45/70 Katahdin

[Capt Gary]

Anyone own one?

What are your experiences with accuracy, loads, and hunting? What sight equipment do you use?

Thanks for any data.

[addicted]

I own the 460 S&W Mag Katahdin barrel and I love it other than the lack of adjustment on the rear sight.  Recoil to me was minimal and the muzzle blast wasn't bad at all with ear muffs on.  I just shot it for the first time on Saturday so I can't really get into the accuracy of it yet.

Good Luck, Joel

[DDZ]

I have a Katahdin barrel in 45/70, and I love it. I have heard a lot of people complain about muzzle blast, but any added muzzle blast from the brake dosn't bother me. The load I shoot most, and hunt with is a 300gr. remington over 50grs of RL7. I do not find the recoil with this load any more than a 30/06. When I first got the barrel I wasn't real happy with the groups that it shot. It shot well enough for deer hunting, but I expect a little better than 4 inches at 100 yards. I had the barrel throated and it improved the groups a good bit. It will now do three shots touching at 100 yards. I never really tried to many differant loads because the one mentioned shot well enough to please me. I have a leupold 2x7 on it. I have taken a number of deer with it and the remington bullet does a great job.  One buck I shot that was faceing me at 40 yards, the bullet entered his brisket glanced off his spine, traveled on through its hind quarter, and ended up just under the hide at its back end. I think it was dead before it hit the ground. I can't ask for much better performance from a bullet then that. The recovered bullet weighed 208grs.
The 300gr. Rems are fairly cheap compared to other bullets. As I mentioned I love this barrel on my Encore. It is light weight, and it nice handling. Most of the hunting I do is in crab apple thickets where 75 yards is the longest shot. I have also done some open field hunting with it. The longest distance I've taken a deer with it is 175 yards. I never hunted with a 45/70 untill I got this barrel, and I find it hard to leave it in the safe when deer season rolls around.

[Varmint Hunter]

I  have a 20" Katahdin 45-70 ProHunter. The rifle shoots about 1.5" groups with various loads. It will put 3 rounds into an inch with 56.0gr of H4895 under the Hornady 350 FN bullet. Recoil isn't that bad with velocity between 1,900-1,950 ft/sec.

I haven't had the chance to shoot it @ 200 yds yet but I imagine 3" groups would be fairly easy to achieve. More accuracy from a 45-70 isn't really of any advantage.

[Capt Gary]

Thanks for the notes guys.
I appreciate the load data.
I have a Pro Hunter (stainless) 20" barrel. I picked up a Leupold VX III 1.5 X 5 for it on Tuesday and will mount it in Leupold QD rings and base.
Not sure when I'll have time to get it to the range, but really looking forward to giving it a try. Always wanted a 45/70 for some reason.
Any additional feedback will be great.

[Varmint Hunter]

I have had a red dot sight, a 3x9 Nikon, and now have a Leupold VXIII 1.5x5x30mm illuminated on my short barreled Katahdin 45-70. By far, I like the Leupold the best. I put this rifle together mostly for shooting Black Bears over bait but will probably drop a deer or two just for fun. I have noticed in the past that black crosshairs are VERY hard to see against the hide of a Black Bear, that's why I opted for the illuminated version for this particular rifle.

I used a set of Burris Signature rings on a steel weaver style base for the mount. My only complaint is that I can not get a GOOD hold on the hammer with my thumb because there is insufficient clearance between the hammer and the scope. Rotating the hammer does not help at all. I don't want to raise the scope because it is currently at a good height for consistent cheek weld.

Other than that I really enjoy shooting the rifle. With the straight walled case you can down load the 45-70 quite a bit without the danger associated with light loads in a bottle necked cartridge. Like some have said "You can load the 45-70 from mild to wild!"

[Capt Gary]

The hammer problem bothered me to. I just reset it in the normal position and added and hammer extender with heavy knurling.
Works much better.

[Hopalong7]

I bought a used 18" 45-70 Katahdin barrel with muzzle tamer.  My original idea was to cut off the muzzle tamer and use it as a 16.5" bull pistol barrel, but it is so much fun to shoot as a carbine I can't bring myself to do it.  Besides I've already got two 45-70 Contender pistol barrels.  I started with a Tasco Pro-point on it and it did good but have now switched to a Williams WGRS barrel mounted aperture with the original front fire sight.  I have this same set up on a 45-70 Handi Rifle and love it.  Haven't had a chance to shoot it yet...being turkey season you see.  Report on that latter. LOVE them 45-70's!!!
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt 

[Varmint Hunter]

The hammer problem bothered me to. I just reset it in the normal position and added and hammer extender with heavy knurling.
Works much better.

Hammer extensions have been a bit controversial for a while. Once I get a good handle on an accuracy load for this rifle I will add a lightweight extension to see if it adversely affects ignition or not. I also have a T/C rubber cartridge holder that slips tightly over the forearm & barrel. I an anxious to see whether or not this affects accuracy too.