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Author Topic: Ruger #3 45/70  (Read 2342 times)

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Offline S.E.Ak

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Ruger #3 45/70
« on: October 28, 2008, 08:35:43 AM »
Anyone here ever converted a #3 in 45/70 to 458 Win.Mag.How did it shoot with the light barrel and did the stock hold up.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #1 on: October 28, 2008, 09:42:51 AM »
No, but when I had mine i shot some pretty hot 45-70 loads through it.
Buffalo bore loads some rounds that are 458 Win mag. or at least the bottom end of 458 WM.  300 to 500 grain bullets at 2200FPS or so.
Look up 45-70 ammo in cabela's and you will find them there.  About 50 a box depending.
As far as making your 45-70 a 458.  Well there is the ejector problem.  45-70 rim is .610 458 Win is .530
you could just order the barrel and ejector for the 458 and cut down the barrel to the length you want.  But by the time you spend for parts and gunsmith you could have the same results out the front and have a few hundred rounds of ammo and a nice nite out with the wife and still be ahead of the game.
Just my two cents.
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #2 on: October 28, 2008, 10:38:24 AM »
I think like you do but I'm looking for some magic advice to convince me maybe I was wrong. The modern 45/70 ammo in a strong action almost gets you were the 458 was met to take us all them years ago.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #3 on: October 28, 2008, 10:52:27 AM »
The only reason I can see you wanting to convert the No3 is that you have a bunch of trapdoor guns around and do not want to get ammo mixed up and have an auto eject.
I had four 45-70 at the time i had my #3 and I painted the back of the hot loads bright red so I would not use them in the trap doors and moved them to slip boxes with 45 mag on the box so none of my friends accidentaly stuck one in the wrong gun.
But let me tell you the little No 3 was pleasant to shoot with the hot loads.  I would run my fingers on my teeth to make sure all of my fillings were still in place.
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #4 on: October 28, 2008, 06:39:46 PM »
I shot an American Derringer in 45/70 once and a 460 Wby.Mag. once. After those two everything else is gravy.
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Offline mcwoodduck

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #5 on: October 29, 2008, 05:20:46 AM »
If you convert that little No. 3 to full house 458 loads you may want to start shooting the 460 Wby Mag again.
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Offline sonofafish

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #6 on: October 29, 2008, 05:32:51 AM »
What if you ream it to 45/90?
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Offline Larry Gibson

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #7 on: October 29, 2008, 06:16:12 AM »
Amigo

I'd suggest you try some stout loads (the Marlin loads with 400+ gr bullets) before you consider any conversions. I think you'll find all the joy (some call it pain) you want.  Then if you really want to know what a George Forman left cross and bruised knuckles feel like load up some Ruger #1 loads.  My point is; the #3 is a nice light little carbine and the 45-70 is about all you'll want to shoot in it.

Larry Gibson
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Offline Lloyd Smale

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #8 on: October 29, 2008, 09:16:45 AM »
ill give that an amen. I once shot one of my buddys #3s loaded to the max and it was the most painful rifle ive ever shot!
Quote from: Larry Gibson on October 29, 2008, 06:16:12 AM
Amigo

I'd suggest you try some stout loads (the Marlin loads with 400+ gr bullets) before you consider any conversions. I think you'll find all the joy (some call it pain) you want.  Then if you really want to know what a George Forman left cross and bruised knuckles feel like load up some Ruger #1 loads.  My point is; the #3 is a nice light little carbine and the 45-70 is about all you'll want to shoot in it.

Larry Gibson
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Offline Swampman

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #9 on: October 29, 2008, 09:21:31 AM »
I love the #3......It's hard to find one that hasn't been messed with.  I wish I'd bought one in .30-40 back in the day.
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #10 on: October 29, 2008, 05:57:11 PM »
 Those little 10/22 recoil pads mount up easy on the #3,well spent fifteen bucks.
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Offline diego

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #11 on: November 04, 2008, 04:54:04 PM »
One problem with conversion where are you going to get the brass for the 458 win mag it is a seasonal run for that brass. and it is hard to come by 500 pieces gonna run you about 400-500 dallors. and thats winchester. norma is a lot higher
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Offline diego

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #12 on: November 04, 2008, 04:55:40 PM »
the other thing you can do is get a muzzle brake installed on it. I am doing that right now for my wife's #3  45-70.
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #13 on: November 04, 2008, 06:02:01 PM »
I have decided to just buy five or six boxes of the Hornady Leverevolution ammo for normal carry and a coupleboxes of something bigger when I feel like Brownies need to be taken. I gave my Marlin 45/70 to a friend along with a couple hundred reloads and all the reloading gear when I came back from Alaska. Now I'm going back and will just use the store bought when I need to. Fired three rounds today at fifty yards with excellent results so it should be all I need if the bullet holds together..
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Offline Hank08

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #14 on: November 13, 2008, 06:22:55 AM »
Another amen to Larry Gibson's post.  I have a .458 on a M98 action and it's more fun to shoot than my heavy loaded 45/70 #3 and I have a #1 buttstock on my #3 which helped some.  The Barnes X 300 spitzer is an excellent bullet for that little gun.  I have 7 45/70s from a trapdoor to the Ruger and a Siamese M98.  It's a job keeping the ammo seperate for each.
H08
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Offline Saltcreek

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #15 on: November 21, 2008, 08:12:38 AM »
I have a Winchester 1886 45-70, and tried a Ruger #1. Instead of spending all that money converting a #3 to 458 Mag, wouldn't it be cheaper to just pay someone to beat you in the face with a ball bat?  ???
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #16 on: November 21, 2008, 12:03:07 PM »
Its really not that bad but for the cost of ammo I stuck with the 45/70.I'm now on box shy of enough ammo  to last a lifetime when I head back to Ak in Jan.
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Offline Autorim

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #17 on: November 22, 2008, 12:40:08 AM »
Personally, I would not alter a No. 3. I think they are one of the neatest, classic looking rifles Ruger has ever produced. If you like the .458, they are available in the No. 1. Firing a full house .458 in a rifle as light as the No. 3 will not be fun.
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Offline Autorim

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #18 on: November 22, 2008, 12:53:11 AM »
A Ruger No. 1 in .458 is listed on gunbroker with brass, dies and bullets. I would look at that.
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #19 on: November 22, 2008, 04:03:31 AM »
I have the #3 and I have the ammo no need for the other gun.
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Offline daddywpb

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #20 on: November 29, 2008, 11:21:09 PM »
I have a Marlin GG in 45/70. I always thought I wanted a .458 until I started experimenting with heavy 45/70 loads. Painfull! That is the top of my recoil tolerance. I can't imagine what it would be like in a #3.
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #21 on: November 30, 2008, 05:57:01 AM »
The 45-70 in a Ruger #3 is on the door step of the 458 Win Mag, I see no need to go up. The 45-70 can make even us big guys think twice.

It is just hard to beat a 45-70.
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Offline S.E.Ak

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Re: Ruger #3 45/70
« Reply #22 on: November 30, 2008, 07:19:20 PM »
Like I said I'm staying with the 45/70. I've been that route before at it worked perfect but one likes to try different things.I like the 458 and it don't recoil that bad to me but its just not worth the extra effort so 45/70 it is.
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