45-70 NEF RIFLE

[Nebraska Kelly]

Hello. I am new to the forum and have a question about a NEF 45/70 I just bought. The gun is a NEF sb2 with a straight english style stock and the wood is laminated. It is very colorful with lots of green and blue and brown. It weighs next to nothing. It has open sights. That stock puts the sights right in line with my eye. I am worried that straight stock will kick me into next week though. Does anyone out there shoot a light weight NEF with a straight stock? I also have an H&R ultra in 308 and that gun shoots very well. About 2 inch groups with winchester 150gr factory ammo. I am happy enouhg about that group to leave it alone. Anything I can shoot with a one inch rifle can for darn shure be shot with a two inch rifle. But back to the REAL topic. I had an old nef in 45/70 with a wood stock about 6 years ago. That recoil was very managable for me. I reloaded full power 300gr loads for it. I want to move up to the hornaday 350 round nose flat point bullet at full power. Do any of you have a good load that shoots well in the handi worked up for it?  In the past I have had several other nef rifles. two in 30-30 that shot the best of any nef's I have had. They loved winchester 150 powerpoints. They would do an honest and repeatable 1 1/2 all day right on center. This is my first post and I would enjoy any information you care to give.
Kelly
NEBRASKA HUNTER

[MSP Ret]

Nebraska Kelly, As long as the straight stock has a recoil pad don't worry about it. The straight stocks are usually used on the shotguns and my 12 gauge H&R sures kicks a lot harder than my 45-70.
Regarding the Hornady 350 grain RNFP bullet (.359), it is one of my favorite bullets for my 45-70 Handi. I load it behind 28.0 grains of 2400 and it is a tackdriver, a one holer at fifty if you do your part, a sweet shooter with little recoil also.....<><.... :grin:

[tscott]

I bought the same gun ... New condition used, 3 years ago. I called
NEF to inquire as to the horror stories on recoil. Woman there confirmed
how horrible it was. Undaunted I went to the range... Nothing could be further from the truth!! Even ended up taking off the Sims add on
pad... The gun is a pussy cat. Maybe my length 6'5" 205 helped absorb.
I only put the Sims back on to improve fit, with my length of pull. A
cheap way out for 6 footers.

[Cottonwood]

I reloaded full power 300gr loads for it. I want to move up to the hornaday 350 round nose flat point bullet at full power. Do any of you have a good load that shoots well in the handi worked up for it?  Kelly
NEBRASKA HUNTER

Depending on the trajectory that you want, you will get less recoil using the ol 405-gr and 15.0 gr of Unique.  This load is dang accurate and recoils less than my sons Marlin 336C 30-30.

For hunting this year with my 45-70, I'm using a very soft cast of 30/1 500-gr flat nose with a black powder load.  This covers if I find my elk at the same time or along the way.  I have only loaded cast bullets for my 45-70 since I like to use BP loads as well as smokeless.  It's all in the flavor of what you want.

You don't have to load the 45-70 super-charged for it to do its work, the bullet will mow them down like they been hit by a frieght train.