45-70 Project
BY Herschel Smith
2 years, 3 months ago
This is an interesting project, and it goes to show that if you’re good with the mechanics, you can shoot any firearm well and accurately, even at distance.
I don’t believe there are many bolt action 45-70 firearms out there. There are many lever actions, but the single shot tube loading rifles tend to go at auction for high prices. The demand is so high that even the newer lever action rifles are sometimes sold at auction.
This is likely a one-of-a-kind build.
On August 14, 2022 at 8:35 pm, PubliusII said:
Naive Q here: Is this a black powder cartridge (as in the Trapdoor Springfield) or a modern powder round?
On August 14, 2022 at 8:47 pm, Herschel Smith said:
Someone can correct me, but I’m sure he’s shooting modern cartridges. Of course, if I’m not mistaken, the SAAMI pressure for the round is low (28,000 psi) so that goes into loading specs and shell wall thickness.
On August 14, 2022 at 8:48 pm, Bradley A Graham said:
It can be loaded with either BP or modern smokeless. That’s part of the beauty of the 45/70. That and the fact that it was developed 8 years after the Civil War.
BTW, you haven’t lived till you have shot a 45/70 out of a Thompson Contender.
On August 14, 2022 at 8:52 pm, Bradley A Graham said:
Pressures are kept low for legal and safety reasons.
On August 14, 2022 at 9:06 pm, Herschel Smith said:
Legal and safety reasons have to do with wall thickness.
On August 14, 2022 at 9:26 pm, Ned said:
Bradley Graham – amen. Shot a coyote with my 16″ TC, with a 300 gr hp. Blew a dinner plate size hole in the chest and knocked it probably 6 feet.
On August 15, 2022 at 10:54 am, Ned said:
Regarding bolt action 45-70 rifles – Gibbs Rifle Co used to make a 45-70 Lee Enfield conversions. I bet they could sell a lot of them if they re-released them. https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/01/21/gibbs-rifle-companys-45-70-no-4-lee-enfield/
On August 15, 2022 at 8:36 pm, RHT447 said:
Been handloading and casting bullets for my 45-70’s since 1974. As noted above SAAMI pressure is about 28,000 psi. This is the equivalent of a black powder 500 gr. bullet load originaly issued for Trapdoor Rifles. Because there are still many of these rifles in circulation (including one of mine) factory ammunition is kept at this level of pressure.
More in depth loading data usually lists three pressure levels–
Loads for Trapdoor and other weak actions.
Loads for modern rifles.
Hot loads specifically for Ruger #1’s and bolt actions.
On August 15, 2022 at 9:36 pm, RHT447 said:
Just to pick a nit, the Marlin he is shooting at the start of the video is a New Model 1895 which first came out in 1972.