.44 mag vs .45-70

[PT7]

...I have managed to really screw up my rotator cuff on my right shoulder, and have to be careful with how much I beat it up. ...I’m sensitive to recoil.

What she said.

One option you might want to consider is a 45 Colt in a lever gun. Standard 45 Colt loads are soft to shoot in a lever gun, noticeably easier on the shoulder than the 44 mag. When you need more power, though, plenty of 45 Colt loads that will get you up into 44 mag country.

The .45 Colt round would be minimally impactful of the three calibers mentioned in this thread. "Soft to shoot" is one way to describe it. From my perspective, I'd say "unnoticeable." It is that mellow. Of course as NCG also noted, there are .45 loads that you can ramp up to a .44 Magnum level. I shoot the .45 Colt round often in a S/A revolver, and it has become my favorite caliber.

I neither own a Henry in .45-70 or in .45 Colt, but I have shot both thanks to friends giving me that opportunity. Sorry that I can't compare to the .44 Magnum. Without hesitation my choice would be a .45 Colt lever, especially in light of your shoulder injury. It is a special, soft-shooting, mild round.

All that to say this. Even though I may really like a firearm, if it has the potential to further injure my shoulder or hands (maybe even hearing!), the health issue would be the guiding factor. So when you said "...I have to be careful with how much I beat it up...I'm sensitive to recoil," I think you have stated the bottom line. It's your health that is most important.

I'm not certain if my thoughts have reached the two-cents level. But for whatever it is worth, best as you move ahead.
PT7

[Redthies]

Two other factors to add fuel to this fire are:

1- i no longer reload as I have zero spare time, and 2- I need to potentially use this rifle as a camp gun in grizzly country. I do have a 12 gauge, but I need a backup plan.

.45 Colt sounds like a ton of fun to shoot paper with, but not ideal for bears. The .45-70 really shines there. I think step one is to try and find some cowboy action loads to try. I’m also waiting to hear back about availability of the CCH as the CDN distributor is out of stock at the moment.

[tractortad]

That 45-70 Marlin is a great solution to any grizzly problem, but grizzlies and a recoil sensitive shoulder is probably not a good mix...

[JEBar]

I think step one is to try and find some cowboy action loads to try.

the ones from HSM are the best I have found in all respects


https://www.cabelas.com/product/HSM-COW ... s?slotId=0

[Redthies]

That 45-70 Marlin is a great solution to any grizzly problem, but grizzlies and a recoil sensitive shoulder is probably not a good mix...

Nope, not a good mix, but an unfortunate reality where I live.

To continue on the 44 vs 45-70 debate, let’s do this: .44 magnum vs big ass bear. Discuss. The table below is from HSMs “Bear Load” ammunition page. The numbers speak loud to me. Green is velocity, red is energy. I’m assuming at muzzle.

[tractortad]

I'm with you on this - I think 45-70 is the go to cartridge for any bear - black or brown. On top of that, most of those hot, heavy bullet 44Mag and 45LC loads (i.e. Buffalo Bore) are too big to cycle in a Henry. I also think that SS Marlin is one of the toughest, most reliable and weather resistant ways to launch a 45-70 at a bear - sounds to me like you need to keep it....

[JEBar]

yep, very different worlds .... as noted earlier, I share the shoulder issues .... question : when out in grizzly territory under the conditions you are facing, what's the most full power 45-70 rounds you'd anticipate needing .... she will hold 5 rounds but I tend to believe that if you needed to fire that many or more, things ain't going well .... I might be sore later but given those conditions, I'm pretty certain that adrenaline and fear would allow me to get off some rounds without noticing the recoil and probably not even the muzzle blast .... as one more number to consider, add HSM's Cowboy Action loads to your chart

[JEBar]

from personal experience, I'm perfectly comfortable carrying a 44 Mag when hunting black bear and/or large boar .... for me the only question would be the choice between 240 gr JHP's or SP's

[North Country Gal]

Buffalo Bore does make some 45 Colt +P bear loads with 265 grain bullets that will work in a Henry and they will get you right up into that heavy 44 mag territory.

[fortyshooter]

I have a 1895 GS also in .45-70. Loading your own is the fix with a 405 gr. hard cast lead over 14 gr. of Unique which shoots nice and pleasant but
still carries some punch!