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Author Topic: 45-70 what action to use?  (Read 680 times)

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Offline warf73

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45-70 what action to use?
« on: July 29, 2004, 11:53:17 PM »
I'm getting real serious about making me a bolt action 45-70.
Have it fitted with an 18-20" barrel and there you have one heck of a brush gun.

I would be pouring my own bullets for this rifle.

The slug would run around 1200-1400 FPS and the gun wouldn’t be used on anything beyond 100yards. The actual use of this rifle is meant for inside of 75yards. So it would be my stocking rifle while in the thick stuff for hogs/deer.

What action should I use?

The action should be able to handle Ruger #1 pressures just in case I ever get a hair to throttle it up.


Your thoughts please.

Thanks Warf
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Offline 7magWoodsman

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #1 on: July 30, 2004, 01:03:53 AM »
Mauser or Springfield
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Offline bgjohn

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #2 on: July 30, 2004, 02:42:02 AM »
P-14 Enfield.
JM
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Offline DonT

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #3 on: July 30, 2004, 03:09:14 AM »
Warf,

In my limited opinion (I have started a collection of unusual 45/70 guns, primarily bolts) it appears you would have three options.  An Enfield,a Siamese Mauser or if money is no option have someone build you a custom action bolt gun.  I own the first two and with kids, a wife, dog and house will likely never own the third.

Here are the pros and cons as I see them.
Enfield:
These conversions were done by Navy Arms (the Gibbs rifles were also done by Navy Arms as I understand it).  These are relatively easy conversions requiring rebarreling, some some minor work on the bolt face and magazine.  They are also probably the least expensive conversion due to the low cost of enfields compared to other options.  The down side is that eveything I have read and in a response from Navy arms they recommend against hot rodding loads and actually suggest staying on the light (low pressure side).  

Siamese Mauser:
These are very strong actions and I have heard stories of folks stoke them to unbelievable loads.  Some I wouldn't want to be in the neighborhood when they touched them off.  They have all the benefits for adding sights, scopes and such as a regular mauser does.  They use an obsolete rimmed cartridge (that can be made out of 45-70 brass) so the dimensions are very similar so modification of the mag does not appear to be necessary (a plus), although you do need to open the bolt face slightly which is no biggy and of course rebarrel.  Mine has a timney trigger, not sure if these are available for the enfield or not but it is a very nice addition.  I do not see a downside to this conversion other than you are going to pay more for the base rifle/action.

Custom:
You are only limited by your checkbook!

Although I am sure it is possible and has been done before I have not heard of anyone converting a Springfield, other mausers, or other bolt guns to 45/70 as of this time.  If someone stumbles across one I would love to hear about it.

I like the Siamese I have that is converted, it is solid and very well built.  Mine has a longer heavy barrel on it so it is a joy to shoot from the bench (where I spend most of my time nowadays) and is extremely accurate.  I was at the range a couple of weeks ago and after getting the sights dialed in I cloverleafed the last three shots just outside the X ring at 100yds.  Now for most folks that may not be a feat but for 53 year old eyes requiring Trifocals and only using peep sights I was pleased.  

One thing you need to remember is they all take a little tweaking.  One of the common complaints with any of these rifles is failures to feed.  This can usually be corrected by playing with differnt bullet configurations and your Overall cartridge/bullet length.  

AND as you are aware I do have an Siamese (a very nice one) available. (sorry had to plug it in there)..

Hope this helps answer your questions and others that might feel they need a 45-70 Bolt Gun....

DonT
 :D
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Offline bgjohn

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #4 on: July 30, 2004, 03:19:57 AM »
The P-14 Enfield will handle belted magnums.
JM
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Offline gunnut69

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #5 on: July 31, 2004, 05:27:08 PM »
The Enfields altered by Navy Arms or those sold by Gibbs are No.1 enfields. The P14 is a totally different rifle.  The No.1 should not be loaded heavy the P14 will stand nearly anything... The biggest problem altering a mauser or springfield to a rimmed round is the rims locking. The top cartridge rim getting behind the one just below.  It is avoided by altering the angle at which the follower goes down into th magazine box.  The M70(pre64) did the same with the swift and some of the other rimmed(semi rimmed) cartridges it was chambered to.  The feed rails will also need to be opened a bit. Not a lot worse than rechambering to a belted round.
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Offline DonT

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #6 on: July 31, 2004, 05:38:43 PM »
On mine (Navy Arms conversion) the action looks exactly like my Savage No 4 Mk1*.  Haven't owned a No 1 so don't have one to compare too.  But the milling on the side of the action, even the way the bar was inserted directly behind the Clip cutout is the same.

Not sure if this makes it a stronger or weeker action than the No1 but it seems to handle the loads I am shooting with cast bullets (28 grs AA5744, 405gr cast and CCI Mag primer) with no problems..

Take care all.. DonT :D
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Offline warf73

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2004, 11:51:32 PM »
Ok have been looking around and found this Enfield 303, No 4 MkI.

Would this do the trick?

Thanks for all the input so far guys.

Thanks Warf
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Offline FDemsEMT

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #8 on: August 04, 2004, 04:33:41 AM »
I bought a Gibbs , check out their web site ,,, It's a dam good brush gun !!!!

here is a few sites  to check out,, If your interested

http://www.gibbsrifle.com/

http://www.chuckhawks.com/gibbs_summit.htm
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Offline warf73

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2004, 12:43:08 AM »
Very nice rifle.

Think I will talk to my FFL dealer and see what it would cost to have one in my grubby little hands.
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Offline DonT

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45-70 what action to use?
« Reply #10 on: August 05, 2004, 02:52:49 AM »
Might want to rethink that as, to the best of my limited knowledge, gibbs sporting rifles have been "unavailable" for some time.  This is also indicated on their site.

I have seen a couple on the auction boards so you might check there.

DonT :D
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