I finally shot the 45-70. After picking Quick's and others on the forms brains. I bought the syenthithc .45-70 after all your good advice I also bought the 1.5x4.5 Bushnell scope and after waiting a while I got a base and hanner spur got the only set of hrings I could find Anglelocks. When I put it togather I stripped the recessed heads on some of the ring screws. The local gun shop had a couple of spares. I bore sighted it and went to the range this afternoon fearing the worst in Recoil and accuracy (I've never had much luck with guns doing the right thing)
90 in the shade !
My first shot was dead zero at 5o yds. At one 100 I hit 1 /12 " high but centered ove the bull I moved up 2 click and fired again dead zero on a 1/2 target dot ! 2" high, now some of the reloading sights say zero at 3" but I didn't. Now, I sat out two mik justgs of water one at 150 another at 175. I shot at the 150 holding on the cap of the jug and missed a little high. Next shot I held center on the jug and hit deaqd center, I wasn't expecting this. Further examination showed I grazed the cap on the first shot. At 175 I again held on the jug cap and busted the jug open. A experienced competative shooter was watching and I told him to shoot the 200 yd gong. He shot and missed low. I asked him where he held and he said dead center. I held along the top of the 12" gong like on a bucks back and smacked it a little low left but it would have been a killing shot on a deer's chest. I wasn't expecting this. I was shooting 300 grn Winchester factory loads, no idea what the vel. is in the 22" bbl or really how high I should sight in at 100 yds. I never tried to shoot for a group, I'm only interested in hunting accuracy.
In a short scession I learned a lot. First, the recoil I feared was non existant ! a real pussycat. Second, it is accurate enough to make a sure killing shot on a deer to 175 yds. The stock is still too long for me, especially when I have hunting garments on ( was shooting in a T shirt and not much if any recoil) Third I'm not worried about the trigger, never noticed it being heavy at all while shooting. On the way home I begian thinking maybe I should get another bbl so I can carry it in my truck for coyotes when scputing around the back 40. What caliber ?
I know one short scession firing 10 shots doesn't mean anything but I was impressed. Oh the horror stories I could tell about trying to get guns to shoot right
Now I'm going to try to shorten the stock and thanks to you guys on the forum I have a good idea how to do it.
THANKS to all the guys on the forum that helped me. I got the right gun I need for my purpose of making a primitative weapon hunt in Ms. next Dec. but I now have more questions about vel. of factory loads in my bbl. how to duplicate them, what powder and could I kick it up a little in vel. ? I was really afraid to shoot this rifle after my experiences with a marlin 95 in .45-70 I had it loaded to the gills and it broke my glasses and hit me between the eyes several times giving me a mild concussion even when shooting off hand. I think you may have me hooked, What cal should the next bbl be? I want something flat shooting,accurate and powerful enough for coyotes and an ocassional deer. I think I will leave my fancy rifles(expensive rifles ) in the closet and haul a H@R in my truck after all it is very handi !
