Author Topic: joining the club... new .45-70 on the way! (Read 1260 times)

cudatruck · « **on:** September 24, 2012, 10:22:59 AM »

My wife, Deonizia, went to purchase another handgun. She selected the Ruger LC9. While there she decided to purchase the Handi Rifle .45-70 in black syn. for me! Did I mention I love this woman? So in 8 days i will need the address or link to apply for my official Handy Rifle Club membership card! Now the real problems and dumb questions will all be forthcoming. I think i want ghost ring sights. I have read i may need to throat this rifle. Im interested in reaming to .45-120 but have questions about that too. for now in the .45-70 what are you guys favorite bullet over what powder? Not asking for charge weigts, just types. What brand brass has proven most durable? which primers do you prefer? Have any of you tried the skinner sight? Nodak? williams? does anyone make a ghost ring that fits the dove tail of the rear sight? I know alot at once.. can you tell i'm excited?

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #1 on:** September 24, 2012, 10:56:49 AM »

My wife USED to buy me guns, maybe I better start being nicer to her

You're a Lucky Man

AtlLaw · « **Reply #2 on:** September 24, 2012, 11:00:21 AM »

Quote from: cudatruck on September 24, 2012, 10:22:59 AM

alot at once.. can you tell i'm excited?

chuckle chuckle chuckle... Newly infected Handi-holics are so cute at this stage...

Jason F · « **Reply #3 on:** September 24, 2012, 11:14:41 AM »

Dont wait get the 45-120 reamer ordered.

Jason F · « **Reply #4 on:** September 24, 2012, 11:16:35 AM »

As for the 45-70 load. Lee 405 hollow base and unique powder.

bikerbeans · « **Reply #5 on:** September 24, 2012, 11:26:20 AM »

Congrats.

BTW, no rear dovetail on the 45-70 barrel, that is on the 45LC carbine barrel.

I have the williams rear sight on a 45-120 32BC and 22" 45-70 and I like that sight. On the williams peep sight you can unscrew and remove the apeture and you will have something close to a ghost ring. If you shoulder the gun the same way everytime (yeah, like I do this.

) then the ghost ring shouldn't make a lot of accuracy difference inside 100 yds or so.

+1 on the Lee 405 grain HB with unique.

Handi 45-70s tend to like at least .459" diameter or larger bullet. As gcrank1 always say, load as big a diameter cast bullet as will chamber in your gun.

BB

Rustyinfla · « **Reply #6 on:** September 24, 2012, 12:27:24 PM »

Congratulations CUDATRUCK! I've thought about a .45-70 several times but my .44 mag already does everything I need it to. Besides, the wife bought me the .44 for a present.

twoshooter · « **Reply #7 on:** September 24, 2012, 02:47:45 PM »

More information needed. If you are talking jacketed, unless you are after really big game, a 300 gr HP is fine, and RL7 is my go to powder. If you are talking cast, I use my own but most are 330-340 gr flat base and I use IMR- 4198. There are several fine powders to choose from- including 2400, XMP5744 and SR 4759 also.

JB White · « **Reply #8 on:** September 24, 2012, 04:12:33 PM »

Cudatruck,
Willams does offer a ghost ring which replaces the factory blade retaining the factory sight base. It's around $5 from Midway if memory serves. Not a target sight but a good quick brush sight out to 75-100 yards.
If you plan to go 45-120 then you'll probably want to skip that option. Use a better sight setup front and rear to take advantage of the rechambering.
For 45-70 loads I use a 405gr cast bullet ahead of 60 grs. of 2f black powder. I'm a nostalgic sort.

Here is the Williams ghost peep I use on my 45-70:

Jason F · « **Reply #9 on:** September 24, 2012, 04:33:23 PM »

Would The slower burning powders for the 45-120 be ok in a 22" barrel.

rdlange · « **Reply #10 on:** September 24, 2012, 04:39:20 PM »

My wife is 'encouraging' me to buy a 'little pistol' to carry in my pocket. Just can't understand why she thinks pink is my color.

I started with expensive 45-70 Remington 405gr factory loads. They shoot good and my shoulder likes them. Others have much better reloading advise.

Welcome to Handi-Land.

Flynmoose · « **Reply #11 on:** September 24, 2012, 04:58:28 PM »

Congratulations! Thats one down and many more to come! ENJOY!!
FM

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #12 on:** September 24, 2012, 06:12:26 PM »

Isn't it terrible when there are so many corrupting influences?

And it's worse when you wife is in on it.

Welcome to Handi-holics!

keith44 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2012, 07:29:09 PM »

cudatruck,

welcome to both addictions (handi's and 45 caliber rifles)

The thing about the 45-70 Handi is it has many personalities. So bullet choice depends on your intended target. Pigs and Bears something in the 400 grain range running 1,800 fps. Deer, there are differing opinions here, but I did not like the performance of the 400 grain hard cast bullets on deer (two) that I tried it on. So I am trying 300 grain hollow points this year, 350 grain bullets also come highly recommended. 500 and 525 grain bullets are used for 1,000 yard target shooting by those who shoot much better than I do with open sights.

My go to powders for all non-magnum rifles are IMR 3031, and IMR 4064. In most cases these give good velocity (not top velocities), fill the cases at least 80%, and make accidental overloads or over pressure loads difficult to achieve without trying.

Have fun, experiment (or play) with it, and read up on the history of the .45-70. Both Elmer Keith, and Paul Matthews hold the .45-70 in high regard in their writings. 53 grains of 3031 is a load both mention often.

petemi · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2012, 11:32:54 PM »

I don't cast. I like the Remington 405 over IMR4198 loaded from 1300 fps. to 1950. It's been very accurate in my rifle. The .45-70 was my first Handi and I've kinda neglected the old girl recently. Too many new projects running. I need to set aside a morning and take her for a stroll. She'll like that

Pete

Dinny · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2012, 12:04:38 AM »

I use a 330gr Lyman HP cast bullet with 10-11gr of TrailBoss powder. It's accurate and very pleasant to shoot. I think your wife would enjoy shooting that load too.

Thanks, Dinny

wileynet · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2012, 03:05:41 AM »

congratulations on your handi, i like the heavier bullets shooting 26 accurate gr5744 behind 500 grain hardcast, this load will thump you but cuts the brush

lrrice · « **Reply #17 on:** September 25, 2012, 07:00:02 AM »

I have had the best luck with unique and 2400 behind softer 4-500 grain lead bullets. 2400 is my favorite but takes almost double the amount of unique. Keep em mild to moderate and you have cheap accurate and immensely fun shooting ahead of you.

cudatruck · « **Reply #18 on:** September 25, 2012, 07:01:11 AM »

JB White, i really like the look of that sight. i think thats what im after. i want to be able to remove a scope and have sights available. do you happen to have the part number?
Dinny, my wife shoots far better than i. (She was a Marine) thanks for the trail boss advice, i have some of that to try.
Two shooter, more info, plan to shoot this alot at paper and then take pig hunting in thick brush. i don't trust my shots out past 250 yds with my 7mm-08 and a ziess scope. this rifle with open sights probably limit to 100-150.
I'm not looking to dis-locate my shoulder with this, largest rifle i've ever fired was 300 h and h. i can, but not my idea of a good time. hoping to find 300-400 gr bullet this rifle likes and a powder also liked by my 7mm-08 would be great.
Imr 3031 and 4064 i think are on my list to try in the 7mm-08! would be great if both rifles shot well with one powder. I have tried a few cast bullets in 357. not really happy sizing lubing and all. not sure if i want to try casting just yet. so for now probably going jacketed with this just to save some time and work. later maybe. i know cast is less expensive, but sizing and lubing is a pain.

cudatruck · « **Reply #19 on:** September 25, 2012, 07:03:34 AM »

thats two votes for unique and 2400. aren't these pistol powders? i know some cross over. but are u loading a small charge in large case like bullseye in a 38 special?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** September 25, 2012, 10:09:26 AM »

Quote from: cudatruck on September 25, 2012, 07:01:11 AM

JB White, i really like the look of that sight. i think thats what im after. i want to be able to remove a scope and have sights available. do you happen to have the part number?

See Peep and Firesights in the sights section of the FAQs, the Midway Williams ghost ring aperture link is listed there.

Tim

cudatruck · « **Reply #21 on:** September 25, 2012, 10:30:45 AM »

thanks Tim and JB White. i ordered the ghost ring from midway. Checking on brass prices im thinking this one stays a 45-70! over 2.00 a piece for 45-120 brass is steep! i have read i can not ream this one to 45-120 and still shoot 45-70 because of the taper, so it would be only 120's from then on. i assume they could be down loaded but im not looking for anything over 200 yards and not interested in heavy recoil so i think 45-70 will be enough. any advantage to the 120 i have over looked? can't afford alaska or africa so..... I did the 357 to max and like that it still shoots 38s and 357s just as well. ordered a few brass and bullets from midway to try. yes bullets are cast. hmmm. only powder i have on hand you guys have listed is trail boss. guess i have to go shopping. dammn. anyone try lil' gun in this?

keith44 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 25, 2012, 12:41:29 PM »

For pigs, 400 grain bullet gets my vote. 200 yards is doable, but you'll want to practice a lot with the 45-70.

If you are not looking for something that recoils on par with a 375 H&H keep the 45-70 chamber, and keep velocities below 1,700 fps with the heavy bullets (450gr +)

Jason F · « **Reply #23 on:** September 25, 2012, 12:52:15 PM »

I think my 45-120 has less recoil than my 45-70 with the same bullet and velocity. Just my opinion. Brass would definately last longer. I have 10 reloads on my bertram brass and havnt even had to trim it yet.

Spanky · « **Reply #24 on:** September 25, 2012, 01:25:18 PM »

Quote from: wileynet on September 25, 2012, 03:05:41 AM

congratulations on your handi, i like the heavier bullets shooting 26 accurate gr5744 behind 500 grain hardcast, this load will thump you but cuts the brush

Aahhhhh.... the mythical brushbuster load. Just don't plan on hitting anything on the other side of the brush.

Spanky

wileynet · « **Reply #25 on:** September 25, 2012, 01:42:25 PM »

dont have have to worry about the other side just whats standin in the middle

USSColorado · « **Reply #26 on:** September 25, 2012, 01:42:40 PM »

Quote from: cudatruck on September 24, 2012, 10:22:59 AM

So in 8 days i will need the address or link to apply for my official Handy Rifle Club membership card!

Out of curiosity, why do you have to wait 8 days? I understand some states have a waiting period for pistols, but rifles too?

Spanky · « **Reply #27 on:** September 25, 2012, 02:16:44 PM »

Quote from: wileynet on September 25, 2012, 01:42:25 PM

dont have have to worry about the other side just whats standin in the middle

You don't intentionally shoot into brush... do you??

Spanky

wileynet · « **Reply #28 on:** September 25, 2012, 03:04:41 PM »

out here we have mesquite choked draws most shots with my 45/70 have been less than 25 yards with me and the deer in brush over our heads, even in the best of circumstances when you might get lane the possibility of hitting twig leaf exists the slow moving big bullets deflect less than high velocity rounds, heres a pic that brush is almost 8 ft tall the deer hold in here, late in our season

cudatruck · « **Reply #29 on:** September 25, 2012, 03:44:43 PM »

CA makes us wait for any damn thing we buy out here. the only cash and carry is black powder or bows.