Your thoughts on .45/70 recoil...

[Swampman]

Even the 22" barreled version is heavier than I wish it were.  I hunt and not close to the road either.  I try to avoid anything over 1500fps in my .45-70 so velocity isn't an issue.  I'd like to have one cut to 16 1/4".

[uncledub]

Recoil?  I thought that was part of the fun of shooting a 45-70.

[bikerbeans]

Swampman,

I followed the FAQs and cut a 22" 45/70 to 18.5".  It took maybe 45 minutes including the recrown.  I am using a low power scope so didn't need to D/T for a front sight.  Gun shoots the same accuracy wise with a short barrel as it did with the long barrel.  About 1.5" @ 100yards with 460 grain Cast Performance slugs over 41 grains of H4198.  I haven't shot any factory loads with it since I shortened the barrel and no chrono so not sure what I lost in power but I doubt it is enough for a deer to notice the difference.

BB

[Swampman]

I might do it.  I have the equipment.

[gatersb]

the winchester hp @ 1800 are attention getting for me but my handloads of 14grs of trailboss and a 300 cast bullet are wonderful.  Not very loud, little recoil.  I will probably stop at 1600 with 405 for the time being but man do those 500 rn look inviting.  Might have to get a 32" barrel to rechamber to 45/120 one day to help with my short man complex

[kevinsmith5]

Couple of BC's on the Classifieds right now.....not to push you or anything.

[bikerbeans]

gatersb,

500 grain RNFPGC (lee mold sized to .457), 46.5 grain H4198,  in the 45/120.  Big grin when you shoot it out of 32" barrel.  About 1.5" groups @ 100 yds, I only had about 15 of these bullets laying around to handload so didn't really try to develop a load.  Bullet impact on steel plate @ 200 yards is very audible to folks several bays over shooting their handguns!

BB

[Frank V]

I have two loads I use. The 1st is the Remington 405gr JSP, I use H4198 & get mid 1800fps, the second is a good cast 405gr lead bullet using IMR 3031 for 1250fps, that's a trapdoor load, the 1st is not.
 I load the 405sp heavy because I hunt Elk in dark timber & we have Grizzlys here.
The recoil isn't too bad with the Rem. bullet & the lead bullet is downright fun.
Either load will give me 2" groups with factory Iron sights @ 100yards.
Frank

[valvesinmyhead]

My 16 year old nephew shot a box of Rem 405 grainers out of his Handi. He did not look like he was having a problem with recoil.

[Swampman]

That's why I shoot them.  The Remington factory 405 is a cake walk.

[petemi]

Shooting off a bench is one thing, but hunting, I don't even hear the rifle go off....forget about recoil

Pete

[bikerbeans]

It is interesting that you really don't notice the recoil and the sound when shooting at a deer.  I started wearing ear muffs a few years ago that amplying sound but cutoff when you shoot.  The first deer I shot wearing these it sounded to me like a cap fire on a muzzleloader when I shot my 12 ga with a buckhammer.  I looked at my gun because I thought I had a misfire!  I then noticed the empty hull about 8 feet away and then I remembered the muffs. 

BB

[gcrank1]

Consider picking up a 'pallet wood' buttstock c/w pad here in the forum. The are relatively cheap, effective, available and easy to swap onto your rifle for bench work. As said, in hunting you will likely not notice the recoil, but off the bench you will be glad you tried this.
If that doesnt suit you, try this bench technique.
The curved butt plate is really made to fit inbetween the muscles of your upper arm and shoulder. Sit a bit more sideways to the gun, put the buttplate where it should go and sandbag your elbow about straight out. This will emulate the offhand position better and be more comfortable, mostly because it lets you 'give' a little and it doesnt bite your collarbone.. BTW, it is fair to add a little padding right there too, if needed.

[petemi]

gcrank1, your suggestion is excellent.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the cavalry carbines were designed to be shot one handed while controlling the horse with the other.  Hence the curved butt plate to fit the upper arm.  

My horses were so gun shy when I first got them, you could fire a .22 and they'd be at the other end of the pasture looking for a way out.  They soon realized the gun I carried created the "BOOM".  If I went near them with a shotgun or rifle, they were gone. Today, thank God, I could lay a .45-70 between their ears and take a shot and still stay on their backs.  Shooting off a horse is an art I still haven't mastered.  If you're shooting at game or especially a predator, the horse sees it too, and he's squirming around to get a better look.  It's a very unsteady, imperfect shooting rest and position.  A person very skilled in reflexive instinct shooting could do well with it, but I'm afraid the indians (my wife's folks) would have had my scalp long ago.

Pete

[LowNSlow]

The more I shoot mine the less I notice it. I like to take a few shots with the 22 rifle and then switch to the 45-70.

[Frank V]

gcrank1, your suggestion is excellent.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the cavalry carbines were designed to be shot one handed while controlling the horse with the other.  Hence the curved butt plate to fit the upper arm.  

My horses were so gun shy when I first got them, you could fire a .22 and they'd be at the other end of the pasture looking for a way out.  They soon realized the gun I carried created the "BOOM".  If I went near them with a shotgun or rifle, they were gone. Today, thank God, I could lay a .45-70 between their ears and take a shot and still stay on their backs.  Shooting off a horse is an art I still haven't mastered.  If you're shooting at game or especially a predator, the horse sees it too, and he's squirming around to get a better look.  It's a very unsteady, imperfect shooting rest and position.  A person very skilled in reflexive instinct shooting could do well with it, but I'm afraid the indians (my wife's folks) would have had my scalp long ago.

Pete

There is an old saying, "you can shoot off any horse ONCE!" 
Frank

[gcrank1]

Well Pete, Id say your wife HAS got your scalp! BTW, remember in Joesy Wales when he snuck up on Chief Dan George, ie, " only an Indian could do that"? Love ol' Dan!
That curved plate was a holdover from the muzzleloader days, but even then a lot had what we call 'shotgun' buttplates. You may be right, or it may be mythology, about the carbine. I would be interested to hear if anyone has some documentation on that. What I do know for sure is that they hurt me! Hurt is not conducive to my shooting acceptable groups. My .577 Snider Cav. Carbine is better shaped on the buttplate, but so high and straight in the comb that when down on the sights it nails me under the cheekbone. It just goes to show that no matter which way you turn, your butts behind you.

[Westbound]

I'm moving hardcast 405 grainers at around 1750.  It has a pretty solid kick, but it's manageable.  I have had them up as high as 2000 or a touch over.  Recoil was a punishment.  Anything in the Ruger #1 load level is just brutal!!