot on for a very long while, so no blaming your misses on the scope (we’ve all been there).

It’s a second focal plane optic with a one-inch, aircraft-grade aluminum tube. Being an SFP rifle scope, the size of the reticle won’t change as you change the magnification, which is perfect for the simple duplex reticle.

It offers 60 MOA of elevation adjustments in 1/4 MOA clicks. You'll get a 42-foot field of view (FOV) at 100 yards. That's not a lot, but it is plenty when you are putting the crosshairs on a deer at 100 yards.

The objective lens is a hefty 32mm which helps with light transmission, making those late afternoon and early morning shots in low light conditions much easier. 

Further aiding your shooting in sub-par lighting conditions is the multicoated objective lens system, which helps the lenses shed water and transmit light more effectively, and the built-in sunshade to cut glare in bright light. Vortex Optics Crossfire II, is the best scope for marlin 1895 sbl.

Finally, it is nitrogen-purged with excellent o-rings making it just about fog proof, no matter the weather conditions.

Vortex Optics Crossfire II

Vortex Optics Crossfire II

The price of Vortex Optics Crossfire II varies, so check the latest price at

2. Leapers UTG BugBuster 3-9x32 scope

Next we have the Leapers UTG BugBuster 3-9x32 scope

marlin 1895 scope

This excellent little optic offers a ton of benefits for a very affordable price.

This one-inch tube compact scope was designed for shotguns, which makes it a good option for .45-70 as well. 

Quality shotguns scopes can certainly pull double duty atop a .45-70 because shotgun slugs and .45-70 bullets have similar trajectories. The BugBuster is a second focal plane scope with a 32mm bell. The field of view at 100 yards is 37.7 feet at 9x.

The mil-dot illuminated reticle lights up red or green, and since this is designed for shotguns, the mil dots will line up pretty well for the big pills coming out of a .45-70 rifle. 

For those who like to push the envelope, this rifle scope should be enough to take your shooting to 300 yards in a carbine. Don't worry about terminal performance at that distance. Loaded properly with good bullet placement, the .45-70 is thoroughly lethal three football fields away.

Leapers UTG BugBuster

Leapers UTG BugBuster

The price of Leapers UTG BugBuster varies, so check the latest price at

Want to know how that scope works? Check out our detailed UTG bug buster 3-9 x 32mm review

3. Leupold VX-Freedom - Best Scope For Lever Action 45 70

Leupold's VX-Freedom is one of the best scopes for .45 70 rifles because Leupold is just one of the very best scopes for any firearm, period. This is a company that is legendary for making some of the toughest optics on the planet.

marlin 45 70 scope

The worst part about this optic is that it’s hard to find in stock sometimes.

The 40 mm bell delivers more light gathering ability than the Vortex. It also has Leupold’s Twilight Max Management coating, which gives it the edge over scopes like the Bushnell Banner Dusk & Dawn series for low-light shooting.

The FOV is 35.5 feet at 100 yards, no appreciable difference compared to the Vortex. 

The crosshairs are illuminated with several brightness settings as well. This scope offers 1/10th mil adjustments (not MOA adjustments) on windage and elevation, something you want in a rifle that drives tacks at 100 yards, but is a bit overkill for most .45-70 lever action shooting. 

You’re usually not sniping targets at long distances with a .45-70 anyway, and things like resettable tactical turrets aren’t super necessary...but if you do want to reach out and touch something, the option is there.

In a Ruger No. 1, then you want that much adjustment because you can realistically reach 500 yards or more. For a long-barrel .45-70, this is the best scope.

Leupold VX-Freedom

Leupold VX-Freedom

The price of Leupold VX-Freedom varies, so check the latest price at

4. Primary Arms Classic Series 1-4x24mm

This Primary Arms Classic Series 1-4x24mm scope is on the bottom of the list for one reason - the objective bell. 

45-70 bdc scope

At 24mm, this scope simply does not have the light-gathering ability of the scopes ranked higher on this. It is in a 30mm tube, which is better for light transmission than a one-inch tube. The Primary Arms Classic Series still makes the best scope for 45-70  because it is durable, reasonably priced and it works. Some carbine shooters do not want a large front lens because it adds more surface area to the rifle. A small bell is easier to handle in tight quarters.

Click values here are a half-mil. In a tactical rifle, that is not acceptable. In a carbine lever action .45-70, that will always get the job done. The fast-focus eyepiece and the illuminated center dot in the reticle make for some very fast shooting in close quarters, making this matte black rifle scope a great option for brush hunters.

Primary Arms Classic Series

Primary Arms Classic Series

The price of Primary Arms Classic Series varies, so check the latest price at

If you are looking for some other scope with same magnification, then check out our detailed Trijicon accupower 1-4x24mm review.

Red Dots? On MY Lever-Gun? More Likely Than You’d Think

The .45-70 lever carbine just screams for red dot optics. By red dot, I mean the squarish window reflex sight, not a tube.

Why? A really wide field of view, and no tube to sight through means faster, parallax-free shooting. 

In a brush gun, you need something that lets you get on target in a hurry. 

Yes, a 2-mil dot covers a lot of target area at 100 yards, but in a lever-action, you are not after MOA groups anyway.  Plus, you get massive eye relief.

The biggest drawback of these scopes is the battery. Simple solution, change the battery every hunting season. If you use the scope a lot, change the battery every two weeks.

Several years ago, I hunted bear in Canada with a Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70 borrowed from the outfitter. He had a red dot on it. 

When the two bears walked out, I picked the one I wanted, turned on the scope, and gave the sow a 405-grain jacketed hollow point invitation to come home with me. She accepted. The red dot put the bullet exactly where I wanted it, a clean heart shot.

5. EOTech EXPS2 Holographic Weapon Sight

This EOTech EXPS2 is compatible for night vision and comes with a double or single dot, both of which are 2 MOA. Though it is typically an AR optic, it does great on a .45-70 as well.

best red dot sight for marlin 45-70

Sight the top dot in at your preferred distance. Then, shoot with the bottom dot until you find out where it is centered. A good shooter can then bullseye any distance between the two. Click value is 1/2 mil.

This scope does have a front and back lens in the compact square so obtaining a sight picture won't be quite as fast as a single-pane reflex. You will have to be really good to notice the difference though.

This scope has a 600-hour battery life, low compared to others in this list. You should change the battery more often because of that. It is also waterproof, a handy thing if you get caught in the rain.

EOTech EXPS2 Holographic Weapon Sight

EOTech EXPS2 Holographic Sight

The price of EOTech EXPS2 Holographic Weapon Sight varies, so check the latest price at

6. Aimpoint ACRO P-1 Red Dot Sight

The Aimpoint ACRO P-1 is more of a short box than a single glass pane. It's also not quite a tube, so you’re kinda splitting the difference between the two designs. Also, it’s designed for handguns which is honestly a much more recoil-intensive application than the .45-70, believe it or not.

45-70 bdc scope

It is also fully enclosed, which makes it a top choice for hunters who spend a lot of time in the rain. Most other reflex sights do not have this level of waterproofing. 

Unlike some other red dot sights here, this one is night-vision compatible. Check with the night vision manufacturer to make sure you can mate the two.

The dot is 3.5 MOA and the click value is 6/10ths of an inch at 100 yards.

Aimpoint ACRO P-1 Red Dot Sight

Aimpoint ACRO P-1 Red Dot Sight

The price of Aimpoint ACRO P-1 Red Dot Sight varies, so check the latest price at

7. Sig Sauer Romeo Red Dot

Sig is best known for their handguns, and while the Sig Sauer Romeo is designed for handguns, it works equally well on the .45-70 carbine. This scope comes in two versions, one with a 3 MOA dot and one with a 6 MOA dot. Get the 3 MOA dot.

Sig reports the battery, a CR1632, will last for 10 years. Take that with a grain of salt. Maybe several. Maybe the entire shaker of salt. 

Still, that kind of battery life means you should get a whole season out of it. Also, the Romeo has MOTAC (Motion Activated Illumination System). 

When the scope is moved, it comes on. Left idle, it automatically shuts off. This means you don't have to fumble around for the on-off switch when you are watching your target, and won’t kill your battery if you leave it on when you don’t need it.

Sig Sauer Romeo Red Dot

Sig Sauer Romeo Red Dot

The price of Sig Sauer Romeo Red Dot varies, so check the latest price at

8. Vortex Razor Red Dot Reflex

The Vortex Razor Red Dot has a 3-MOA dot, still big for a reflex sight, but half the size of the Trijicon below. 

scope for henry 45-70

It has 1 MOA clicks, which will get you on target at 100 yards, but leaves a lot to the shooter's ability at 200 yards. Vortex says the scope can run for a whole year on a single CR2032 battery. 

Change it for every hunting season anyway. Watch batteries are cheaper than a wasted hunting trip because your optic died on you.

It is designed primarily for a pistol, so the .45-70 won't be a problem. While handgun recoil can be less than in a rifle, the jarring is more significant as the slight reciprocates. Watch videos and see how far and what direction handgun recoil takes compared to that of a long gun.

Vortex Razor Red Dot

Vortex Razor Red Dot Reflex

The price of Vortex Razor Red Dot Reflex varies, so check the latest price at

9. Trijicon RMR Type 2 Adjustable

I am a fan of Trijicon sights. The RMR Type 2 is on the list despite having a monster 6.5 MOA red dot. It's on the list because of the durability, the variety of mounting options, including one that attaches to the top of a traditional scope.

henry 45-70 scope mount

Trijicon RMR on an Agency Arms Glock.

That mount will give you an option for those tense moments when you’re in a hurry, while still allowing you to drop back to the traditional scope to zero in for a long-range shot.

Click value is another huge 1-inch at 100 yards. That so close to being an MOA as makes no difference for this scope on the .45-70. This can be also used as Ruger Mark IV scope.

The dot is meant for CQB shooting, particularly on AR’s and the like, but if you’re using a .45-70 as a bear-defense gun or a close-in brush hunting gun where you’re likely to spook that big boar and only have a short amount of time to line up a shot, that 6.5 MOA dot makes for very fast shooting.

Trijicon RMR Type 2

Trijicon RMR Type 2

The price of Trijicon RMR Type 2 varies, so check the latest price at

A Few Night Vision Options for the .45-70

Given the range of the venerable .45-70 Government, choosing between a quality night vision scope and a good thermal vision scope is not hard. With a decent infrared illuminator, a good night vision scope will display your target at 100 yards. 

Thermal vision can reach out much further. Another huge advantage the thermal has in this configuration is the ability to see through some fog, which means it is fog proof. Traditional night vision just can't.

Check out this article on the best bore sights for accuracy by Cameron Porter.

10. ATN ThOR 4 384 1.25-5x Thermal Smart HD With WiFi, GPS

The ATN ThOR 4 384 1.25-5x Thermal Smart HD scope looks like a traditional scope, except for the box in the middle, but this scope is packed with features like recoil activated recording, WiFi, GPS and a compass among other things.

best 45 70 lever action

It has a 30mm tube, and ATN says the ThOR battery is good for 18 hours, but keep in mind that this is when just using the scope and none of the other features. 

The scope has two models. The more expensive version comes with a laser/illuminator kit.

ATN ThOR 4 384

ATN ThOR 4 384 1.25-5x Thermal Smart

The price of ATN ThOR 4 384 1.25-5x Thermal Smart varies, so check the latest price at

11. ATN X-Sight II Day/Night Vision

If you want a traditional night vision scope, the ATN X-Sight II works in the day and night. This means you can head out late afternoon and start hunting and keep going after the sun goes down. 

marlin 45 70 guide gun

It comes with four batteries, each one with an expected life of six hours. At least in this case, you can charge dead batteries while you hunt, if you are close enough to your vehicle.

This one also has recoiled-activated recording and streaming to other devices. A Smart Range Finder remembers ballistic information you program into the scope. Take aim, two clicks on the scope dials and the crosshairs are zeroed for what you are shooting at, no matter the range. 

Pretty handy for those quick shots on moving targets.

ATN X-Sight II

ATN X-Sight II Day/Night Vision

The price of ATN X-Sight II Day/Night Vision varies, so check the latest price at

Final Thoughts

The .45-70 is a serious caliber for a serious gun. The best scope for .45-70 needs to be able to handle the heavy recoil of this aging, but still popular round. Bullet choices range from 300-grain pills up to 700-grain monsters. 

Recoil on bullets more than 500 grains is certainly stout. You have to be sure your scope can handle that level of punishment if that is what you will shoot. 

The .45-70 is also a superb brush gun. Big scopes will get in the way when you are trying to fight your way through thick vegetation. Short and tight serves better here. 

Your shots will be under 100 yards, likely under 50, so you don’t need a lot of scope. You just need one that will keep a zero and hold up in those field conditions. Each and every scope on this list will do just that.

Which of these .45-70 scopes do you like the best? Is there one that stands out to you? For more scopes like this be sure to check out our best scout scopes and best varmint scopes as well. If you are looking for a scope to add on your lever action rifle then must check out our guide on best scopes for marlin 336.

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