Author Topic: 45/70 comes to my house! (Read 1718 times)

Darrell Davis · « **on:** February 23, 2010, 11:09:43 AM »

Finally made the desision to # 1 lay out the bucks, and # 2 to buy the RUGER #1-s over the Marlin, both of which have been sitting at an area pawn shop.

Now, as the goal is to hunt and harvest critters with my own cast bullets, it is onto the selection of mold (s?) and loads etc.

The out the door price was pretty good, but the scope, a Pentax Gameseeker, will have to go.

To small of an eye relief range, plus I don't need a 3X9 on a 45/70.

Will probably sell the Pentax and move on to a Leupold in a fixed 2 - 4X or possibly a 1-4X or 1.5-5X.

So, looking to sell one scope and buy another.

Rifle is very clean, nice figure in the butt. Appears to have had little use!!

Now will install a better recoil pad, and place a piece of ebony on the forend - love #1s, but dislike the Alexander Henry tips.

Glassing the butt and floating/glassing the forend will also be on the agenda.

Yeppeeee, have another #1, gave the last one to a son and it has been toooooo long since!

Keep em Coming!

CDOC

DennisB · « **Reply #1 on:** February 23, 2010, 03:39:43 PM »

Nice! Ya gotta love them 45-70's! A pic would be nice, once ready to go, esp. with an ebony tip--

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #2 on:** February 23, 2010, 03:58:57 PM »

Ya, I have the hi tech camera, but a shortage of pooter smarts.

Need to get a 4 year old to help me.

However, I have thought of taking a series of before and after photographs, both of the forend tip and of the bedding and floating.

I have never had a #1 that was not a good to great shooter, but this go around with cast bullets may be a challange.

Hope not, doing lots of reading on the forums, trying to soak up the available smarts.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #3 on:** February 23, 2010, 04:27:55 PM »

congradulations!!!!!!!! I went with the marlin, but it will be used for bear protection in northern Wy...looks like a move may be in the works...If you like I will check Paul Mathews book 60 YEARS WITH RIFLES...I know he did some work with cast and the 45-70 ....I think he wrote several books on cast bullets, but they may have stressed blk. powder...some where inmy stuff, I have a little book he wrote on just the 45-70...when I get back home in about a week I would be happy to check this out and see if it would be useful to you...just found this little town we are looking at has a 1000 yard rifle range....wooooooh sounds like fun....good luck with the new piece...

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #4 on:** February 23, 2010, 08:17:13 PM »

Thanks, Wyo. Coyote Hunter.

A friend dropped some loaded 45/70 by today from a Marlin CB that he sold, so I have a few rounds to make the thing go bang.

And, he loaned me a book a few months back, written I believe by Paul Matthews.

So guess I will thank you for your offer and the reminder of that information.

I just might need to review those writtings.

This road to a 45/70 has taked me awhile, and I have been reading info from different sources to try and get a handle on this new direction.

Have for years gone with the more intense levels of cartridges so this is a real departure for a hunting rifle for me.

Even the 32 Winchester Special I started with back in the 50s was faster then this one, but it sure fell short in the leas slinging department when compared to the 45 caliber.

Now I hope to experience a "bangflop" with a hole through the critter that I can eat right up to.

At my age, never know how much hunting time I have left, so good to take a different direction for awhile.

Is you move coming soon?

Good luck,

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #5 on:** February 24, 2010, 01:30:38 PM »

I know what you mean about moving in a new direction with our rifles...I really like bolt action rifles for serious hunting...but many times it is fun to take a lever action or revolver for hunts that are not for trophy game...that is one reason I went with the 45-70 also..but will probably not load cast...at times that is why I like fooling with my .30-30's...as for the move north...it may not happen..found some nice places, but would have to sell mine...and moving in to a new area at age 63 may not be the very best thing...as one grows older it would be nice to have old reliable friends near by...that is something that is really holding me back...plus the elk hunting here is all on special draw, and there are few antelope...more birds though..tough decision. have lived in my current spot for almost 40 years......we will see...

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #6 on:** February 24, 2010, 02:00:52 PM »

Your almost old as me, well not quite!

I thought you were one of them young whipper snappers.

Ya, the hunting could be better here, but it is home and one or two deer a year does OK by us.

Would like to tag a few more elk, but if lucky enough to draw a cow moose tag it would be fun to put a 310LBT out of the .44 into one or now a 400gr +/-cast from the 45/70.

Really like the shortness of a 22' barrel on a #1 they are very easy to handle at that length, so am looking forward to hunting with it this Fall.

If I do my part, a critter is almost a "give me" with the 300 mag, and that to waaaaaaaaay out there.

It will again be fun to shoot where a bit of a mental process is required if/when I get a shot at a 200 - 250yd critter.

With the the .243, 270 and 300 it is just hold center of kill zone and then start the gutting process.

Been awhile since I needed to hold up a bit, but haven't taken a critter in years which was out of range for the 45/70.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 24, 2010, 03:22:25 PM »

I know what you mean about long shooting...except for coyotes it has been a while maybe 10 years since I shot big game at longer range..it was a elk and a high shoulder shot produced a hit in he chest. I knew he was pretty far but not real long...it worked fine..that is the beauty of flat shooting rifles...My wife was alive then and we used the meat...she was after moose, so it was a great hunt..she got it with one shot...in those days, wild game was a lot of our diet..now with a new signifant other, most game is giv en away...so compared to the old days, success is not as important...when we were young, and elk and deer were almost necessary to survive on our income..now not so..when I think of the .45-70, I usually shoot some animals over 300 yards each fall so the old 45-70 would not work..but much of the time it will...I plan to use mine on whitetails and maybe a doe antelope...but when I go for mulies or whitetails in eastern wy. there are chances I will see a real whopper....then I will have one of my .300's with me...but usually I have something like the 45-70 or .30-30 also...

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2010, 12:11:54 PM »

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

My ship docked (sold a shotgun) so the brass, bullet mold, gas checks, lube/sizer die and top punch are on order for the 45/70.

Think I saw that midway had dies, so need to get there quick and get in my order.

Watch out all you Ideeeeeeeeho elephants, your days are numbered!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

8iowa · « **Reply #9 on:** February 27, 2010, 06:35:45 AM »

Actually, in the single shot rifle the 45-70 is an almost different cartridge. Lever rifles need to keep the overall length to 2,550 and must use flat nosed bullets, which usually limits them to around 405 grains.

The single shot rifle allows as much OAL as the leade in the chamber will allow. You can use longer and heavier bullets that have a much better ballistic coefficient. Just remember, the 45-70 was never intended to be a 458 mag.

You might try several types of cast bullets before investing in a mold. Check out Buffalo Arms; www.buffaloarms.com

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #10 on:** February 27, 2010, 08:08:15 AM »

Thanks 8iowa,

Just order a bunch of stuff from Buffaloarms this week.

They are located probably a couple hours North of here, so hope to have the stuff on hand soon.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2010, 02:56:20 PM »

Shot the 45/70 today.

Doing some searching as per loads for this rifle, and WOW what a wide range of possibilities.

On another forum, I ask for some comments on this subject after putting together a list of possible test loads. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, needed to rethink the list after viewing the feed back, and after shooting my first loads, the reason is quite clear.

The rifle is a thumper, on both ends!

Loaded up 50 of the RCBS 405gr cast bullets, which really cast out about 427 - 428grs. with lube and Gas Check, ahead of 38gr of H4198.

That is enough! Not counting the 1 wall banger load I want to shoot from the RUGER, just because I can, the go to load will be something less then the 38gr load. This load must be 1600 - 1700fps range.

Seems many if not most folk are well satisfied with the results of hunting loads in 1200 - 1500fps range.

So, think I will throttle back a bit and get ready for tests as soon as I have a scope mounted.

Good news with leading. 20 rounds show only a little bit of leading on the lands, starting about 2" back from the muzzle. Don't figure that is bad considering the quality of my first run of cast bullets.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Freightman · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2010, 10:47:39 AM »

For a single shot rifle get a 500gr mold and get it to about 1450 -1500fps and what ever you shoot will go no father. Here is what they look like loaded.

NickSS · « **Reply #13 on:** March 17, 2010, 08:06:39 AM »

i have been using the 45-70 for over 40 years and unless you are hunting buffalo or grizzly bear you do not need more than a 405 gr slug unless you are shooting in metalic silhouette matches that is. A good all around bullet for deer and elk is one around 350 gr with a large flat point. The bullet shoot be cast fairly soft like 20-1 or 30-1 lead tin alloy. Drive this bullet at around 1300 to 1400 fps and you will kill game cleanly and usually blow a hole clean through so it bleeds out quickly. If hunting for deer or antilope the 340 gr Lyman HP bullet works really well at around the same velocity but I like a solid flat point for elk myself.

jpuke · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2010, 04:35:35 AM »

I'm not sure you're going to get the "bang-flop" that you're hoping for. I've shot three deer in the last two years with my 45/70 #1 and none has dropped in its tracks. Not to brag, but all three were perfect shots in the heart/lung area, all were clean pass-throughs with a 45 cal entry and 1.5" exit hole that you can eat right up to. They've all ran about 60 yards after the shot but the blood trails were just that - trails. I got to watch two of them pile up and they drop quickly after the short runs. My load has been a 420 grain (pure lead) paper-patched bullet at 1850 fps. Shots were 80, 70, and 120 yards.

You won't regret the #1 in 45-70.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2010, 03:55:48 PM »

Scope mounted!!!!!

Came up with a nice clean 2X7 Leupold and mounted it yesterday.

LOTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! of eye relief at the lower powers where it is be used most of the time.

Have test loads ready to go, so need to hit the bench soon.

Have scaled back the test loadings, as find a 38gr load of H4198 to be more then what I find enjoyable to shoot with the 405gr. RCBS bullet.

Casts out at 427 - 428 with lube and gas check.

Do any of you recall where to find the "Hammer" or "sledge Hammer" (

?) line of bullet molds.

Thought I had them in my favorites, but?

??

They had bullets in the 300 - 400gr range as I recall. BIG meplat!

My normal go to load for my RUGER Redhawk is a 310gr LBT head of 19gr. of AA#9 for a tad over 1300fps. No problem!!!!

Think'in a bullet in the range of 300gr.+ PROVIDING IT HAS A GOOD MEPLAT, should reduce the recoil level, provide a bit more velocity and be just a deadly as the 400gr + bullet.

Thoughts?

Keep em coming!

CDOC

drdougrx · « **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2010, 09:38:26 AM »

Good for you Darrell!!!

I have had one for years and it's my bye-bye piggie gun!!! I shoot only one load in it cause I don't need another!! It's a 350gr speer SP, toppa 46gr IMR4895 and a velocity of 1800fps. I have a Lupy 2.5x eer scout scope on it and it is the nuts!!!

BTW....stay tuned...I have new #1 on order in 35whaly from Lipseys.....can't wait!!!!

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2010, 01:50:46 PM »

.35 Whelen

Wooooooweeeeeeeeeee, sounds fun!

Keep us posted.

No pigs around here, and from what I hear they don't sound great to have in mass, BUT they sure sound like fun to hunt!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2010, 08:36:54 AM »

Darrell, You should try that new .45-70 on a bear this spring....from what I hear Idaho has tons of 'em...when we go north for bear, I am toting my .45-70 Marlin, but I am not a bullet caster, so will load Horn 350 grain..think I used 3031.....

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #19 on:** March 22, 2010, 06:17:47 PM »

Even'in Wyo. Coyote Hunter.

There are or at least have been a goodly number of bears just a short ways from here. A friend was really into baiting, and I did it with him a couple years or so. Never did get a critter. He did.

Baiting is labor intensive and NOT a "give me" unless maybe you are paying a guide to do all the work.

I just got my new/replacement mold from RCBS today, but am wondering about a smaller bullet then the 405gr.

For sure will decrease the loads from the levels of my first 50.

Killer, and I am on the soft end!

Reading enough here on GB and other forums to figure out I don't need to move a truck sized piece of lead at 2200fps. Seems a VW at about 1200 - 1400 is more in line for my needs.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #20 on:** March 29, 2010, 05:04:54 PM »

Yipeeeeeeeeeeeee! On the bench this weekend, and good results.

The pain/discomfort of shooting the 38gr loads of H4198 behind a 428gr RCBS bullet, turned out to be head position.

Trying to use the iron sights, the stock comb kept slamming my cheek bone . OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With the same loads this weekend, I found those loads to be very doable.

Saturday, put over 50 rounds off the bench and over the Chronograph. Loads ranging from a bit over 1200fps to 1600+.

The 1200fps loads were kitton soft, while the heavier ones were very doable.

Some reasonable groups.

Probably will get rid of the groove in the Alexander Henry forend, replacing it with ebony and then glass bed/float the forend before shooting again.

Have a new LBT mold ordered in 350gr WFN, so that will be interesting to work with.

Anyway, glad things turned for the better with the slightly higher eye position as it weren't fun before.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #21 on:** March 30, 2010, 10:41:59 AM »

Darrell, do you plan to shoot any jacketed stuff in your 45-70?

??I have only loaded 350 Horn. sighted my Marlin in and that is it...since it is not much of a long range coyote rifle, I haven't been playing with it......I saw the 4198 powder listed in my books, but went with 3031 as I got a super buy on 10 pounds of it in the old square cans...never used it before, so used Keith's load with the Horn. bullet...just found some good loads for 3031 in my .22-250 and .22-250 Improved also...so may try 4198 in the 45-70....got a bunch of it on a buy also...it goes a long way in a .222 or 223......have you been back for steehead,,,???I got the Idaho fishing report...Looks like the Salmon river is getting lots of attention and fish...never tried steelhead in Idaho...went a few times in Oregon, but really didn't have a clue a bout steelhead fishing...hope that number 1 preforms very well.....

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #22 on:** March 30, 2010, 12:06:13 PM »

Hello Wyo. Oty Hunter,

Nope, no plans for jacketed bullets, but you know what they say about plans.

Did touch off one winfester jacked factory round this past weekend. It was a drop which I picked up, so emptied the case so it can be used as a sample or?

?

Powders like 3031 etc. would be in my tests, but don't have any on stock.

So, running with what I have.

IMR & H4198 and seemed like they did ok in the tests I did on Saturday.

Had one in the 1400fps range that went 1 5/16" for three shots - IMR4198

H 4198 gave one at 1 3/4"

H4895 got one into the 1 11/16" at almost 1500fps.

Varget and IMR 4064 didn't seem to do so well. Varget seemed to leave a lot of unburnt powder.

Haven't been after steelhead for 3 weeks or so.

Talked to a fellow yesterday who said there was lots of fishing going on as they came North from McCall along the Salmon river.

Hope to have SALMON headed our way soon!!!!!!

Took the tip off the Alexander Henry forend and have cut and fitted the ebony, so once the wife wakes up from her nap, I get my Drumel tool and finish getting ready for applying the Acraglas epoxy to the forend, steel pins and ebony.

By Wed, it should be set up so I can start removing wood.

Will float and glas bed the forend while I am at it, so hope the new mold is here about the time that project is completed.

May sell the new - replacement mold - I rec'd from RCBS last week. Depends on how things go with the new 350gr LBT WFN bullets.

From what I've seen, figure it should be easy to go up to the 1700 - 2000fps range with the lighter bullet.

After the head position thing was figured out, the 548gr boolets at 1600+ were no big thing, so taking off 75+grs of bullet weight should allow for a reasonable increase of velocity.

Keep em coming!

CDOC