45/70 Leverevolution revisited

[rural17]

I am new to the forum and noticed a thread from summer 2007 about the Leverevolution 45/70 not being that good. I was just wondering if anybody changed their mind since then about them. I was thinking about trying them but maybe I should just save my money? What do you think?

                   Jeff

[quickdtoo]

I think what you're referring to is Hornady apparently ran out of the special powder they were using that provided the extra velocity that the 45-70 LE ammo originally provided, that ammo is marked with a lower velocity which is comparable to any other trapdoor level factory ammo. Look for the latest ammo with the higher velocity of 2050fps marked on the box.

Tim

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=6448b4456488d5ce31db05f19d702fb8&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=e2efc3a895f8f6004aa5509977a8de6e

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?page=ballistics/popup&product_sku=82747

[rural17]

Thanks Tim,   Have you or anybody else out there tried these in there contender? I don't reload so I currently use Federal Classic with Speer Hot-Cor 300gr. they seem to shoot fine but I was just looking for some more distance.The ballistics for the Leverevolution look better?

Jeff

[45/70fan]

I recently resighted my 45/70 Handi with the 2050fps load Tim referred to.
my setting ended up like this ..... 25 yds dead on,  50 yds 2" high,  100 yds 3" high (3 shots touching).
It should be good for a dead on hold out to 200 yds but I need to shoot to verify.

[rural17]

That's what I was hoping to hear 45/70Fan. I'll be givin em a try before next deer season. Thanks for your input!

[wyocarp]

I've tried them and thought they did just fine in my .457 from Wild West Guns.  My son and I occaisionally pick up a coupld of boxes when going out shooting gophers.  I know, it is a lot of gun for gophers even if they are on the healthy side, but it keeps us used to shooting our hunting rifles.  But then, using my .500 on the rabbits today got me excited for spring bear season already and made my feel good about using it for lion hunting tomorrow.

[rural17]

Thanks for the input wyocarp.Keep givin those gophers Hell!
Jeff

[wyocarp]

Rural, gophers have many bad days during the summer because of my son and I.  They are fun because there aren't any limits.

[BBF]

I can't help to wonder why anyone wants to shoot 200 yards plus with a 45-70  unless that is the only rifle you got.

[PanaDP]

I shot some of the 2050fps load out of a marlin a couple weeks ago. One ragged hole at 50 yards.

[Varmint Hunter]

I recently resighted my 45/70 Handi with the 2050fps load Tim referred to.
my setting ended up like this ..... 25 yds dead on,  50 yds 2" high,  100 yds 3" high (3 shots touching).
It should be good for a dead on hold out to 200 yds but I need to shoot to verify.

According to the link provided above by Tim, when sighted 3" high @100yds the bullet should impact 4.1" low @ 200 yds.

[petemi]

Since .45-70s have proved accurate at 1000 yards, 200 is a snap.  I shoot mine with Hornadys at 300.  A friend was over Sunday and wanted to try my Handi .45-70.  He rang the 300 yard gong just hand resting on the bench.  If the rifle is accurate and the load consistent, you can hit every time regardless of trajectory.  You just have to burn the powder to find out what it does.  My next move will be to shoot it at 500.

Oh, almost forgot....I've got at least 15 rifles, and all but the .22 will shoot the 300.  My little .357 Handi does it too.

[BBF]

I was thinking this more as a hunting situation then a fixed range effort. An animal target at 250 yard when you estimate it to be 200 yard will probably be a missed shot with a 45-70.

I am aware that Rifle competition have been done up to 1000 yards and even further ranges were checked when the Govt first adopted that cartridge. But the shooter knew what distance the target was. Big difference.

It sounds like fun sending a big 500 grainer downrange  a 1000 yard and setting the rifle down, grab a cup of coffee or tea and wait til the bullet smacks into the target.

 OK, so I couldn't resist to check this out a bit further

Bullet# 457658 Lyman Mold
 BC .372
Muzzle Velocity 1600 fps. From a Trapdoor friendly load
Time of Flight  2.9 seconds for someone to take cover at the 1000 yard target
The bullet will be approx. 401" above the line of sight at 500 yards
Energy at 1000 yard is still 700 ftlb

I just love that cartridge :-)

[petemi]

Sit, enjoy your coffee, and listen for the smack.  It gets there eventually.  In hunting situations, estimating the range is the biggest thing.  I hunt my own land 95% of the time, so I know most distances pretty well, but I still use range finding scopes and bullet drop compensated scopes frequently, because most times here, a 200 yard shot is close, except for deer.  If it's not blowing like hell,       elevation is all you have to deal with, and learning that just takes studying ballistics tables and trying different loads in the field.  After a while you'll get a feel for it and know where your round is going.  The other thing that is important to know is that your round is dead on at two points in its trajectory.  Lets randomly say 25 yards and 125 yards.  By learning and working with that, you'll have two dead on ranges and it makes it easier to figure the in-between and the beyond.  And, It is FUN!, (It can also get expensive!!).

[teddy12b]

I've got a box of leverevelution 45/70 ammo and I haven't fired a round yet.  I don't know if it's the old stuff or new, but some day I'll test it out.