It is NOT my .45-70

[JEBar]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like 1 inch groups at 200 yards and 2 inch groups at 300 yards may be a slight exaggeration for a 45-70 that has only been shot 20 times?

welcome to our community, happy to have you join us .... when it comes to long range shooting we have several highly capable members .... I can't speak for 200 or 300 yards but can say our 45-70 does pretty well at 100 yard a recent target shown below .... there is no doubt that it is capable of firing much smaller groups than it does when I'm the one pulling the trigger ....

if you have any Henry firearms we would sure like to hear about them .... if so, please take a took at our How Many ? thread (link below) and add them to our community total

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 351#p40351

[PT7]

Thanks for remembering my son-in-law is a former Marine sniper, CT. Since I'm the OP of this thread and I shared about his POIs with the new .45-70, thought I'd also verify what an incredible (to me --- unbelievable) marksman he is.

During the years I've been here in MO, every new rifle or handgun I've purchased, my son-in-law also tries them out....for fun. It makes no difference what the firearm is, nor what distance he first-time shoots them. His POIs are mostly always in the bull, often touching edges. I'm regularly shaking my head and picking my jaw up off the ground. I cannot believe how he can shoot so accurately! We have mini shooting competitions at times, and I don't stand much of a chance there. He shoots mostly standing off hand, but really becomes a super expert with a rifle on a rest. He has his own shooting range and offers training to persons primarily in long-distance shooting, and reloading to maximize the shooting.

He has often told me that his two criss-cross ranges are too short in yardage....pistol side and short-range rifle is about 140 yards; the rifle side is +400 yards. So he has found a range north of his place where he enjoys longer yardages. He brought me up to speed on the current competition he is doing at that range. I wish I could get there to see the finals. I asked his permission to share his current status in this competition. Here is the short, err, long of it.

For years he has competed in both handgun (revolver & semi-auto) and long-distance rifle competitions/events. There are four more matches left, which should finish by October (about one match/month). He is very much looking forward to finishing up well. There are 1249 persons competing, and the range extends out to 1600 yards. He has been shooting his new Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor at 1200 yards. At that 1200-yard distance, his last round resulted in 10 POIs in a 15" group. His Ruger has a scope mounted, of course, and they shoot off a bi-pod stick on the ground with a sandbag at the stock (sorry, I don't know what scope he is using). He is using factory Hornady ammo, because he says it has been working really well. He shoots the 16.5 Creedmore 43gr HDX ammo. After the competition, he plans to reload his own ammo, and is certain he can either match or maybe improve on the Hornady. Anyway, I wish I could have been there to see that last match! He is a remarkable marksman. Oh yes, out of the 1249 competitors, he is in the #2 spot now. He says he can take it, and was looking forward to the last four matches!

I've a number of other shooting range times with him I would write about.....all very much fun times. I actually bested him twice in the last 5 years....I believe he must have been shooting with his eyes closed! And I'm certain my "wins" were pure chance with a very, very tiny bit of shooting skill mixed in.

Nope, Airbus 330, I'm neither exaggerating nor am I being untruthful. His shooting skills are amazing to see. I never tire of watching him shoot, and always appreciate the shooting pointers he shares with me. Thanks for letting me spout a little.

Not for a highly trained military sniper, but very much so for someone like me or possibly you and likely for most of the shooters here.

By the way, welcome to the forum. Interesting first post.

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like 1 inch groups at 200 yards and 2 inch groups at 300 yards may be a slight exaggeration for a 45-70 that has only been shot 20 times?

[airbus 330]

After finding out about him being a past sniper, I here- by withdraw my last post, and apologize for doubting the legitimacy. There is no way, even in my dreams, that I could shoot those kind of groups. Then again, I'm just your average kind of guy. Thanks for the update.

[airbus 330]

It actually wasn't my first post. My computer just got hacked and I change a lot of user names on different forums, because I wasn't really sure how my computer was affected. I do have a Henry .44 mag at this time and am hoping to get a 45-70 someday.

[PT7]

Appreciate that, airbus 300. Actually, it was kind of fun to comment on your post, and remember those cool range times together with my son-in-law. BTW, I'm right there with you as one of the "average" kind of guys. As far as shooting "those kind of groups," my Range Reports prove that I don't! That's why for me practice, practice, practice is such a blast.

If you do get yourself a Henry .45-70, I'm certain you will enjoy it as many of the Henry Folk here do. I hear many of them saying just that!

After finding out about him being a past sniper, I here- by withdraw my last post, and apologize for doubting the legitimacy. There is no way, even in my dreams, that I could shoot those kind of groups. Then again, I'm just your average kind of guy. Thanks for the update.

[RanchRoper]

Great info guys. I'm happy to hit paper at 100 yrds!

[bdbrown66]

OP, I would have to say that, based on many years of deer hunting with 12-gauge slugs in Ohio, shooting my Henry CC .45-70 with a pretty decent hunting load (300 gr. Nosler BT @ 2100 fps) is less recoil. It doesn't hammer me like shooting a bunch of slugs will. I have fairly often shot a box of 20 as I was working up a load, and had no bruising, etc. at all. It's more like shooting a muzzleloader with a fairly heavy charge...there's a "push" from the recoil, but it's not as sharp as shooting slugs. If the Benelli doesn't bother you, the Henry won't, either. Just make sure the scope has plenty of eye relief so it doesn't bust you. My scope has 5" of eye relief, so I don't have to worry about it.

Cheers,
Brian

[PT7]

Hey, Brian.....thanks much!

Nope, shooting the Benelli 12-gauge with 1-oz. slugs was purely fun to do. Never really bothered me because of recoil. I'll look forward to shooting the .45-70.

But I really appreciated your caution: "Just make sure the scope has plenty of eye relief so it doesn't bust you. My scope has 5" of eye relief, so I don't have to worry about it." I rarely have shot a long gun with a scope mounted. So that is something I would not think about. Glad you thought to tell me how to protect my eyes, and glasses, too. I'm certain other Henry Folk will appreciate your helpful reminder, as well.

OP, I would have to say that, based on many years of deer hunting with 12-gauge slugs in Ohio, shooting my Henry CC .45-70 with a pretty decent hunting load (300 gr. Nosler BT @ 2100 fps) is less recoil. It doesn't hammer me like shooting a bunch of slugs will. I have fairly often shot a box of 20 as I was working up a load, and had no bruising, etc. at all. It's more like shooting a muzzleloader with a fairly heavy charge...there's a "push" from the recoil, but it's not as sharp as shooting slugs. If the Benelli doesn't bother you, the Henry won't, either. Just make sure the scope has plenty of eye relief so it doesn't bust you. My scope has 5" of eye relief, so I don't have to worry about it.

Cheers,
Brian

[bdbrown66]

No problem. FWIW, I have the Bushnell Trophy XLT 3-9x with the DOA 250 ML reticle. This scope is designed for the trajectory of the modem muzzleloader, which is pretty similar to a .45-70. The optics are clear, and the 5" eye relief is perfect.