Henry 45-70 impresses me at the range

[dmsbandit]

Just before the end of New Yorkistan's deer season I traded a little used ruger rifle for a new Henry carbine in 45-70.

I loaded it up with some 22 yr old handloads and it was already showing it's potential. I carried it the last weekend of the season hoping to test it out on a deer, but they fails to cooperate.

after the season ended I started trying different handloads and have more than a few good results. I have a 3-9x40 weaver scope on it and think it will stay on the gun.

So far I like the 350gr Speer FN over 3031. I'm getting very nice accuracy and velocity.

Because it is made for the 458win, the crimping groove isn't in the right place. This means I have to load it deep enough into the case to allow me to crimp the case at the very edge of a olgive. At this length it allows me to get the rounds short enough to function thru out of the magazine tube. I'll have to get some 350gr Hornady bullets if my experience with the speers pans out well.

The 300gr rem HP also seems to hold promise with both 3031 and IMR4198. Velocity so far seems to be good and accuracy isn't a problem either. Ideally I'd like to get 2200fps with good accuracy if I go with them.

I don't really see the need to the various 400gr bullets. I tried some 500gr gas check lead bullets, but didn't have much luck with them. The velocity wasn't bad, but they key-holed at 100 yds. I'm not sure if the problem is the bullets, rifling, or velocity. I would have figured 1600+fps with a 500gr bullet is fast enough to stabilize them if they grab the rifling, or the twist is right.


I'd love to hear what works well in other member's Henry 45-70

[JEBar]

the target shown below was fired in Missouri at Jay Henges Shooting Park back in April .... 12 rounds of HSM Cowboy Action ammo fired at 75 yards .... have run it through our Chrony but can't find the data .... do know it was considerably less than 2000 fps .... have gotten 2219 fps using 51.5 grains of IMR1498 out of our hand loads of Nosler 300 grain Combined Technology bullets but haven't been able to adjust the scope for them .... am having some recoil suppression mods performed on ours later this month and hope to get serious about developing both practice and multiple hunting loads this summer

[BigAl52]

Ive posted this a couple of times before but this was shot at 50 yards off the bags. Its 47 grs of Reloader 7 with a Hornady 350 gr bullet in winchester brass. I have the Color Case Hardened Henry in 45-70. Al

[CT_Shooter]

Thanks for your report, dmsbandit. I really like the way you displayed the rifle for it's portrait. Neat.

[ace73]

Those 45-70's really look great! Nice shooting guys!

[ditto1958]

I think I might NEED one of those.

[RanchRoper]

Good shooting folks, and nice rifles.

[Slugnut]

Try some IMR 4198 powder, you'll like it. Your groups will tighten up considerably.

[Gregorsway]

Great report! Can't wait to get mine and scope it out!

[Deadwood Dutch]

That's a really good looking rifle and scope. Thanks for your report.

[bdbrown66]

the target shown below was fired in Missouri at Jay Henges Shooting Park back in April .... 12 rounds of HSM Cowboy Action ammo fired at 75 yards .... have run it through our Chrony but can't find the data .... do know it was considerably less than 2000 fps .... have gotten 2219 fps using 51.5 grains of IMR1498 out of our hand loads of Nosler 300 grain Combined Technology bullets but haven't been able to adjust the scope for them .... am having some recoil suppression mods performed on ours later this month and hope to get serious about developing both practice and multiple hunting loads this summer

JEBar, I shot several of the HSM Cowboy Action loads (405gr) today for warmup and to foul the barrel. They were very accurate and consistent at 100 yards...holes touching, etc. If I remember correctly, my chrono had them in the 1200fps range. I didn't save that data, so I can't go back and check for sure.

[JEBar]

JEBar, I shot several of the HSM Cowboy Action loads (405gr) today for warmup and to foul the barrel. They were very accurate and consistent at 100 yards...holes touching, etc. If I remember correctly, my chrono had them in the 1200fps range. I didn't save that data, so I can't go back and check for sure.

certainly agree with you on the HSM Cowboy Action Loads .... if I didn't reload and had to use factory ammo, that's the way I'd go .... I think I still have a couple of hundred left .... once I run out of them, I just hope I can come up with something that will match their performance .... by the way, their dangerous game load is a whole different ballgame .... equally as accurate but with a whole lot more oooooomph

[dmsbandit]

Try some IMR 4198 powder, you'll like it. Your groups will tighten up considerably.

I did. I posted some of those targets.

So far 3031 is leading the accuracy with velocity game.