Need Advice on BC

[carp]

O.K., fellas I need some advice,help and all the other tid bits of knowledge you have. I told you about killing an 8 pointer with my Daughter's .357 mag. Handi the other day and my intentions to get myself a Handi Rifle. I've read what you all said about the 45-70 and the 45-70 BC. Well, I've done messed up and found a new B.C at my local gun shop. I can get it for $325.00 What I want to know is have any of you put a scope on a B.C. or are they better with some kinda modified sites? I don't reload as of yet but might start. What are good factory loads for hunting deer etc.? Is a recoil pad mod needed? I know it will kick the devil out of me but is it that bad? Any advice is appreciated.

[quickdtoo]

$325 is a pretty good price for a new one, if used a bit high, it sells for $299 new at Sportsmans Warehouse. I have a scoped BC barrel as well as a peep sighted barrel that's been rechambered to .45-120. With trapdoor loads, you probably won't need a recoil pad, but anything heavier you will want one, the metal butt plate isn't user friendly with stout loads.

For use with a scope, you may need a strap on comb for proper eye alignment and cheek weld, just depends on your anatomy.

I use a Galco slip-on pad for heavy loads from the bench, they aren't cheap, but work very well. Another alternative is the Limbsaver slip-on, which works ok from the bench, but doesn't fit well enough for hunting.

An alternative to the rear WGRS or FP Target sight is the Smith ladder sight which has a peep slider available as an option from Smith or Track of the Wolf.

Remington, Winchester and Federal factory loads shoot very well out of the BC barrel. Although you may want to get into reloading with a Lee loader, the .45-70 is very easy to reload for and a lot of fun.

Tim

http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,4191.htm

Galco recoil pad

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/51

[carp]

Thanks for the info.By trapdoor loads are you talking about the factory loads that are a bit milder so the trap door rifles can handle them? Do you have a comb that you use on yours or can you line up on your scope good? Did you put the filler dovetails in the one with the scope? I hadn't thought of the Lee handloader. That's a good idea. I've used one of those before. I could maybe work up some mild loads that would be effective on Whitetails with your help.

[FLNT4EVR]

Welcome to the world of 45/70ers . I'm sure you will find that any of the factory loadings will be more than enough for even the biggest whitetails and black bears. That 458 slug makes a pretty impressive hole at any velocity and the milder factory offerings are comfortable to shoot out of the  handy rifles.

[quickdtoo]

I have a walnut Topper deluxe youth stock on the scoped BC in the pic above, the comb is a bit higher than the BC stock, some folks find the BC stock fine with a scope, others don't, you'll have to try it to see how you like it, you can also put any H&R/NEF stock on it, they all will fit except the slug gun stocks made for the 10ga frame.

I bought a Marbles sight blank filler for the front sight dovetail.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=383424

45-70 loads have 3 levels, trapdoor to 28kpsi, 1895 levergun to 40kpsi and modern rife to 50kpsi, trapdoor loads are made fairly light, 300gr to about 1900 fps. You can also get stout levergun loads in factory ammo from Buffalo Bore and Garrett, but most folks don't shoot those since the recoil hurts!

http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#4570

You can reduce felt recoil considerably for bench work by adding weight to the stock, lead filled copper tubing or shot poured in the stock bolt hole, or buy a mercury recoil reducer which works better with less weight.

You can also whack the stock off and put a recoil pad on it if you don't like the steel butt plate, as I have done to this BC stock.

Tim

[jack19512]

I put a scope on my BC but originally did that because I was reloading for it and my eyes aren't what they use to be and didn't feel I could do as good of job fine tuning my reloads at 100 yards or better.  I have got use to it now and might just keep it this way now.  I also paid $325.00 for mine new.  As far as recoil pad goes I don't need one as long as I keep the loads reasonable.