Go from 45/70 to 22 Hornet/204 - change barrel change will work

[tonygrz]

Hi,

I have a regular 45/70.  I bought brass, bullets and dies.  After shooting about 25 rounds, I realized I didn't like that caliber.  If I were to trade a 45/70 barrel for a 22 Hornet or 204 what are the chances that the new barrel will fit the reciever I have right now - 50/50, 75%, 90%.  The reason I ask is because I don't want to sell the 45/70 and then get a barrel that doesn't fit.

Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Tony Garza

[trotterlg]

It seems that with the more modern barrels (within the past 4 or 5 years) that they mostly fit well.  If you get one that is too tight and won't latch, then it is a really easy fix, too loose and it is a little more complicated, but with a Hornet it is a low pressure round so it is not so critical on the shimming to be done.  I would give you a well over 50% chance of a barrel fitting if it has never been fitted to a different frame.  If you sell your 45-70 barrel and then send in your frame for a Hornet fitting then life will be good and  you will have a proper fit hornet barrle.  Larry

[LaOtto222]

I think Larry gave you some good advice. Sell your barrel and send your frame in to be factory fitted for new one. A new one does not cost much more than buying a used one. The biggest thing is the wait. I think the 22 Hornet barrel has been discontinued however. They may still have some setting around to fit to frames, not sure on that. You should call first to see what is available, no matter what you want to get. A 204 barrel is still offered as a factory new gun, but call to make sure it is available as a fitted barrel. I know there are many people that fit barrels, but I just have this thing, that I want mine factory fitted. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[Jimbo47]

I've bought/traded four barrels, and two fit perfectly and two did not and had to be shimmed.

I only have two receivers so I've got one receiver that accepts two different barrels that fit, and one barrel I dedicated to my other frame, and the other barrel I gave to a relative because it fit their Handi frame without the shim, and shoots more accurate than I could get it to shoot with a shim.

Both of my barrels that fit perfectly are scary accurate, and the one shimmed barrel I've kept shoots accurate also, but for how long?

If you have more receivers your chances increase that a barrel may fit, and I'm sure there are those who have been lucky and had no problems at all, but it's still somewhat of a gamble just from my experience.

Hopefully Remington will start producing one size fits all barrels for the Handi sometime in the near future!

[Datil]

  I have bought $ barrels here on the forums, Only one would not fit
 Two of my actions, But it would fit the others. Rest of barrels fit just
 like they came from the factory. I guess I have had real good Luck.\
 Marv.

[towpro]

Hi,

I have a regular 45/70.  I bought brass, bullets and dies.  After shooting about 25 rounds, I realized I didn't like that caliber.  If I were to trade a 45/70 barrel for a 22 Hornet or 204 what are the chances that the new barrel will fit the reciever I have right now - 50/50, 75%, 90%.  The reason I ask is because I don't want to sell the 45/70 and then get a barrel that doesn't fit.

Any information on this would be greatly appreciated.

Tony Garza

I am reading between the lines here "I realized I didn't like that caliber".  Is this because of the kick?
My first box of 50 shells I thought I would not be able to finish.  What you need to do is lower your load down some.  Use cast bullets and trap door loads.
While I don't post actual loads, looking back I think H4895 has less kick then H4198 for the same speed.  Also I recall Trailboss was very easy on the sholder.   It is a fun caliber once you get it where you can shoot it.  Oh, I also added this modern "strap on gell cell" that made all the difference in the world.

Plus shooting in from a standing position puts the stock on the correct part of your shoulder, shoot it from the bench and it can wack you.

I added a 22-250 barrel to my 45-70, but that was only because mine had to go back for a latch problem.
I had traded a 17hmr for the buffalo classic, and I wanted something to replace the 17hmr, so I bought a 22-250 barrel.

[buckbeast]

While I don't post actual loads, looking back I think H4895 has less kick then H4198 for the same speed.

If that's true then that is great news for me as H4895 is the only powder I have on hand right now. I'm fairly new to reloading and have been handloading in 5 round batches from the starting load and adding .5 grains per batch.

Buck

[petemi]

Part of shooting big bores is "Shock and Awe".  Yeah, they kick, but so what?  It's manageable.  If folks can't get into it and learn to control the recoil, then I guess they're better off going back to shooting the .22s.  My Handi .45-70 is just standard pallet wood stock, and factory recoil pad.  I know it's going to recoil, I'm ready for it and not afraid of it.  I don't flinch and the bullet goes where it is sent.  I hold it in tight and I'm not bruised.  What's all the issue with recoil???

[Troyboy]

Everybody's perception is different.

[tonygrz]

Thanks for all the great replies.  The recoil wasn't a problem, it's was the accuracy.  I was loading Trail Boss at 12.5 grs.  But I couldn't get it to print better than 2 inches at 25 yards !!!  One friend said I was loading too slow.  But if I speed it up, then I run into recoil problems for me.  Bad shoulders.  So I think I'll just put the barrel, dies and brass on the for sale part and see what the factory has in 22 cal centerfire or so.

Thanks again for the great advice,

Tony Garza

[45-70.gov]

unless  you want to  add  barrels  fit  matters

if  you just  want a different caliber....keep it simple

sell one gun get another

i  would  keep  that  one and  get  another  gun

i  have  the  same  number  of barrels as receivers........twenty something

[towpro]

This grouping problem could be a couple things.  Look in the FAQ about removing the forearm and testing it.  I think I have an O ring between my barrel and forearm and it cleaned up the shots a lot.

I don't know what mine groups like at 25 yards, but I can hit a life size turkey at 400 meters

I have the Buffalo Classic so it has metal on shoulder.  Adding the lace up butt pad really made a world of difference.

I would keep the 45-70 barrel.  Maybe use it to start playing with the holy black (black powder)

[RelicHound]

Part of shooting big bores is "Shock and Awe".  Yeah, they kick, but so what?  It's manageable.  If folks can't get into it and learn to control the recoil, then I guess they're better off going back to shooting the .22s.  My Handi .45-70 is just standard pallet wood stock, and factory recoil pad.  I know it's going to recoil, I'm ready for it and not afraid of it.  I don't flinch and the bullet goes where it is sent.  I hold it in tight and I'm not bruised.  What's all the issue with recoil???

+1 I do not own any big bore rifles as Im just now getting into owning my own rifles but my dad who is a big bore junky has a safe full of the big boys...im not a real big guy and have been beatin and bruised by the big bores all my life,everything from stitches on the brow to a broken thumb..but the times Ive been hurt where my own fault by doing stupid stuff like trying to shoot a big bore pistol one handed or trying to shoot a BMG off hand. all recoil can be controlled...hold on tight and let the adrenalin take control.

[towpro]

This made all the difference in the world on my buffalo classic

[Gohon]

Shooting a gun should be fun and enjoyable.  Sock it in and learn to live with it is pure nonsense.  Felt recoil is different for each individual.  Stock fit, gun balance, recoil pad, and load can all be used to adjust felt recoil and still end up with a gun that will accomplish your objective.  If none of these work for you then by all means switch barrels to a caliber you enjoy or sell the gun and buy the one you want.  All of my guns are fun to shoot.  I could go to the extreme and load them to a level that would be pure punishment to shoot.   But why would one want to be silly enough to do that.........