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Author Topic: newbie w/45-70  (Read 703 times)

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Offline turkeyeye

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newbie w/45-70
« on: January 02, 2007, 04:34:22 AM »
Hello all,

I am new here and new to the 45/70 Handi-Rifle.  As many of you probably know, Mississippi enacted a law last year that makes any single shot firearm with a patent before 1894 and .38 caliber or larger legal during the primitive weapons seasons.  So I purchased the 45/70 handi-rifle as many have.  The 38/55's in the Buffalo Classic have been popular to hand-loaders.  I plan on reloading the 45/70 next year, I already have dies but little time left in deer season.

I just sold an encore and I had a 375 H&H barrel for it, I have always liked big powerful cartridges.  A very interesting web site that I have found on the 45/70's is garrettcartridges.com.  One guy took the 45/70 on a safari and killed the Big Five with hard cast bullets which shot through a cape buffalo lengthwise which was very impressive to me.

I have seen many posts on here about loading the 45/70 and can't wait to work some deer loads up.  Another question that I have is I plan on sending mine in and getting either a 204 or 223 barrel.  I will be handloading so ammunition price is irrelevant.  I know that alot of people here like the 223, but after reading all about the 1 in 9" twist on the new barrels, I am not sure if I like that or not.

So what would you suggest the 223 or 204.  And if anyone has a load preference for the 45/70, I am all ears.

Thanks...
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Offline FLNT4EVR

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Re: newbie w/45-70
« Reply #1 on: January 02, 2007, 04:49:27 AM »
For some realy smashing 45-70 loads check out the beartooth bullet website ,and the cast performance bullet site . they are
 www.beartoothbulets.com.     and    www.castperformance.com.    respectively.As for the second barrel i would go with the .223. They are very accurate ,and easy to load for.Try some of the 50 grn Nosler CT ballistic silvertips , my rifle shoots them into 1/2 inch at 100 yds.
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Offline myarmor

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Re: newbie w/45-70
« Reply #2 on: January 02, 2007, 06:39:34 AM »
AS for the 45-70 I'll let others comment on this one as I have yet to pick up one :-[
Anyway i have owned both 223s and 204s.
The 223's have great bullet selection, though even with a 1-9 twist seem not to shoot much heavier bullets like 60gr+ The 55gr seem to be the level. I only own the older 1-12 twist barrels and I can get 55gr loads to shoot well in them.
I had a 204...and will own one again! It's a great little caliber, bullet selection is getting pretty good and the BC's are great for such a light pill. Plus the flatter trajectory and speed is impressive.
Only reason I sold mine is I have too many projects and couldn't give it the attention it needed to reload for it. But I will revisit it again for sure  8)
As for accuracy, both calibers shot awesome for me. It's kind of a toss up here.

Soooo...I say get both ;D


-Aaron
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: newbie w/45-70
« Reply #3 on: January 03, 2007, 03:05:59 AM »


I haven't owned either the 223 or the 204 as yet..but both seem to do exceedingly well.The Winchester white box loads that you can buy just about anywhere is the de-factor standard...and does about the best for the 223..I don't recall what the guys are using for the 204's but they are getting some pretty darn impressive groups with them..The 45-70 now..I have..Pick up a Hodgdons annual and look thru the loads available for it..My primary load for it is the Nosler partitions at 2400fps. Remington nickel cases..Rem 9-1/2 primers...H4198 powder...I use a Lyman M die...and a Lee Factory crimp die as well...I recommend having additional weight in the stock..a Limbsaver recoil pad..and a soft cheek piece on it..My load isn't a trapdoor load..and many find it to much to shoot without taking the mentioned precautions...but the accuracy I attain is better than MOA at 100 yards...and the effect on the deer when hit with it is phenomenal...

Mac
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Offline wcf3030

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Re: newbie w/45-70
« Reply #4 on: January 03, 2007, 05:43:22 AM »
I have the newer 223 ultra with the 1-9 twist.
I use varget, all different kinds of brass and the cheap bulk 55gr Win FMJ and 4 days ago I put 11 out of 13 rounds in a 1in sq at 100yds from the bench.
Now I'm not sure about anyone elses standards but thats a good start. I've only put about 120rds thru it so far.
At 350+yds I'm busting milk jugs.
I like mine. ;D
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Offline poncaguy

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Re: newbie w/45-70
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2007, 05:52:53 AM »
I have both the 223 and 204 Fluted Varmits. Both shoot 1/2"-3/4" groups. Was shooting my 45-70 with Choate Varmit stock and forend  yesterday using Hornady Leveraction rounds, very windy. 2 shot group was 7/8".

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Offline ken2222

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Re: newbie w/45-70
« Reply #6 on: January 04, 2007, 09:02:51 AM »
For me it was about being able to see what I just blew up! The .204 has such light recoil I can watch my target explode thru the scope!  UNBEATABLE FUN FACTOR! Ken
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