45-70 Government barrel length?

[mt3030]

Need some advice from you experienced 45-70 shooters. In a few days I will be sending a receiver back to H&R to have a 32 inch 45-70 barrel fitted.When it gets back to me I'm going to have it cut and recrowned. What length? I'm not a black powder shooter anymore and I want to get rid of the dovetail cut on the end. I am used to the 26 in length of my 25-06, and am leaning toward 26 for that reason. But I know everything is a compromise between handi(ness) and velocity. Depending on game, I will be handloading 350 to 405 grain jacketed bullets. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.
Wally

[quickdtoo]

Wally, one of the shooters here had his BC cut to 28" and likes it for hunting. That's the length of the 38-55 Target if you can find one in stock locally to handle, just to see if it's too long or not...

Tim

[slayer]

I own a .45/70 BC with the 32 in barrel and it isn`t nose heavy at all. Maybe give it try first before you have it cut, you may just like it.  Jack.

[tscott]

I have a little bit different twist. I have a 22" 45/70, that is accurate. I was thinking of cutting it to 18", to fit easier in my pack. I believe a Marlin
lever in an 18" 45/70 is available, so I suppose accuracy would still be good in a cut down NEF handi... Thoughts?

[mt3030]

tscott,
You bet. Cutting a rifle down to make it handier makes sense. I have a Handi 30-30 cut down to 18 just to make it easier and faster handling in the brushy river bottoms and out the truck window (Off road only of course!). And I have a 223 Ultra cut to 16.5 inches for the same reason. Both have shown the same accuracy as before I cut them down. And the slight loss in velocity has been made up by being quicker to target.
I'm going to have the 45-70 cut mainly because not being a black powder or competition shooter, I just do not need or want that 32 in barrel. With the BC stoc it looks very "period", but I'm going to have it a modern laminated stock. Also I get rid of that dove tail. It will be scoped so sure don't anything to get hung up. I know what it's like to carry a 26 inch, and feed back has me thinking about leaving it at 28. Due to the recoil these puppies can generate, I might appreciate that 28 inch tube.
Wally