Author Topic: 45/70 recoil (Read 7217 times)

wind drift · « **on:** February 21, 2010, 10:13:59 AM »

Whats the recoil of a 45/70 opposed to a 30/30 alot of dif. or a whole lot.THANKS

Old Grizz · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2010, 10:50:45 AM »

Recoil from a 45-70 is about like a 12 ga. slug gun.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2010, 10:57:04 AM »

Unless you are very young, the recoil of the 45-70 should not be a problem, if you shoot a 12 ga. shotgun it will be no worse...go to the range and ask someone to try theirs...

Dances with Geoducks · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:12:09 AM »

With no bones holding my shooting shoulder together, I can shoot 3-4 rounds from a 300 win mag or a 12 gauge

I can shoot my 45-70 all day long.

Im not shooting 300 gr store boughts, but 400-500-565gr cast with modern powder.

With holy black, there is even less recoil than modern

S.E.Ak · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:15:03 AM »

There are mild recoil loads and loads equal to any big bore you can name.A cowboy load in a Marlin will be very different than a 440gr Bufflao Bore load out of a H&R Handie.It may be less than a 30-06 or a lot more depending.

Old Grizz · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:30:21 AM »

Quote from: S.E.Ak on February 21, 2010, 11:15:03 AM

There are mild recoil loads and loads equal to any big bore you can name.A cowboy load in a Marlin will be very different than a 440gr Bufflao Bore load out of a H&R Handie.It may be less than a 30-06 or a lot more depending.

Good point. I like to use 540 gr. Hammerheads from Garrett when I hunt for griz and the recoil is pretty stout but when I shoot either 405 gr. or 325gr. recoil isn't bad.

Smokin Joe · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2010, 11:58:39 AM »

If you want to see some numbers, try the recoil calculator at:

http://www.handloads.com/calc/recoil.asp

In a 7.5 lb rifle:

.30-30 170 gn @ 2200' = 11.16 ft lbs (9.79 fps recoil velocity)

.45-70 300 gn @ 1800' = 20.70 ft lbs (13.3 fps recoil velocity)

.45-70 405 gn @ 1330' = 20.62 ft lbs ( 13.3 fps recoil velocity)

So, in equal weight rifles, the .45-70 will recoil with almost twice the recoil energy and about 1/3 more recoil velocity.

mattmillerrx · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2010, 12:44:47 PM »

My Ruger #1 handloads are 32 fp and 16 fps. I can only shoot about 10 off the bench. Off hand not so bad.

wind drift · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2010, 02:25:41 PM »

Thanks guys the reason i ask is my fatherinlaw buddy is down from ALASKA and wanted a 30/30 for bear and moose and i told him he would be better off with the 45/70,but i told him it might kick like a mule he is in his mid 60 not that matters but im just sayin.THANKS

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2010, 05:34:50 PM »

wind drift -

Recoil depends on the loads you shoot. Cowboy and Remington/Winchester/Federal factory .45-70 loads are pretty mild. Garrett and Buffalo Bore loads are a whole different animal- and in a whole different class when it comes to authority on the receiving end, too.

A .30-30 will generate around 12-14 foot-pounds of recoil. A .30-06 does about 22-24. My .45-70 hunting loads run from about 35 to 48 foot-pounds.

jpuke · « **Reply #10 on:** February 22, 2010, 02:02:35 AM »

I've never felt the recoil of my 45/70 when fired at live game. (420 grain bullet/1850 fps) At the bench it hurts if your position is off. I find I have to sit up straighter and then hold on to the rifle with my hand resting on the front sandbag to get a good range session in. If not, it will pound me pretty well.

It should be a pretty good step up in recoil from a 30-30 if you're shooting the stouter loads. I love my Ruger #1 - 45/70.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2010, 03:06:03 AM »

I have found that the Handi rifles seem to kick less than other brands shooting the same loads.
45-70 loads seem a lot harder out of a #1 & #3 than they are in any of my Handis.
Same goes when compaired with a Marlin lever action.
It must be the way the stocks are shaped or the way they fit me.
I know that a 3.5" #4 buck load out of a wood stocked Browning pump 10ga isn't a bit harder that a 3" #4 buck load out of a plastic stocked Winchester 1300 12ga.
That's OK though, Sims Limsavers can tame them all down!

LONGTOM

oldfort · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2010, 05:52:27 AM »

When I was young and skinny, recoil bothered me, but I shot a lot in summer with t-shirts. Now I'm old and fat and only shoot heavy stuff in cool weather with heavier clothes. I really don't notice too much recoil difference in my .30-30, .45-70, up to .300WBY. I have never noticed recoil on any rifle that I fired in the field, .300WBY being the heaviest. Same with my shotguns, but I don't shoot turkeys with my shoulder back on a tree. Good luck.

foxhound · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2010, 05:50:34 AM »

For some reason, I find the 45/70 recoil not to be as bothersome as my 30-06 that weighs about the same. The 06 seems like a sharp shove, where the 45/70 seems like someone just hit me in the shoulder with a big pillow....just my observations, based on 180s in the 06 and 405 Rem factories in the bigger bore. Made me fall in love with big bores!
Rick

efremtags · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2010, 11:53:50 AM »

rem factory loads are mild. If you stick with trap door level, the 45/70 is not a bad gun. Full bore 40kPSI loads are as brutal as 12g slugs in a 7lb gun. A new recoild pad makes a big difference, but it is not very tolerable off the bench past 20 rounds or so. Off hand it isn't very bad.

The 30-30 is a cream puff in comparison.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2010, 04:09:30 PM »

This is totally IMHO, but being new to the 45/70 I find it can be a handfull.

I just mounted my scope yesterday, but had already loaded up some loads to shoot with the iron sights and find them to be out of my comfort range.

The load, 38gr. of H4198.

Haven't put them over the crono, but expect then to be in the 1600 - 1700fps range with a RCBS 405gr bullet.

The bullet weighs out at 427 - 428gr, with lube and gas check.

My test loads for use with the scope are expected to be in the 1200 - 1500fps range.

Looking at the possibility of a cast bullet in the 300gr. range. Go for a bit higher vel. and equal or less kick then with the 400gr slug.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Swampman · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2010, 04:35:40 PM »

Proper loads don't kick much at all. Loads that exceed SAMMI spec do. Buy some Remington 405 grain factory loads. They'll kill anything and they don't kick much at all.

LowNSlow · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2010, 06:26:42 AM »

I shoot alot of 12ga 3inch mag while duck and goose hunting that I don't really notice, but when I shoot my Buffalo Classic I know it. Maybe it's the steel butt plate and the fact that I haven't shot at game with it yet, I probably won't feel it when shooting at a deer. Having said that I still can't wait to take it out and shoot it again.

bladerunner · « **Reply #18 on:** March 21, 2010, 06:57:30 AM »

LowNSlow,
What load are ya runnin through your BC?

LowNSlow · « **Reply #19 on:** March 21, 2010, 07:13:23 AM »

Hornady LeveRevolution 325gr, it's the only ammo available locally right now. I would like to try the 405gr when I can get some. I don't find the Hornady uncomfortable but after 8 or 10 rounds I do know I've been shooting.

calling4life · « **Reply #20 on:** March 21, 2010, 11:06:42 AM »

Man, it must be my frame or something. I go out and shoot clays at a farmers field, he doesn't mind, we usually buy a few boxes of clays @90 clays each, and I'll shoot a case or so through my shotgun. It isn't odd to shoot a case, then when duck and goose hunting, I've had days where I've shot quite a lot of rounds, not to brag

(Some days it just seems like I can't hit.)

I would never say my 4570 is close to my 12 gauge, if I shoot 20 rounds through my 4570, I really feel it, off hand or not. I have shot the 325 leverrevolutions and now shoot 300 grain Federal fusions...

I've also owned a 7mm, 300 rsaum, and recently my buddy bought a 300 RUM, none of which I thought kicked as much as my 4570, and both of us thought the 4570 kicked more than the 300 RUM, as we brought them both out to sight in one day.

So, I don't know what to say, I even have a limbsaver slip on recoil pad over the factory, I did it because the length of pull was way short for what I like, but perhaps it doesn't fit right and is creating more abuse

IDK

All that being said, I love it, and if your buddy is in Alaska, I know I'd feel safer with a 4570 shooting some stopper rounds, as opposed to the 30/30. The 4570 may kick, but I can put that aside and still shoot it as accurately as I wanted from the outset. (3 shot tight overlapping clover leaf at 50 yards)

wtxbadger · « **Reply #21 on:** March 24, 2010, 02:11:27 PM »

I shoot a H&R single shot 45-70 and would describe the recoil as more of a shove than a sharp kick. Comparing it to my .280 Remington barrel, I would say that the .280 kicks harder than the 45-70, and don't think the felt recoil is that much more than a 30-30. Just my 2 cents, but I fell in love with the 45-70 and don't shoot my other barrels hardly any after trying the 45-70. I mainly shoot the factory Remington 405 grain ammo.

Swampman · « **Reply #22 on:** March 24, 2010, 03:50:42 PM »

I might add that I never really give recoil much thought. I like it in fact.

efremtags · « **Reply #23 on:** March 26, 2010, 12:35:57 PM »

That last statement is inconsistent with your numerous comments on 300GR ammo and excessive recoil.

Swampman · « **Reply #24 on:** March 26, 2010, 01:00:57 PM »

Only to you.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #25 on:** April 03, 2010, 02:13:46 PM »

Interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After mounting the scope, I finally made it to the bench to begin my tests.

But the interesting parts is, I was very pleasently surprised! To say the least!!

The pain and discomfort of the #1 recoil was almost entirely from a low head position.

Trying to use the standard iron sights, required me to use a low head position which in turn allowed the comb to beat my cheek.

With the higher head position used with the scope, NOT A PROBLEM!

The loads which had seemed to beat me up, are no longer doing so. This was a 428gr. RCBS slug ahead of 38gr. H4198, for a vel of just a bit over 1600fps.

I have a bum left shoulder, so I need to work on reaching out onto the forearm a bit more and taking a good grip with that hand, but all in all I am no longer questioning the 45/70 adventure.

I also have a new LBT, 350gr WFN mold ordered, so velocities in the high teens or low 2000s should be very reachable with the lighter bullet.

I Have had problems before with guns having excessive drop in the butt, so the comfort of a higher head position stands to reason.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #26 on:** April 03, 2010, 03:35:20 PM »

Darrell, glad to hear the #1 is doing well...It was so windy and nasty here today that target shooting would have extremely difficult...sounds like Idaho is having better weather than we are.....I will have to get my Marlin .45-70 out and do some shooting with it...I only use comm. bullets so I did have to mold any bullets..it is pretty accurate all the more I have shot it...I would like to try it on bear this spring....in I will try it on a deer or antelope next fall...good luck....

msorenso · « **Reply #27 on:** April 03, 2010, 07:29:35 PM »

Recoil form 45-70 is well, pretty weak. Even if you move up to Buffalo Bore is far from shoulder killing. A 270 or 30-06 has more recoil than regular factory 45-70

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #28 on:** April 04, 2010, 07:24:36 AM »

Well, Msorenso ------------

I will agree that the Springfield Trapdoor loads are kitten soft, but the saying about loading a 45/70 from "mild to wild" is totally and 100% true.

The loads which are safely shootable in the RUGER #1 are a far, far streach from "pretty weak" and are indeed fully and completely into the wild level, way above anything ever shot or possible to shoot from a 270 or 30/06.

Although I will probably shoot a load at the "wild" level, just because I safely can, it will never be shot for pleasure or hunting at that level as the 45/70 has long ago proven it's worth below those levels.

My hats off to those who enjoy continued shooting of the 45/70, 458 etc. at "Wild" levels, but although my load of choice will likely be above 270/30-06 recoil levels I have no need to prove myself beyond that.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #29 on:** June 23, 2010, 06:20:46 PM »

Well, the new 45/70 - 350gr. LBT mold has arrived and been used. More then enough bullets have been sized/lubed for test loads, so will soon - I hope - be back at the bench for tests.

I did shoot some 428gr loads a couple weeks back. 44gr IMR 4198 gave a bit over 1960fps and although they come back with authority, the pain is not there as when I shot the 1600fps loads with the low and bad head position.

My first test loads with the 350gr will be in the 1800 - 2100fps range, so hope to find a good one in there someplace using IMR 3031 & 4198.

Keep em coming!

CDOC