45-70 Quality

[edgemark]

I just picked up a new SB2-S57 and am very pleasantly surprised.

While I have not shot it yet, I was really impressed with the bore. I expected it to be rough, but it looks better than most factory barrels that I have seen.

I bought it as a knock around gun and for some experimentation.....should be a fun rifle to shoot.

edge.

[quickdtoo]

Congrats and have fun!!

[stimpylu32]

Should be a fun plunker gun  you may want to add some weight to the butt stock if you plan on shooting the top end loads , its a tad on the light side with the Tupperwear stocks . 

stimpy

[poncaguy]

Or do as I did, put the Chaoate Varmit stock on it, makes it  a pussycat to shoot.

[John Boy]

Edge, it's my understanding that the 45-70 barrels are made by Green Mountain.  And yes, when you get it to the range  ... They Shoot!  Enjoy!

[MSP Ret]

John Boy is right, I have never heard of a bad shooting Handi in 45/70. I know mine shoots great....<><....

[edgemark]

I finally got to the range last night.

I shot some middle of the road loads, and the rifle is real nice EXCEPT for the 57 pound pull trigger!! That took about 10 shots to begin getting used to it. I doubt that I would feel comfortable taking an offhand shot.

The scope that I had to put on it was a piece of cr*p, because I need higher scope rings for the scope that I wanted to use. It does not track well, but I am comfortably in the bull area and next time out I won't try to adjust it, I'll  just shoot  groups to see what works best.

Right now I am looking to shoot Remington 300 grain HP bullets.
I have:

H4198;
IMR 3031;
AA 2015;
VV N120;
 all of which should be OK in the 45-70, IMO 

If anyone has suggested loads for these combos, I would be very interested. I'll do a search too.

I am looking for middle to max ( reasonable for the Handi ), for hunting. Once I find the most accurate hunting load I will search for a plinking load.

All suggestions are appreciated.

edge.

PS I also have some Barnes 250 grain X bullets, if somebody has a high velocity load for them that would be great 

[Coffee_Boy]

Edge, it's my understanding that the 45-70 barrels are made by Green Mountain. 

Are we talking about the 22" or the 32" here?  Tim has me itching for a 32".  Is that made by Green Mountain?

[edgemark]

Mine is a 22, and my only complaint is the trigger.

edge.

[knight0334]

No complaints on my 22" Handi 45-70.   I can shoot tomato paste cans all day long out to 50yards.  Its a tack driver with a decent trigger.

[edgemark]

knight0334, did you work on the trigger or is it stock?

edge.

[knight0334]

For the most part - stock..   I did the "manipulate hammer and trigger" thing about 50 times to self hone the trigger group.  I'm gonna guess its around 4-6lbs.

Hard triggers don't really effect me, only long trigger pulls effect my ability to shoot. 

[edgemark]

Slight update is in order 

I have only bought some snap caps for some trigger time, and while my trigger work leaves a lot to be desired I can now claim 1 1/2 inch accuracy.

I must state that I usually shoot a 1 1/2 pound trigger and this Handi has me strangling the stock 
I shot this 4 shot group this morning at 100 yards, and am VERY pleased with the 1/2 inch vertical spread which, to me shows the load to be good, and the 1 1/4 horizontal is almost certainly me 

Not a hot or fast load, but a very usable 2,000 fps deer load. I'll try some H4198 to see if a faster load is as accurate, but this is a pretty serviceable load.

I do have a modification and will post in the next week or two as to how that goes......

edge.



The horizontal bullet @ 6 o'clock was an attempted shot with a sabot that went awry