A Little 45-70 testing

S

STIHL

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, been a while since I’ve been around. Work has been insane this year, and I’ve been traveling quite a bit and that leaves little to no time to shoot, much less load or cast anything. I bought an 1895 Marlin trapper about 4-5 months back and finally got around to shooting it 3-4 weeks back. This rifle isn’t for the faint of hearts with jacketed factory ammo, kicks like a mule. Got to looking through my load books and decided to put this jug of SR4759 to some good use and sized some 457-193 and 457-122HP I had cast last winter to .458 and loaded a few up to try. Settled on a good start load of 27 gr. For the 193 and 30gr for the 122 and loaded 10 of each to test out. A little backstory before I get to far into this. Originally I wanted to use it with the iron sights, but my eyes do not like them and they are far from accurate in my opinion so I bought me a little 2-7x33 and mounted on it. This happened prior to my testing my cast loads. I took it out 2 weeks back and did an initial test and 0 I hadn’t held out much hope for any serious accuracy I was more interested in recoil. The recoil has been tamed with the reduced loads and cast bullets. The loads showed some decent accuracy on steel at 100 so I decided to put them on paper today. Man was I surprised at how accurate the little rifle and load combo were. Shot 3, 3 round strings with the 193 and sent 1, 4 shot group of the 122 down range. The accuracy is amazing in my opinion for a little stubby rifle in 45-70. I was quite happy with and think this is one I just leave be and enjoy shooting it. I moved my scope up between the 1st two groups and the last two. All 4 targets were at 100yards.

Good cold day at my range today. Now to head to the deer woods and spend some time in the peace and quiet.
 

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Brad

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My Marlin 45-70 will do 1.5” for 5 at 100 all day long. Kinda boring to load for actually, almost everything shoots well.
 
S

STIHL

Well-Known Member
I was surprised. I figured it would be decent, but nothing close to that. I wasn’t real happy with the rifle to begin with. I actually wanted the long 1895 and still will probably buy one if I ever find one on the shelf. Anyway I saw this one and was like why not I’ll try it. Be a neat little rifle to put a suppressor on. Except the direct thread mounts are back ordered right now. It’s an accurate little gun for sure. I may decide to try it out on a deer This season with one of those 122HP. Most of my shots are 100 yards or less.

I bet 5 shots would do about the same, I’m going to find out if they will or not. Got to load me some more up. If I keep on I’m going to need to fire the pot up and cast me a couple hundred more of each. Think I’ve got 75-100 left.
 
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Michael

Michael

Active Member. Uh/What
45-70 boring... then you need to use more powder, a case full of H335 has frequently relieved any lack of excitement IME.
 
Michael

Michael

Active Member. Uh/What
That is one of the things I enjoy most about the 45-70, a simple change in the powder type and it can be a little pussy cat, a total beast, or anywhere in between depending upon one's mood, intended game or to put people in their proper place. Case in point, a good friend of mine once a had No 1 Tropical in 458 Lott that shot cast really really well, wish I would of bought it. Anyway both of his daughters liked to shoot, on any number of occasions one of them would invite who they were dating at the time to go out shooting with them and their dad.

The Lott was frequently present, cuz it was so sweet to shoot with cast, well mannered and accurate. After it made the rounds between Daddy and daughter(s), the young man tagging along would be offered the rifle. If the daughter wanted to keep dating him, and/or if daddy liked him, cast load it was, if not, a "lightly" loaded 350gr Hornady RN was provided. The first time I shot one of those "light 350's, I remember getting hit by a semi, a blinding flash of light accompanied by the thought "Grampy, is that really you?" Which as probably why I did not buy it, kept me from trying really really stupid stuff. "Hey Bubba, here hold my beer, watch this."
 
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RicinYakima

RicinYakima

High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Just sold my 450 Watts Magnum, predecessor to the 458 Lott. It shot very well with 500 grain cast bullets and 28 grains of SR4759. Even off the bench you could watch the bullet travel down to the target.
 
Missionary

Missionary

Well-Known Member
Off cross sticks that would be a fine time with those bunker busters blasting ground hogs out of their holes.
I bet if I nose size some 500 grainers and shallow seat in the 50 Alaskan I might get 120 grains of 3F in there. But 120 grains of 4198 would take the 86 to a new orbit zone.
 
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CWLONGSHOT

CWLONGSHOT

Well-Known Member
I spent many many years on the GBO site. First generation in the H&R circles. I had recently sold off a large amount of Boxes S&W and T/C custom barrels and guns. Because of a financial crisis. I kept many of the optics to be sold later as needed to get thru. ANYHOW, I got caught up in tinkering with NEF & H&R firearms. One was the 45/70. I had two of them. A long barrel "Buffalo rifle" and a short Handi. That handi has been a "camp gun" or "Rain Rifle" almost from day one. One huge topic that always came up was "How strong are these actions?" Or How heavy can I load them? My common answer is I almost guaranty YOU will give up before the Rifle. Followed with load a 400g bullet to about 1500 fps and never "need" any more for most anything most if us ever need to shoot.
Two favorite bullets in these is that 400g Speer JSP and the 350 Ranch Dog cast bullet. I also bought a 420 version but like the 350 for lil less recoil and with velocity lil flatter trajectory.
I bought some Hornady 350rn bullets and loaded them with heavy loads of 4198 & re7. Past 2000 fps fast. Nope... I have shot many heavy kickers. 600 Overkill, 378 Weatherby 460 Weatherby 500 Nitro and a few "elephant" calibers in SxS rifles. This was every bit and more so because its not well designed for that recoil in a lever rifle. 14-1600 fps is all I ever need outta a 45/70.

CW
 
S

STIHL

Well-Known Member
Yal can have those 460 weatherbys id probably shoot it, but have no practical purpose for one. I have another 45-70 it’s a CVA Scout. It handles recoil much better so I shoot it pretty much full tilt. That lever gun design doesn’t lend itself to absorbing much to any recoil it just transfers it all the way through. Besides, shooting cast is more fun anyway.

I had thought about bumping the load up 5-10% just to see if I could tighten them up a little, but that sends me down the rabbit hole I really have no need to go down right now. Accuracy is well within my expectations, so why mess with it. 45-70 is not an extreme accuracy cartridge anyway.
 
S

STIHL

Well-Known Member
Touché, I have read about it, and your right there are some serious 45-70 shooters out there.

I may play with the load and Bump it up 5% and see. Definitely cant hurt anything.
 
BBerguson

BBerguson

Official Pennsyltuckian
STIHL said:
Yal can have those 460 weatherbys id probably shoot it, but have no practical purpose for one. I have another 45-70 it’s a CVA Scout. It handles recoil much better so I shoot it pretty much full tilt. That lever gun design doesn’t lend itself to absorbing much to any recoil it just transfers it all the way through. Besides, shooting cast is more fun anyway.

I had thought about bumping the load up 5-10% just to see if I could tighten them up a little, but that sends me down the rabbit hole I really have no need to go down right now. Accuracy is well within my expectations, so why mess with it. 45-70 is not an extreme accuracy cartridge anyway.
Click to expand...
Nope, not me, I’ll never (yes, I said never) shoot a 460 Weatherby. I hate heavy recoil, hard on my eyes, shoulder and my three vertebrae fused neck…
 
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