first time handi owner questions

[newhunter06]

just started hunting again since i was a kid and bought a 45/70 handi for primative weapon season, any starting up advise, scope cleaning and any other help would be appreciated

[oops!]

Uh? I don't know of anywhere a .45/70 would qualify for "primitive weapons" status.
Bows, crossbows, muzzle loaders even spears, never a cartridge weapon.

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard to both of you! Being legal in Mississippi as primitive weapons, I'd guess that's where you're from newhunter06! If not, maybe you'd better check the regs again!! The .45-70 isn't any different from other centerfire calibers, it's just a lot of fun tho!! Most factory ammo is loaded to trapboor levels, but there are some that are "healthier" than trapdoor that you might like to shoot. If you handload, you can load up into the modern rifle load data if you want, but due to the recoil, you'll probably choose to stay in trapdoor or lower levergun loads.

Read thru the FAQ and Help sticky, lots of good info in there on cleaning a new rifle, shoot it with a few different types of factory ammo to see what shoots best, it will probably shoot all of it good, with some better than others.

Tim

[newhunter06]

thanks tim and yes i'm in mississippi where the 45/70 is legal for primative weapons, this thing is filthy and it is brand new? is this normal?

[quickdtoo]

Yup, pretty muc, they don't spend a lot of time on em after building them, helps keep the cost low. See the Cleaning and Lapping link in the FAQs and Help sticky.

Tim

[Mac11700]

.....this thing is filthy and it is brand new? is this normal?

I've had 2 that I would swear someone hunted with it for a year without any maintenance...most others...were pretty clean...with a few fillings in the action..and the barrel slightly dirty...but all of them need a good complete scrubbing...inside and out...Get all the "muck" out the barrel & action...you be much better off if you do...

Mac