Author Topic: Black Powder and the H&R Handi 45-70 (Read 666 times)

James B · « **on:** October 31, 2004, 10:06:22 AM »

I have a rookie question although I am a life long shooter. I would to dabble into the black powder-cast bullet 45-70 loads. I understand that the Handi or buffalo classic does not have the ideal twist or type of rifleing to do real well with Black Powder and cast bullet loads. Is this true and if so is there a fix for this? Can they rebarreled to make them a better gun for this purpose. I can't afford at this time to lay out 1500-2000 dollars for a Black Powder special. quigley or a gun of this type. Doe anyone here do much cast bullet shooting with the handi? Mine shoots cast bullets pretty well at low velocity with smokless powder. Like up to 1300 fps. If the handi wont do the job, whats the next least expensive way to go? Thanks.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2004, 10:17:44 AM »

Read on...

http://www.castbullet.com/shooting/1871.htm

Deadeye47 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2004, 12:09:23 PM »

Thanks for posting that link...I've read that several times now and I just read it again...always intertaining and enlightening :wink: Got me thinking about makin smoke......then I pinch myself and say what are ya thinkin...spend more money on something else ya won't make the time to shoot...

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2004, 12:47:52 PM »

James, you already have the the Handi and I presume the cases and loading equipment. All trying it is gonna cost you is a can of powder and maybe a mould.

Junior covered it better than I can since I am mostly a smokeless shooter, but the keys are a fat soft bullet, lots of lube, and a compressed charge. I like Lee 459-405-HB, and for BP shooting I'd fill the HB with Crisco and use a grease cookie.

Only problem I can see with a Handi and black is if you let the fouling fill up the shallow rifling. That should not be a problem hunting, and for range shooting, you can just swab the bore every five shots or so. Lots of very soft lube helps with that.

PS-- A Lyman M die would be a big help. Most dies size too much for soft fat bullets.

James B · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2004, 01:09:02 PM »

Thanks for posting that. It was a good read. I love my Handi 45-70 I may order the long barrel for it yet.

hellacatcher · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2004, 01:49:09 PM »

thinks quickdtoo at least I now know what to do with thous 5 dirty 45-70 cases I have setting on my work bench.

James B · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2004, 05:52:27 PM »

I have all the loading stuff. I have a couple bullet moulds as well but right now I don't recall what they are. They are up in my storage shed. Is there a good source for suitable cast bullets or are they all to hard?