SPLITTING FIREWOOD WITH A HANDI RIFLE?!?!?!

[evan1395]

Well yes it IS possible. Haha went out shooting today with some buddies and showed em the "still new to me" Handi Rifle.  Here are a couple videos.
Firewood vs .45-70...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v-OH6Ru_ie8
 
6.5lb Handi Rifle Recoil...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dV4PkukOleU
 
Brother got lucky...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pent-6TbYjY
For anyone who has not noticed, this last batch of Bitterroot valley loads I got were not measured to spec. They require a little bit more force when closing the action. Just thought i'd give ya'll a heads up !
Hopefully more vids to come! Hope you guys don't get too sick of em
 
-Evan
 

[keith44]

yup, tried that myself

[cwlongshot]

Thats fun Evan...

The first guy looks like he might have gotten a bit personal with your scope...     Did it bite him?

CW

[evan1395]

Thats fun Evan...

The first guy looks like he might have gotten a bit personal with your scope...     Did it bite him?

CW

hahah yeah. If you notice in the beginning of the film he was shaking trying to put another load in (This being his 2nd shot) I dont think he was expecting this little rifle to have such a big punch ! He is now the THIRD friend of mine to have fired my gun and have the scope nibble at his eyebrow. When will these guys learn? I'd rather have a sore shoulder than a split eyebrow

[thejanitor]

If I took 3 of my friends out and let the scope hit them without a slight warning I think I would be out of shooting buddies... In fact I think I only have 2 to start with. Hmmm
Have fun but be careful, pay back is a bugger. 
thejanitor

[Wagguy80]

Haha my father got nipped by his CVA stalker in .45-70 last year.  It's a fine rifle, and the recoil feels mild enough you could shoot it all day.  However you have to be mindful of it because if it jumps loose, it will remind you of how much it's actually recoiling.


Looked like a fun shoot...wouldn't recommend the fingers for a recoil pad. lol  I like my fingers more than my shoulder.

[evan1395]

Haha my father got nipped by his CVA stalker in .45-70 last year.  It's a fine rifle, and the recoil feels mild enough you could shoot it all day.  However you have to be mindful of it because if it jumps loose, it will remind you of how much it's actually recoiling.


Looked like a fun shoot...wouldn't recommend the fingers for a recoil pad. lol  I like my fingers more than my shoulder.

The palm of the hand acts as another buffer between my rifle butt and already bad rotators cuff in my left shoulder. But yeah, if you're not holding onto the front of the gun, its gonna hop reguardless.
My buddies are all shooters, they all own deer/bear rifles. .06's, 30-30, .308, hll one of 'em even has a Handi chambered in .500 S&W and he was still impressed by the recoil with those Hornady 325Gr.

[Wagguy80]

Wasn't concerned on the hop my father just had a taken a more relaxed grip for a shot.  Sometimes we forget how much recoil our hand is actually redirecting. 


For you I would recommend a few days at the range shooting right handed.  Most shooters I know switch hit because it's necessary out of a tree stand or climber. 


.45-70 recoil is stout and we were shooting the Hornady leverevolution ammo.  We were having so much fun we went through two almost two boxes of shells.  We stopped because at nearly $40 a box it's expensive fun. lol

[keith44]

...

.45-70 recoil is stout and we were shooting the Hornady leverevolution ammo.  We were having so much fun we went through two almost two boxes of shells.  We stopped because at nearly $40 a box it's expensive fun. lol

Reloading makes a lot of sense at those prices.  If Hornady ever releases the leverevolution bullet as a component to reloaders factory loaded ammo will be in trouble

[cwlongshot]

...

.45-70 recoil is stout and we were shooting the Hornady leverevolution ammo.  We were having so much fun we went through two almost two boxes of shells.  We stopped because at nearly $40 a box it's expensive fun. lol

Reloading makes a lot of sense at those prices.  If Hornady ever releases the leverevolution bullet as a component to reloaders factory loaded ammo will be in trouble

I have never bought a box, I thought the Leverevolition utalized Hornady FTX bullets?

I know there is a 325 FTX in .458 Avalible....

I know I have 200g .358 like the 35 rem and 200,225,250 FTX in .452. And two different 160g FTX .308 bullets....

CW

[quickdtoo]

Reloading makes a lot of sense at those prices.  If Hornady ever releases the leverevolution bullet as a component to reloaders factory loaded ammo will be in trouble

FTX bullets are available, some for several years! 

Tim

http://www.hornady.com/store/FTX

http://www.hornady.com/store/LEVERevolution-FTX-c-416

[keith44]

didn't realize that was the same bullet 


Good deal then

[Wagguy80]

It seems to do the job thats for sure.  My father took a doe with his .45-70 last season at 220 yards.  Found bone fragments, where she was shot, huge blood spot about 4 or 5 yards from there, and the short 10-15 yards trail into the brush was super easy to follow.  Kinda like a painted line about 4 inches wide with huge pools at 5 foot intervals.

[evan1395]

It seems to do the job thats for sure.  My father took a doe with his .45-70 last season at 220 yards.  Found bone fragments, where she was shot, huge blood spot about 4 or 5 yards from there, and the short 10-15 yards trail into the brush was super easy to follow.  Kinda like a painted line about 4 inches wide with huge pools at 5 foot intervals.

That's a .45-70 exit wound for ya

[evan1395]

Wasn't concerned on the hop my father just had a taken a more relaxed grip for a shot.  Sometimes we forget how much recoil our hand is actually redirecting. 


For you I would recommend a few days at the range shooting right handed.  Most shooters I know switch hit because it's necessary out of a tree stand or climber. 


.45-70 recoil is stout and we were shooting the Hornady leverevolution ammo.  We were having so much fun we went through two almost two boxes of shells.  We stopped because at nearly $40 a box it's expensive fun. lol

If there is one word for the recoil through a Handi Rifle chambered in .45-70, it's Stout. I know, I was real surprised what my relaxed grip on the foregrip really absorbs recoil wise. Not having it up front definately shot the barrel around. I found some Hornady 325gr FTX i believe from Graf and Son for real cheap. Hands down cheapest place on the web for those .45-70 Revolution rounds.

[keith44]

If ya really want to see what a kick the 45-70 has, remove the scope (for your and the scopes protection) load up a couple (5 should be plenty) 350 grain Speer flat points with 59.0 grains of 3031.  The barrel will jump straight up, and the rear sight will get close to your forehead     Like I said 5 should be plenty, and these may not be safe in all Handi Rifles, and are definitely not to be used in any lever action rifle.

[evan1395]

Feel like sending me atleast one of those loads?
I'll give it a shot !

[keith44]

if we were at least within 100 miles of each other I'd bring ya some, but no I will not mail or ship loaded ammo.  If you have a reloader friend you might give them the load data

[evan1395]

if we were at least within 100 miles of each other I'd bring ya some, but no I will not mail or ship loaded ammo.  If you have a reloader friend you might give them the load data

Haha appreciate the offer man ! But no worries. I actually plan on reloading for my .45-70 after I come across a good manual and do some research. As for now, those Hornady FTX 325gr kick nice for me