recoil from the mighty 45-70

[jeff223]

i know we kind of went through this some time ago but i would like to know how bad is the recoil is from the 45-70 loaded up for a Contender pistol.i have a 357max and i shoot that with a max load and i dont think that kicks to bad at all.is the recoil from the 45-70 lots more than a 357max?wrist breaker or not?

i sure looks  and feels like i have been bitten by the TC Contender bug :shock:

im thinking about a used 45-70 barrel but i dont know why??

please and thanks for any replies

[flatlander]

Keep in mind this is my opinion only, but going from the 357 Max to 45-70 is definitely a jump in recoil. I think 44 mag kicks a little more than the max, and the 45-70 kicks a lot more than the 44. If you use the table hobbyist posted a while back, here are the numbers using 7 or 7.5 lb guns (I know its not the same but you'll get the idea. Also it only had 357 mag and not the max.): Numbers are the round, recoil energy, recoil velocity and the load.

.357 Mag. 4.7 6.6  (158 at 1650)                          
.44 Mag. 11.2 9.8 (240 at 1760)
.45-70 23.9  14.8 (300 at 1800)                              
.45-70 18.7 12.7 (405 at 1330)            

This doesn't mean that you can't handle it, but it does mean that you will be dealing with more. Some guys do just fine, others can't take as much. I'm in the later class. I've shot hot loads in 45-70 and 375 JDJ and did OK, but I just didn't like it. But you can always load lighter if you need to...

[Geno]

I agree. It's a huge jump up. The hottest I've tried in a Contender pistol are factory Remington 300 grain HP. They sting when you shoot them. Feels kind of like an aluminum baseball bat stings when you hit the ball a little wrong. About 7 to 10 rounds is the most I can take. Any more and my palm gets bruised. Sure makes my Ruger SRH in .480 feel pretty mild. I cant imagine shooting anything more than the 300 grains, I reload and tend to load them mild. Still do the job very nicely on deer and bear. Worst kicking thing I own is a 10" Contender in .44mag, just something about that combo wants to tear flesh off my fingers with that trigger spur.

[Hawkeye]

I like to shoot my 45-70 but it is one of the Contender Hunter Barrels with the factory break. I shoot 300grn Sierra hollow points and a medium load. I have taken whitetail with it and have been taking it to my land hoping to catch a big hog out in the open.
I thought it kicked some until I got my .375JDJ. 260's out of that 375JDJ is a fire breathing dragon. But, I have the power and energy for anything I could hunt now.

I would go for it.

Mike

[sawfish]

Installing the Pachmayer Grip and Forearm on a 45/70 with factory muzzle brake makes a huge difference in felt recoil.  Mine is a Super 16 with brake and pachmayers, and the recoil with 405 grainers is considerably less than it is in my 45/70 BFR and RPM.  Good luck.

[sageman]

how much will the 45 70 contender barrel with the factory muzzle break kick?

[Hawkeye]

I forgot to add that I shoot mine with the Pachmyer gripper and forend.
I think that my 45LC Ruger Blackhawk has more felt recoil than my 45-70 Hunter barrel. I shoot 300 grn cast from my 45LC and 300 grn hollowpoints from the 45-70.
I know at 100 yds it is bad news on these Oklahoma whitetails.
I shoot a 4x Redfield on it and the scope weight helps a little I'm sure with the recoil.

Mike

[sageman]

will the 15 inch braked kick as much as the 45 70 bfr?