Author Topic: How Strong .45-70 Contender? (Read 819 times)

scrounger · « **on:** April 30, 2006, 08:05:34 AM »

I have a 23 inch .45-70 barrel on a G2 Frame. I know that recoil is going to stop me long before I blow up the gun, but just how is the Contender rated, Trapdoor, LeverAction, or Ruger No.1 as far as strength? I think my personal limit, not considering recoil, would be 30,000 CUP or less.

rickyp · « **Reply #1 on:** April 30, 2006, 08:20:31 AM »

T/C tells us to stay in the trapdoor limit with both encore and contenders.
I talked to a tech at T/C he told me by all means for a contender stay about trapdoor levels, but an encore can go up to the mid 1895 level but that is from him and not T/C. he did say stay away from ruger levels

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 30, 2006, 08:40:46 AM »

rickyp, has it right.

Johnly · « **Reply #3 on:** April 30, 2006, 02:19:26 PM »

I think the suggestion of using Trapdoor loads in your Contender frame is a good idea.

I don't understand why T/C would shy away from 45-70 #1 loads in an Encore as the hydraulic thrust for a 45-70 case is no worse that that of a 375 H&H which operates at 52kCUP I have a 24" Encore barrel that is just plain painful to shoot with heavy loads. The recoil generated by using these loading levels does tend to tear up the forends on the rifles. I broke a composite forend and pulled the screws out of my barrel and it's in NH getting repaired right now.

rickyp · « **Reply #4 on:** May 01, 2006, 11:40:04 AM »

Quote

The recoil generated by using these loading levels does tend to tear up the forends on the rifles. I broke a composite forend and pulled the screws out of my barrel and it's in NH getting repaired right now.

this might be the reason they warn not to use ruger level loads in a T/C

swampthing · « **Reply #5 on:** May 01, 2006, 02:09:14 PM »

Expanding on the case thrust thing at 52k cup, case head diameter in the larger calibers also plays a major role in determining safe pressure limits. Pressure must go done as case head diameter increases. There is an ol' saying "The gun is a break action not a tough bolt gun."
You will probably never see a factory T/C barrel in a WSM chambering due to this.

Johnly · « **Reply #6 on:** May 01, 2006, 02:33:00 PM »

Exactly.

The case diameter of a 375 H&H forward do the belt is .513" and a 45-70 is .508". If the head thrust is only based on the piston area and the operating pressure, a 45-70 running 52kCUP will stress the frame less than a 375 H&H running at the same pressure.

swampthing · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2006, 01:27:36 AM »

I still would not go over 40K by much in the encore.
28K in the contender.
If you would like a little more velocity at the "Same Pressure" try loading up some lubricated hardcast lead loads with gas checks, if you haven't already. With LBT bullets I can drive a 280g hardcast at 1400fps just as easily as I can drive a 240g jacketed bullet that speed. With up to 28K you have a Lot! of headroom to work with when using hardcast loads.