Author Topic: Accuracy of 45-70 Handi Rifle (Read 3448 times)

slimak707 · « **on:** May 25, 2009, 03:24:55 PM »

I bought winchester 300 gn hollow points this weekend and went shooting today. I shot a 1.47, 1.52, 1.55 and 1.62 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards. Is this acceptable for this caliber and rifle? I have an AR-15 rifle that i built from various parts that I shoot between .4 and .6 consistantly. I know this isn't going to be a tack driver, I just want to know what most people consider acceptable for this caliber and rifle. I am aware that the ammo, shooter, and elements are all major variables in accuracy, just want to hear what other people are getting out of their gun.

bishopgrandpa · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2009, 03:36:47 PM »

An inch and a half at 100 yds for a 45-70 is acceptable for most. It is not a benchrest caliber. Some get smaller groups but if this is a hunting rifle you are hard pressed to find off hand groups in any caliber better than that. Keep trying and know that many would like to do as well.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #2 on:** May 25, 2009, 04:27:22 PM »

That's about what the Win silver box does in my SS Ultra Hunter. H&R's standard of accuracy is 2" or better, 3-shot, 100yd groups with factory ammo, handloads will do much better tho.

Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #3 on:** May 25, 2009, 04:34:09 PM »

Who said anything about off hand groups?

petemi · « **Reply #4 on:** May 26, 2009, 07:46:44 AM »

Quote from: tykempster on May 25, 2009, 04:34:09 PM

Who said anything about off hand groups?

Here's my off hand group.

X

X

X

Anyone want to try to beat that?

? Huh

Pete

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #5 on:** May 26, 2009, 09:35:45 AM »

And don't forget that most rifle groups are 3 shots instead of 5.

kevinsmith5 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 26, 2009, 01:54:04 PM »

I assume this is standard 45-70 and not BC?

Try the "O" ring on the stock bolt, that is the quickest accurizer trick I have seen. And is this a new barrel? If so it will probably settle in as the barrel gets broke in. The FAQ's have some lapping advice that can speed that up.

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #7 on:** May 26, 2009, 02:20:12 PM »

Pete, that is meat on the ground, brother. Any better than that is just gravy on the meat. DP

jim36 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 26, 2009, 02:51:40 PM »

Hey Pete Have you noticed how some of these rifles shoot better on the computer than they do on the range? Just a thought.

Swampman · « **Reply #9 on:** May 26, 2009, 02:56:15 PM »

Forget the light bullets. The 405s are much more accurate.

slimak707 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 26, 2009, 03:24:55 PM »

i bought the 405 cast bullets and i have imr 4064, rl 15, benchmark and 2230. i saw load data on the hodgdon wedsite using 4064 and bench mark. has anyon tried these powders? il be buying rl 7 maybe next weekend, but will be reloading this week for next weekend.

damascus-doug · « **Reply #11 on:** May 26, 2009, 05:44:09 PM »

Quote from: jim36 on May 26, 2009, 02:51:40 PM

Hey Pete Have you noticed how some of these rifles shoot better on the computer than they do on the range? Just a thought.

I am starting to see this sometimes myself. I am fighting a new 30-30 trying to get it to shot the standard 2 inch group at 100.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #12 on:** May 26, 2009, 05:47:41 PM »

Quote from: damascus-doug on May 26, 2009, 05:44:09 PM

Quote from: jim36 on May 26, 2009, 02:51:40 PM
Hey Pete Have you noticed how some of these rifles shoot better on the computer than they do on the range? Just a thought.
I am starting to see this sometimes myself. I am fighting a new 30-30 trying to get it to shot the standard 2 inch group at 100.

Handi Basics 101, if that doesn't do it, send it back to H&R for repair.

Tim

ruppster · « **Reply #13 on:** May 27, 2009, 01:36:55 AM »

Quote from: slimak707 on May 26, 2009, 03:24:55 PM

i bought the 405 cast bullets and i have imr 4064, rl 15, benchmark and 2230. i saw load data on the hodgdon wedsite using 4064 and bench mark. has anyon tried these powders? il be buying rl 7 maybe next weekend, but will be reloading this week for next weekend.

I use about 59.X (don't remember right off) gr of IMR4064 under 300gr HP, according to the Hodgdon site it is around 1850 fps (starting lever action load). It kills everything I shoot with it, I don't shoot paper except for sighting in. For me, 10 or less of those is plenty. No problem with squirrels, chipmunks, and crows at 60-100 yds. It's barely even overkill.

I have not shot a deer with it yet, but don't expect to have to track it.
A fun plinking load is 15gr of Trail Boss under a 350gr cast bullet (around 1100fps). Those feel like a .410 and consistently break bottles, rocks, and anything else at 60 yds or so.

rex6666 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 27, 2009, 03:39:56 AM »

Petemi has a 45/70 barrel that will put 5 shots of fac.405 in the same hole at 50
yards.

petemi · « **Reply #15 on:** May 27, 2009, 03:47:01 AM »

Rex, you're not just whistlin' Dixie. It sure does. And, the holes aren't very far apart at 300 yards. How's yours doing?

Pete

rex6666 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 27, 2009, 03:49:04 AM »

Mine is doing fine, haven't got to shoot it much, but it will shoot better than me.

petemi · « **Reply #17 on:** May 27, 2009, 05:00:29 AM »

Just to clear things up for the rest of you folks, Rex and I traded .45-70 ejector for extractor barrels about a year ago. Both are super long range smackers. We're both happy and they both work well. I've said it before, If I had to have only one, it would be my .45-70.

Pete

jim36 · « **Reply #18 on:** May 27, 2009, 06:08:14 AM »

THE45 70 HANDI, SYN STOCK AND FOREARM, IS DEFINITELY MY " FUN GUN". I PURCHASED A BOX OF # 83 O RINGS { PLBG DEPT} FROM lOWES. I PUT 3 OF THESE O RINGS ON THE BARREL FOREARM STUD. THE REASON FOR 3, IS BECAUSE OF THE RECESS HOLE IN THE FOREARM STOCK. THEN I PUT THE 1/4 X20 SET SCREW IN THE BARREL LUG. THIS BRINGS THE FOREARM TO THE SAME POSITION EVERY TIME IT IS MOVED OR REPLACED. GOT THIS IDEA FROM TH FAQ S. IT WORKS!!! MINE IS A VERY GOOD SHOOTER. ,I LIKE IT, THATS WHY IT PROBABLY MY FAVORITE. JIM36

tykempster · « **Reply #19 on:** May 27, 2009, 09:51:45 AM »

Blackhawker · « **Reply #20 on:** May 27, 2009, 10:16:52 AM »

Quote from: tykempster on May 27, 2009, 09:51:45 AM

Well, I know those weren't point blank shots because there are no powder burns.

THAT'S IMPRESSIVE!!!
What was the distance and, dare I ask, what was the load? At least, powder type, jacketed or cast??
If you don't want to post loads, not a problem. I don't really like posting exact loads for liability reasons.

petemi · « **Reply #21 on:** May 27, 2009, 10:26:12 AM »

Hey, Blackhawker, ya gotta watch it around Ty. The kid's a shootist, and when he's done, better check your a$$ to make sure it's still there. Bless you both

Pete

The Hermit · « **Reply #22 on:** May 27, 2009, 03:22:10 PM »

My 45-70 with Hornady 325gr, using shooting sticks, offhand, at 100 yds, gives a group I can cover with a coffee cup. I use a 3x9 scope. Good enough for my purposes. I am very pleased with my Handi.
A thanks is order to Tim for the Handi tips.

The Hermit

Swampman · « **Reply #23 on:** May 27, 2009, 04:45:55 PM »

Go to the 405 Remington bullet & your groups will be 1/2 that.

Blackhawker · « **Reply #24 on:** May 28, 2009, 06:23:43 AM »

Quote from: petemi on May 27, 2009, 10:26:12 AM

Hey, Blackhawker, ya gotta watch it around Ty. The kid's a shootist, and when he's done, better check your a$$ to make sure it's still there. Bless you both

Pete

Sure seems to be a shootist, that's some impressive shooting! I'm still trying to get 1.5 to 2.0 inch groups with my BC at 50 and 75 yards, of course, I'm shooting with open sights and no optics. I have some cast loads that seem to be working well but I'm soon going to try jacketed bullets....so I thought I'd ask.

Some of you guys have really mastered these Handi's and BC's.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #25 on:** May 28, 2009, 06:46:27 AM »

Not factory ammo, but here's a couple peep sight targets I've shot, first is at 100yds with a 45-70 Handi that's in the Peep and Firesights FAQs link with WGRS and a firesight, includes a right to left sight adjustment between shots 3 and 4, load is MSP's 350gr Hornady RN and 28gr 2400.

Second pic is 200yd target with the 525gr Beartooth in the 45-120 using a Williams FP-TK.

Tim

tykempster · « **Reply #26 on:** May 28, 2009, 08:10:47 AM »

That particular group was only 25 yards, BUT it was I believe 10 (maybe 11) grains Unique under a 405 grain cast bullet. Sounds like a subsonic 22 load. I use this for squirrels. It has done this at 50 yards as well, along with some sub-moa groups at 100.

tykempster · « **Reply #27 on:** May 28, 2009, 08:14:52 AM »

100, 200, 300 yards with 45-70

tykempster · « **Reply #28 on:** May 28, 2009, 08:16:30 AM »

That's definitely not a 300 yard group...

Blackhawker · « **Reply #29 on:** May 28, 2009, 09:46:54 AM »

Tim, that's nice shooting with the non-optical sights! I read that link and am going to try MSP's load with the 2400. I've been having good luck with 2400 under cast 500 grain bullets. I'll definitely have to try the 350 jacketed with the 2400 next.
Funny thing about 2400 is that it seems like a lot of the modern load books don't list 2400 very much for loads these days as compared to some of the older books. Any ideas why?

tykempster, once again, nice shooting. It seems like the slower velocities give better results. I was under the impression that I had to juice up the velocity in order to get a better spin and stability on the bullets, but you and Tim and others seem to show otherwise.

How'd you catch that little lady at 300 yards like that? That's good shootin' too!

Thanks for the input guys!