Ruger .45-70 Question

[Swampman]

Does this caliber seem more forgiving in the #1/#3 than some of the other calibers, or do the .45-70 rifles still need a lot of tweaking?

[DEACONLLB]

I picked up a new in box but older mod. number one med. sporter in 45-70 and am shooting a reduced load 250 grn soft pt and using the Trail boss powder, recoil is mild and from a cheap bore sighter to in the red on target was about 7 rounds at 70 yrds with a 3x9 Baskah scope. The number one that I had the biggest problem with was the 06 American
Liberty with factory ammo. same with a 243 but not as bad as the 06. I have a 1 in 7 mm Rem. Mag and am using a 130 grn Seirra soft pt with H4895 powder in a reduced load, and first shot was high and to left made an adj. second shot was center and left of red dot on target,made adj, third shot was just touching the red dot another adj. and fourth shot was almost dead center all at 70 yrds which is where I sight all my rifles in at as that is about the longest shot I will get. I think in my opinion is that the factory ammo heats the barrel up too much. With my hand loads the barrel does not get as warm, I also have an RSI in 7x57 and it shoots great with 130 grn and H4895 powder. I  Have some reduced loads for the 06 and will see how they do when I have the time. I have made no mods. to any of the number ones and I think that working up a load is the answer.
 
Deaconllb

[Darrell Davis]

Swampman,
 
I have tweaked my #1s over the years, because that is what I do.
 
I don't like barrel pressure on any hunting rifle, so began to float and bed my #1s just like I do any other hunting rifles I use.
 
Probably started the bedding and floating when I built my first #1 up from a new barreled action.
 
Before that point, I never saw a need to "tweak" and everything always shot very well.
 
On my current 45/70 #1s, I replaced the ugly Alexander Henry forarm tip with ebony and while at it bedded and floated the forend.
 
I have not found the 45/70 to fall into line as per groups as fast as past #1s, but this is totally a cast boolit rifle and as such I suspect that to be the reason.
 
I have recently come to the points where I'm pleased with groups, but I have tried a good number of powders and am on my second boolit mold.
 
I suspect that some of my earlier reasons for less then great groups, were because of velocity as being an old "J" bullet shooter I approached the loading cast boolits in the same way, picking a starting load and working up from there.
 
AS you likely know, with a #1 and the mild to wild possibilities of the 45/70 in that rifle, even working up I never maxed out and was running well over 2000fps.  Have seen a touch over 2500fps with a 355gr LBT/WFN and my last Fall hunting load running was 2290fps.
 
My current loads with a 465gr boolit is running in the 1600 - 1700fps.
 
Keep em coming!
 
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Schuter]

My observations have been that the smaller-caliber #1s have been more sensitive to the forend hanger issue than the larger bores.  I have several number ones, chambered in .220 Swift, .25-06, .357 Mag, .375 H&H, .416 Rigby, and .45-70.  The .220 Swift and .25-06 benefited a little from the forend fix, shrinking the groups and stopping the vertical stringing.  They both shoot consistently under an inch at 100 yds.  The rest were never prone to stringing or grouping oddly, and shoot quite well.  Regarding the .45-70, my rifle has very distinct preferences.  With cast bullets, cheap factory fodder will often print 3" or more at 100 yds.  Meticulous handloads with (properly sized) cast or jacketed bullets shoot very well, often cloverleafing. 

Other single-shot obsessed friends of mine have seen the same tendency. 

Regards,
Schuter

[steve@357maximum.com]

Swampman,

In the past few years I have owned two different .357 Mag. Ruger No. 1 rifles.  The first had reamed to .357 Maximum.  Both of these rifles needed tweaking to reduce the vertical stringing.  A year ago or so, I purchased a like new, used No. 1 in .45-70.  This one hammers away at the same point of impact hot/cold and clean or dirty.  This has been with a wide range of jacketed bullets handloads.  I don't know if it is representative of the caliber or just luck of the draw on the rifle.  From the factory, the fore end and hanger system is the same on all 3 rifles.  I cannot explain why the .45-70 shoots so much more consistent, it just does in my experience.

Steve

[chewey]

I have a .270 RSI that has given me problems over the years with inconsistent accuracy. I still get fliers. But it is so pretty I keep it.
 
I also have a #1 in 45/70. This rifle has shot good from day one. I started out using the PMC "hot" load. When that became unavailable I went to the Hornady load. Both shoot good. Maybe the stiffer barrel on the larger calibre makes a difference.

[Swampman]

I picked up a #3 in .45-70 and it will shoot 1/2 MOA most of the time.

[Spanky]

I picked up a #3 in .45-70 and it will shoot 1/2 MOA most of the time.

That's one of the best looking rifles ever in my opinion.
 
 
 
Spanky

[Brinky]

I had a #1 45-70 that shot everything I fed it well.  I started with the Leverevolution stuff to get some brass and to get it on paper.  I shot Remington 405's and an array of handloads, 300's 350's 400 and 405's.  I still have a half pound of H4198 sitting around which is what I loaded in it.  I really liked the Beartooth 350 gr Jr Piledrivers.  Hammers of Thor.  I do recall it being easy to find a load that it liked but I traded it for an 06' M77 Hawkeye which I love.

[woodchukhntr]

I picked up a #3 in .45-70 and it will shoot 1/2 MOA most of the time.

My buddy is thinking of thinning out his guns soon and I have my eye on his #3 in .45-70.  The problem is that is the worst recoiling gun I have ever shot.  I don't remember the load, but it was with the Hornady 350 gr. bullet and was so fierce that I went looking for asprins to cure my headache and sore shoulder after only 3 shot standing!  The same for him.  I later inherited the rest of that batch of loads, shot them in a Handi rifle and it was manageable.
 
The question is:  What load(s) gave you 1/2 MOA?

[Swampman]

30 grains of IMR-4198 under a 405 grain cast bullet.

[Darrell Davis]

Woodchukhntr,
 
Again, just the Ol'Coot's opinion, but for such a great gun, the butt stock on the #3 is in the pits for a caliber such as the 45/70.
 
Look for a #1 butts stock and get a GOOD gunsmith to add the tad bit extra bend to the action lever.  You'll have a nice rifle with much less of a nasty habit.
 
I have at least two friends with the same experience you have had. PAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I shoot the #1s and with it's 22" barrel, it is not a lot heavier then the #3.  On the bench I use a sissy bag, and for off hand shoot'in or hunting, not a problem.
 
Keep em coming!
 
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[Swampman]

Un-boogered #3s are getting harder and harder to find.  I hate to see them messed with.  If you want a #1 buy one......just my 2 cents.

[woodchukhntr]

Swampman,
I agree and kind of like the #3 for what it is, as is.   If I were to get it I'll just leave it as-is and develop a more manageable load.

[Brinky]

A #1 with middle of the road loads is quite manageable for anyone who has been shooting for a while.  Not a youth gun by any means though.  However one of the great things about the 45-70 is the range of loads you can shoot through it.  One of my favorites for getting rid of squirrels was 12gr of blue dot with a load of birdshot on top of it. I used a fiber wad to separate them and capped it with wax.  For close shots on squirrels you couldn't beat it and it was fun as heck.  Real handy to have a couple in the pocket or side saddle when hunting.