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Author Topic: 45-70 barrel lengths  (Read 1247 times)

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Offline KP

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45-70 barrel lengths
« on: August 30, 2005, 09:08:32 PM »
Can anyone tell me the differences in bullet drop and/or velocity between the Marlin's 18 1/2" and the 22" barrels for the 45-70? Does the longer barrel improve ballistics enough to make the extra weight and length worth while? I'm just curious about this, because I'm in the market for a 45-70 and wanted a little info tucked away in case I find one used somewhere.
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Offline GEMSBUCK

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #1 on: August 31, 2005, 02:41:10 AM »
I have a GG and a LTD both lenghts...both serve their purpose ...if I was buying just 1 gun it would be the 22"
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Offline John Traveler1

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.45-70 barrel length
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2005, 09:08:25 AM »
You are looking at about 100 fps muzzle velocity difference between the 18 1/2" and the 22" barrels.

I shoot the standard 22" 1895 and an 1895CB with 26" octagon barrel.  The longer barrels hang steadier, and are more accurate.  Admittedly, the shorter barrels carry and handle better for short range action, but they give up sight radius, accuracy, and a bit of muzzle energy.

You might consider what the US Army discovered 140 years ago: the 22" cavalry carbines gave about 2/3 the effective range of the standard full length 32" infantry rifle.
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Offline EsoxLucius

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #3 on: August 31, 2005, 10:49:10 AM »
20 fps per inch of barrel difference is about right with most bullets and loads.  Probably a little less with loads like the factory 405 grain Remington and perhaps a little more with loads from Buffalo Bore.
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Offline Lone Star

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #4 on: August 31, 2005, 11:51:53 AM »
How about some facts instead of guesses?

ST 9/93 Handloads:
22" = 300 @ 2382 fps
18" = 300 @ 2309
22" = 350 @ 2217
18" = 350 @ 2156
22" = 400 @ 2163
18" = 400 @ 2085

ST 7/98 Handloads:
Load......1895G....1895SS
300HP....2055......2110
350RN....1677......1918
400FN....1702......1767
405FN....1580......1650
.
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Offline GEMSBUCK

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2005, 02:22:28 AM »
the old timers used to say.."longer barrels hit harder.." know what? They were right!!!! :D
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Offline EsoxLucius

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2005, 03:35:52 AM »
From my observations of various loads in various rifles I stated about 20 fps per inch of barrel difference, that is 70 fps between a 22" and 18.5" barrel.  It would seem that my observations correspond pretty well with the data presented.  I think this generalization is pretty good considering the possible variations in loads and rifles.

ST 9/93 Handloads
300 - 73 fps
350 - 61 fps
400 - 78 fps

ST 7/98 Handloads
300 - 55 fps
350 - 241 fps (was it cloudy when chronographing the 1895G?)
400 - 65 fps
405 - 70 fps

If you throw the high and low values out (the 241 fps certainly seems anomalous) you get a 69.4 fps average.
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: .45-70 barrel length
« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2005, 07:58:28 AM »
Quote
You might consider what the US Army discovered 140 years ago: the 22" cavalry carbines gave about 2/3 the effective range of the standard full length 32" infantry rifle.
You might want to consider that the carbines normally fired the 405-grain "carbine" load, while long range shooting with the rifles normally used the issue 500-grain rifle load.  The bullet weight has far more to do with long range power/accuracy than ca. 100 fps of muzzle velocity.
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Offline Dr. A

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #8 on: September 01, 2005, 12:21:34 PM »
On 3 given loads last week, the same load in both guns was only an average of 20fps difference between a 22 in. and a 32 inch 45-70.  Same twist.  The 22 inch is a Marlin, and the 32 is an NEF.  Given black powder and a 32 inch barrel, the difference is more important.
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Offline EsoxLucius

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2005, 05:00:54 AM »
Dr. A, that is interesting.  With 2 different loads I get about 200 fps difference between my 22" Marlin 1895 and 32" Wesson and Harrington 1871 Buffalo Classic.

300 grain Hornady
22" Marlin 1895 - 2180 fps
32" W&H 1871 BC - 2375 fps

405 grain Remington
22" Marlin 1895 - 1760 fps
32" W&H 1871 BC - 1970 fps

Did you mean 20 fps per inch of barrel or 20 fps total difference?
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Offline KP

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45-70 barrel lengths
« Reply #10 on: September 06, 2005, 08:45:42 PM »
Perfect, thanks folks.

Sorry for the delayed response. I'm in the middle of moving to Alaska from Germany. This is exactly the info I wanted.
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