45/70 bullet that will chamber in handi

[mstake]

CHRISTmas present 45/70. It is an 1997 model. it is a whitetail unlimited gun. I have looked around a little and there is a few things i have seen that said + 400 grains will not fit in the handi. I checked out the FAQ  and didn't really see anything in there other then throuting to make bullets fit. I would like to no what i can shoot in my 45/70 before i order bullets for it.

[John Boy]

I have looked around a little and there is a few things i have seen that said + 400 grains will not fit in the handi.

Something is amiss ... With a proper Cartridge Overall Length, specific to any of the 400+ bullets for 45-70 - they will fit in the rifle.  Some are bore riders (can be seated into the bore) and others have ogives that just touch the leading bore cut ... but the all will fit.
I shoot 385 - 400 - 500 - 535gr bullets from multiple molds and 570gr paper patch bullets with no chambering problems

[Spanky]

I shoot 405 gr. cast loads in mine with no problems.


Spanky

[quickdtoo]

Any bullet will fit, some just have to be loaded to a shorter COL in most 45-70s due to their short throat which is common. You can see the difference in bullet ogives that makes some hard to load to the COL listed in most data and the reason many of us here have throated our 45-70s. The ogive shape of the bullet determines how long a cartridge can be loaded relative to the throat depth, that's the problem with the 405gr Rem and 400gr Speer and even most 350gr, their fat ogive makes a big difference compared to the smaller 300gr bullets. You can see the difference in the comparison below, L to R, 300gr Speer, 300gr Rem, 405gr Rem, 400gr Speer FN, 350gr Speer FN, 350gr Hornady RN and 350gr Hornady FP Interlock. The 350gr Speer would be a likely bigger bullet as it has a better ogive shape.

Tim

[Badnews Bob]

405s fly outta mine allot.

[blackpowderbill]

I shoot Lee 500 grain bullets with no trouble. the rifling begins a very short distance from the end of the case so I have to seat them a little deep but nothing that poses any problems.

[MSP Ret]

I load 350's to 500's in mine also....<><....

[coyotejoe]

Do all factory loads fit?

[MSP Ret]

I have never heard of a factory 45-70 load that would not fit in a Handi....<><....

[quickdtoo]

Some of the Garrett ammo is loaded too long, if you look at some ruger data, it's loaded considerably longer and won't chamber in a Handi, Hornady 6th 500gr data is at 2.925", same for Lyman 48th data, the 350gr Speer is loaded to 2.710", depending on the bullet, they list COLs up to 2.930".

Tim