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Author Topic: .45-70 first outing range report  (Read 1108 times)

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Offline geezerbiker

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.45-70 first outing range report
« on: March 29, 2013, 06:41:38 PM »
This is the first time I got to shoot this rifle.  Since I bought it I've changed the stock and the rear sight.  This target is the first 4 rounds I ever fired from this rifle.  Also the rounds are my experimental knurled, teflon tape patched 230 grain cast .45 ACP bullets.  I wouldn't have believe this if I didn't see it...  This was at about 50 years yards just to see if was on paper.



I forgot to take a small screwdriver with me to loosen the peep sight lock screws so I couldn't dial it in any closer.  I really need to order those finger tighten screws from Brownells...

I fired 20 or so rounds and my groups were great throughout.  This particular range trip was more about taking my grandsons out to shoot their new .22s so I didn't shoot it more.  One of my grandsons shot it once and even though it was too big for him, he nailed the target he was shooting at...

Tony
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Offline craigster

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2013, 06:47:16 PM »
Nice shooting, yardage?
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Offline craigster

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2013, 06:51:45 PM »
Never mind, reread your post and saw that you were shooting at about 50 years.
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Offline geezerbiker

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #3 on: March 29, 2013, 06:59:41 PM »
The old gravel pit we were shooting at  is cut into the side of a hill and is only about a max of 80 yards.  I moved the target back after this to about 70 yards and the groups were almost as tight.  I pulled a few shots toward the end as I was getting tired and cold. 

It was a nice day so I didn't bring a jacket and when the sun went over the hill I was getting really chilled.  The little grand buddies both had on heavy long sleeve shirts and they would have shot until all the ammo was gone or it got dark.  I ended the session before we felt we had to go.  We got home with just enough light to fire up the BBQ and put on some burgers before dark.  All in all it was a great day...

Tony
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Offline John A Havens

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2013, 05:00:25 AM »
Was that 50 light years ? heeheehee.
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Offline JonnyReb

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #5 on: March 30, 2013, 05:13:23 AM »
 Sounds like a fantastic time and your rifle looks to be very accurate! Thanks for sharing, was a good read.  j
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #6 on: March 30, 2013, 05:14:08 AM »
Looks promising!!  ;)

Tim
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Offline geezerbiker

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #7 on: March 30, 2013, 08:02:06 AM »
It's everything you guys told me it would be and better.  Honestly I didn't think it was going to be on paper much less only a little off POI...

I wanted a rifle that I could shoot big cast bullets through that would shoot much better than I can and I got it.  One more amazing thing (to me anyway) is how easy it was to shoot off hand.  None of my shooting was rested.  These were off hand while sitting in a folding chair...

Next time I plan to get as far back as this place will let me shoot and see how it does.  We had a long drive to get there and we didn't arrive until a bit late in the day.  Since I moved last fall I haven't found any new places to shoot in my area and and I couldn't find any the ones I was told about around here.  We had already driven over an hour before I decided to try a place I used to go over 15 years ago.  It's very secluded in the coastal hills about 35 miles west of my home.  I had promised the twin grand buddies we'd go shooting and I was determined to find a place.   About the time I was thinking it had been bulldozed out of existence, we found it.

I fixed the typo.  I'm dyslexic and sometimes I don't catch what the spell checker puts in...

Tony
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #8 on: March 30, 2013, 08:07:15 AM »
You were probably expecting something like the target below at best!  ;D Hmmm, wonder if I can Teflon tape wrap .375" jacketed bullets for use in the 38-55??  ???

Tim
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #9 on: March 30, 2013, 08:33:51 AM »
WAY TO GO Tony!
Sounds like a great day all around (after working through the frustration of finding a place); glad that gun is working out for ya  ;) .
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Offline geezerbiker

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #10 on: March 30, 2013, 09:13:31 AM »
Quote from: quickdtoo on March 30, 2013, 08:07:15 AM
You were probably expecting something like the target below at best!  ;D Hmmm, wonder if I can Teflon tape wrap .375" jacketed bullets for use in the 38-55??  ???

Tim

I documented the process in the paper patching forum here.  It works and is easier than using paper.  Years ago one of the gun rags had an article on paper patching for modern rifles and one of the things they did was patch up a .452 .45 ACP FMJ bullet to shoot out of a .45-70.  I never could get the hang of making the paper stick to the bullet.  At the time I wanted to patch up .308 bullets to .312 for my 7.7x58 but it didn't work as advertized and I eventually gave up.  Teflon patching is way easy to do.  Rolling the bullets between a matched set of files gave the bullets teeth to grip the tape.  After that it was easy...  Now that I know it shoots OK, I'll be patching more of my cast bullets...

Tony

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Offline geezerbiker

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #11 on: March 30, 2013, 09:17:42 AM »
Quote from: gcrank1 on March 30, 2013, 08:33:51 AM
WAY TO GO Tony!
Sounds like a great day all around (after working through the frustration of finding a place); glad that gun is working out for ya  ;) .

Actually finding a place to shoot was the only hard part.  We tried over the last 3 day weekend to find a place but we gave up after a while.  I had to take the kids home and we'd already used up all the time we had for it.  Then I asked around, looked at maps on my phone with a few people and they pointed out a few places all of which I couldn't find and I was getting tired by the time we got to where we could shoot.  That are we there yet stuff wears on an old man...  ;D

Tony
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Offline petemi

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #12 on: March 30, 2013, 11:39:42 AM »
geezer, you need to change your screen name.  If you can shoot like that with peep sights, you ain't a geezer yet...you're just studying up ;)   I love it.  Great shooting.

Pete
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Offline rfd

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #13 on: March 30, 2013, 12:39:00 PM »
wow, that's really great shootin'!

which flavor/model handi 45-70 ya got?

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Offline geezerbiker

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #14 on: March 30, 2013, 02:11:42 PM »
I wish I had discovered peeps sooner.  I put a peep on my 94 Winnie a couple years ago and it made it into an all new rifle.  From then on I decided to try them on every gun that I didn't intend to scope.

honestly I didn't think I could still shoot this good.  I used to be able to shoot pencils in half at 50 feet with a .22 long rifle but I was a just a kid then.  I had no training but I just took to it.  These days I have to work for a good group, well until yesterday anyway.  This gun just might beat out my 09 Argentine as my favorite rifle...

It started out as the base model Handi with iron sights and a plastic stock.  I bought a 12 gauge Pardner for the nice wood it had on it and then added the peep.  This has to have been my easiest gun project ever.  The only thing left to do is to refinish the stock and probably add a recoil pad. That's on hold to next winter as I want to shoot it as much as possible while the weather it nice...

Tony
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #15 on: March 30, 2013, 05:00:58 PM »
Lee has a mould for a 340gr. that works in all three of mine, and I know there is a 300 'out there' if you dont mind casting.
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Offline geezerbiker

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #16 on: March 30, 2013, 07:28:09 PM »
The problem is all those molds are out of stock.  I bought a 100 405g flat nose bullets from Red Beard's bullets and I'm going to load them up as soon as I can find my load books.  I'm hoping some slower powders will have less recoil...

Tony
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Offline gcrank1

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Re: .45-70 first outing range report
« Reply #17 on: April 01, 2013, 04:51:27 AM »
10-13gr. of Unique has been a light plinking load in the 45-70 for years.
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"Halt while I adjust my accoutrements!"
      ><   ->
We are only temporary caretakers of the past heading toward an uncertain future
22Mag UV / 22LR  Sportster
357Mag Schuetzen Special
45-70  SS Ultra Hunter with UV cin.lam. wood
12ga. 'Ol' Ugly OverKill', Buck barrel c/w  SpeedStock  and swap 28" x Full bird barrel, 1974
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