Henry Rifle Forums

link to what I find to be a very good column on the 45-70 .... it does a good job of discussing its development, its strengths and its limitations


http://www.ammoland.com/2016/11/4570-fo ... z4aeZ8LGnz

I've read a couple of his articles. he seems to be a Henry fan.

I'm almost ready.
Henry brass 45/70=check
Skinner sights=check
Stll need to build some dangerous game rounds!

Squatch wrote:I've read a couple of his articles. he seems to be a Henry fan.

I'm almost ready.
Henry brass 45/70=check
Skinner sights=check
Stll need to build some dangerous game rounds!

based on my experience, the recoil of a 45-70 without a recoil pad firing dangerous game loads is fairly harsh .... OK, more than fairly harsh .... to keep look of the brass, using a removable one would be well worth considering .... conversely, with Cowboy Action level ammo, its a fun gun to shoot .... as noted in the link, Buffalo Bore offers ammo that is about as strong as it gets .... I've fired hundreds of HSM's Dangerous Game loads and they too are strong .... unless a specific need should arrise, I don't know that I'll ever buy the components and spend the time working up a Buffalo Bore level load .... rather I will spend the time and effort on developing good Cowboy Action level ammo

The cowboy stuff I can help with. That's most of what I load and shoot from mine.

One of the things I like about 45/70. It's so versatile.

I've shot the HSM's.

The above post was Tongue and Cheek. If I ever make it to Africa it will be with a camera and a 4x4 not a rifle.

I tried the 45-70 in a couple of rifles with crescent steel butt plates and finally gave up on the guns because I found the recoil to be just plain unpleasant with anything but cowboy loads. I regret selling one of those rifles and, now that I look back, I should have tried the slip on rubber pads, at least. May try another 45-70, some day, but that would mean another cartridge to reload since factory ammo is crazy expensive.

Even the cowboy loads pack some punch in 45-70. If you look at the specs, 45-70 cowboy loads (typically around 405g/1200FPS/1200Ft-lbs) are putting out a lot more energy at the muzzle than just about any 44MAG lever gun round (typically around 240g/1300FPS/950FT-lbs). I've never shot a 45-70 but I really like shooting 44MAG's - mostly because of the big bullets, big boom, and big recoil. I imagine a 45-70 would be even better - probably similar to launching slugs/buckshot out of our light weight(5 1/2lb) 12g single shot shotgun. A Henry color-cased hardened/octagon barrel 45-70 is on my all time wish list, but it's like NCG points out - ammo is crazy expensive - need to get into reloading before doing the 45-70 thing...

tractortad wrote:A Henry color-cased hardened/octagon barrel 45-70 is on my all time wish list, but it's like NCG points out - ammo is crazy expensive - need to get into reloading before doing the 45-70 thing...

we really like ours, wish our 44 mag was Color Case Hardened .... ammo expense with a 45-70 can most certainly be a concern .... without shipping Buffalo Bore's strongest run something over $3.50 each .... at Cabela's HSM's Bear Loads are only about a nickle a shot cheaper .... their Cowboy Action loads run about $1.35 each .... in most casesm the highest priced component for reloading is the bullet .... again at Cabela's 405 gr Oregon Trail lead bullets cost about 28 cents each .... with that being the case, it most certainly makes economic sense to roll your own

I'm waiting for the 45-70 Mare's Leg. That should be fun....

RanchRoper wrote:I'm waiting for the 45-70 Mare's Leg. That should be fun....

don't know about the fun part but it should most certainly be a handful ....

I have a 45-70 contender pistol. Way fun
About 5-6 shots is a day full though

Smoke4320 wrote:I have a 45-70 contender pistol. About 5-6 shots is a day full though

of that I have no doubt ..