45/70 Talo Trapper-The best yet

[Stan in SC]

Some years back I bought a Handi 30-30 and sent the receiver back to the factory for a 45/70 barrel.Got it back and shot it and I was hooked on 45/70.Then I bought a Buffalo Classic.Nice rifle but long and no more accurate than a regular Handi so I sold it.Then I bought another 45/70 Handi.After that I had an opportunity to buy yet another one at too good a deal to pass up.The 45/70 caliber is eating on me at this point and I bought a Marlin Model 1895 and a Siamese Mauser converted to 45/70.All these rifles in 45/70 keep stacking up in my safe.At one point I bought another 8 gun safe JUST FOR 45/70'S.And it was full.
Last November I got a call from my rep at Davidson's who informed me that the Talo Trapper in 45/70 was now available.I ordered one.Got it in and was really taken with the little rifle.The first chance I had to shoot it was on a hunting trip with a friend on his lease.One day after lunch we went out back of his lodge and proceeded to shoot this little rifle.I was to say the least VERY impressed with it's accuracy.It shot better than any other regular Handi I had owned and was more accurate than the Buffalo Classic.This one was made in Ilion,NY.It is the absolute BEST and most accurate 45/70 rifle I have owned.At this writing the eight gun safe is gone along with ALL the other 45/70's and the diminutive Trapper reigns supreme in caliber 45/70 in my group of firearms.I took it to the gun club today and shot two rounds at 100 yards.The first was right under the 1" bull and the second shot was right over it.Iron sights,no scope.My handloads of 300 grain Remington jacketed hollow point.What a great little rifle!

Stan in SC

[Shu]

Excellent!!! There is only one true Handi caliber, others will try to convince you otherwise but they are serious addicts gone out of control.

[cwlongshot]

Well I wouldn't call it the best handi caliber, but it sure is a good one and a near universal favorite...

Good luck with yours!!

CW

[XD40SC]

I have 3. One of the most funnest calibers to shoot.

[petemi]

My first Handi was a used 22 inch .45-70 ejector.  I swapped barrels for an extractor with a member here, and both barrels shot superbly well.  If you reload, the .45-70 is excellent.  You can push little pills fast and big ones slow, or do anything in between.  It is probably my favorite Handi.......but then there's the Maxi, and the .445 and .500......what a bad habit, can't make up my mind.  Thanks again Tim and CW, you've got me totally perverted.

Pete

[Shu]

See that CWlongshot is trying to talk you out of the best caliber ever. He is seriously addicted.

I like the shorties, I prefer the 45-70 but it would really be hard to say which is the absolute best.

[bikerbeans]

Stan,

Gotta agree with you and the short barrel 45-70.  I would have bought a Talo 45-70 but I chopped a 22" one to 18.5" before I knew about the Talos.  My shorty 45 cal is as accurate at 100  yards as my 22" 45-70 or my 45-120 32".   From Postells @ subsonic velocity to 400 grainers at close to 2,000 FPS it is an accurate & fun gun. 

BB

[cheatermk3]

Hey Stan--
Does your Talo have deep rifling?  How many lands and grooves?
Just curious.  I have a 44mag with 12 (or 13-- hard to count) lands and I just got a 45-70 22" tube from garbhead that has 8 lands and grooves--both riflings seem to be about the same depth; neither is what I'd call "deep".  They look more like a big-bore version of 'micro-groove" type rifling.

Anyhow, congrats on the new Talo!

[quickdtoo]

Mike, since Marlin makes most if not all H&R barrels including the 45-70, they are Microgroove or real close to it, right down to the goove/land count and depth/width. 

Tim

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/microgrove-barrels.htm

[gendoc]

stan, i too experianced tha same thang wif my trapper barrel.
better'n all of tha 9 other 70's we got. and i also believe in tha rem 300gr sjhp for handload'n
jus doan get no better'nat !!!!!!!!