Handi-gun 45/70 strength

[ecks]

Can the Handi-gun 45/70 handle higher pressure loads like the Marlin 1895?

[quickdtoo]

Welcome aboard!! Yes, and then some! The Handi is available in .500S&W with a SAAMI pressure of over 50kpsi, in .45-70 loads, that's well into the Ruger/modern rifle data with comparable case head thrust. I would recommend that if you want to go into that realm, do it by starting in the levergun loads and working up, most likely your body will tell you that ruger loads are too hot!!

Tim

[gstanfield]

Yes, it can. Before I rechambered to 45-120 I loaded my 45-70 Buffalo Classic to levels that I would not dare mention on here, or anywhere else for fear of someone getting hurt (I may have just been really lucky!!)

I would not advocate hotrodding it as I did, but loading it to lever gun specs are perfectly safe.

George

[ecks]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm just getting back into shooting/hunting after 20 years. Guns, ballistics, and reloading were my life growing up. After seeing how expensive firearms are nowadays, handiguns seem like a bargain.  I was thinking of a handigun .22 synthetic for plinking, and a 45/70 handigun synthetic for playing. BTW, this is a great website.

[gstanfield]

Welcome aboard!