Wow that 45-70 kicks!

[Kissmybrass]

Just picked up a H010G (the G stands for God my #%@&ing shoulder hurts) and threw a Leupold 1.5-4X scope on her. Love love love it! Zeroed it up today at 50 yards and put Hornady 325's through it and a few 430g bear loads. Love the thump this rifle throws out!

Any advice on cushioning the blow? Are there padded vests out there or is there a better way to shoulder it? I was stuck in the same position on sandbags so I could get it zeroed in but after 24 rounds I was done I guess not a bad thing since ammo costs 2 bucks a pop.

IMG_2376.jpeg

[Travlin]

Get a PAST recoil pad that straps to your shoulder. Shooting a hard kicking rifle is at it's worst from the bench.

[Mgderf]

Kick-Eez recoil pads are gifts from the shooting gods.

I have a Marlin 1895 that no longer kicks so hard it loosens your back teeth.
Now it feels like someone gives you shoulder a stiff shove, but no smack.

Try one and I promise you will not be disappointed.

[JEBar]

kicks, most certainly, like a proverbial mule .... we upgraded to a Kick-Eez recoil pad, inserted a Mercury Recoil Suppressor in the stock, and Mag-Na-Ported the barrel .... after all that it still kicks harder than I'm comfortable with ... the most effective thing I've found with factory loads is to go with Cowboy Action level ammo (HSM makes a good one) .... with our hand loads, we load to Cowboy Action levels

[John E Davies]

Factory bear ammo in a light 7 pound rifle will knock you back for sure. Sitting on a bench prevents that cushioning effect. I love the round but I eventually moved to a .44 Mag. The strap on rifle shoulder pads work excellent for a range session, but at other times you don’t need one because they are awkward and make people think you are a cry baby unless your gun has a steel or brass butt plate, then you should not shoot bear loads…. IMHO. If you want to shoot stout rounds from the bench, buy a single shot rifle with a long heavy barrel, like Matthew Quigley’s.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/cabela ... recoil-pad

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Hatchdog]

Limb-saver makes a slip on recoil pad. When I had my Marlin 45-70 I used one and it helped. As mentioned, best course would be to shoot lighter loads either Cowboy or hand loads if you’re set up for that.

[John E Davies]

I forgot, if you learn to reload, you can work up your bear load by increasing the fps until you can’t stand the pain, then you back off a little and call it good. Plus light Trail Boss loads are a pure delight at 50 yards and way way cheaper per round.

John Davies
Spokane WA

[Kissmybrass]

I forgot, if you learn to reload, you can work up your bear load by increasing the fps until you can’t stand the pain, then you back off a little and call it good. Plus light Trail Boss loads are a pure delight at 50 yards and way way cheaper per round.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Good advice and reloading did cross my mind yesterday

[Conax]

Just picked up a H010G (the G stands for God my #%@&ing shoulder hurts) and threw a Leupold 1.5-4X scope on her. Love love love it! Zeroed it up today at 50 yards and put Hornady 325's through it and a few 430g bear loads. Love the thump this rifle throws out!

Any advice on cushioning the blow? Are there padded vests out there or is there a better way to shoulder it? I was stuck in the same position on sandbags so I could get it zeroed in but after 24 rounds I was done I guess not a bad thing since ammo costs 2 bucks a pop.

IMG_2376.jpeg

There isn't a game animal on earth that could withstand 24 rounds from that rifle. You wouldn't want to skin 24 buffalo all in one day.
My brother had a rolling block .45-70 he always loaded for bear. At the range I'd shoot it 5 or 6 rounds (because he insisted) and be done with it.
Personally I'd load up some cowboy rounds for range fun. Nothing to prove and the shooting is a lot more fun! Those paper targets can be punctured with ease. Claybirds disintegrate readily. What more do you need at the range?

[Redthies]

Both those factory rounds you have are renowned for having a substantial kick. The Hornady are unpleasant for sure. Inever shot HSM Bear loads out of my .45-70, but know from my other levers that they pack a wallop! Save those for when you need to drop a grizzly in it’s tracks.

Try the Remington (if you can still find it) or Winchester Cowboy Action loads. They are labelled as “safe for ALL firearms” so you know they can be used in vintage trapdoor actions. Both the ones I listed are 405 grain cast bullets that have lighter powder charges. Shooting them out of my short barrel Marlin 1895 the felt recoil is similar to my .357 Bigboy Carbine. You can shoot them all day with no pain.