.45-70 at Two Miles: The Sandy Hook Tests of 1879

Rifle Magazine ^ | November 1977 | W. John Farquharson

[wardaddy]

Harp,

You need to try this with that freebie 45/70 you got last year.

Let me know how it goes.

[Myrddin]

I keep putting off purchase of the T/C Contender. The new G2 came out last fall with some new safety features and complete compatibility with existing barrels. I'm inclined to a .308 barrel with a scope for shooting silhouettes. We have a big competition at our range on Labor Day. The hillside is completely filled with steel animals from about 50 yards to over 300 yards. Handguns only. If I can't get a T/C in time for this year, I can shoot the competition with a scope on the Ruger .454 Casull.

[Myrddin]

You can shoot any ammo made in .45-70 with that rifle. It's as strong as they come. I only opted for the lever action 1895G because it's quicker to reload if Mr. Bear needs a few rounds to sit down.

[harpseal]

To try this I would need a range of 2500 yards or more unfortunately such is not available in CT or anywhere near.

[wardaddy]

Yeah....I thought about that later....not many 2500 yard ranges anywhere except out west or in the desert. I think there is one here in TN at the Tullahoma Air Base.

[Lee Enfield]

My wife has a Marlin 1895SS, made me give it to her after firing it once. (After 5 rounds she hugged it and said "Mine", who was I to argue with that?)

[45Auto]

Since I posted this article I have revised my opinion of the .45-70 in the TC guns; I now have not only a ten inch TC Contender but also a new TC Encore with both ten and twelve inch Bullberry barrels all chambered in .45-70. I find that I don’t want to shoot full tilt factory ammo (nor do I want to shoot top end book loads for the Ruger No. 1) However, the Hornady Sixth Edition reloading manual has a section on .45-70 in the TC; this seems to be the right data for those rather small guns. 300 grain JHP’s over 35 grains IMR 4198 is just right. Fairly accurate at 50 yards, and will shoot inside 4 inches at 100 yards.

[Myrddin]

I have both G2 and Encore frames now. The 15" 460 barrel for the Encore is a great shooter. I put a .454 Casull round round (200 gr plated FN over 37 gr W296) into my 3/8" spinner. It nearly punched all the way through.

I also have the 20" 500 S&W Katahdin rifle barrel for the Encore. A 325 gr Gold Dot smacks your shoulder pretty hard. Accuracy leaves something to be desired too. The 28" Pro Hunter in 30-06 is shooting sub MOA at 100 yards. Much more pleasant to shoot and more accurate. I have a Boyd's thumbhole stock and beavertail forend for that configuration. It is topped with a 10x Bushnell 3200 scope.

I'm inclined to favor rifles in .22, .30 and .45 caliber. That allows loading multiple cartridges on a variety of brass. The 100 gr Plinker bullet is pleasant to shoot out of a 30-30, .308 or 30-06. A 200 gr FN plays just fine in 45Auto, 45LC, 454 Casull and 460 S&W. A carefully selected .22 can serve for .223 or 5.7x28.

[45Auto]

The Encore pistols in those large calibers are hard on the elbows and the rifles are hard on the shoulder and possibly the retina. I have read of detached retinas in people who fire major recoiling rifles like the African British Nitro rounds. I am, however, a glutton for punishment. I recently ordered a Bullberry 10 inch Encore barrel chambered in the very old .50-70 Government(predates the .45-70 by 7 years). The history of that round is very interesting. It is about .25 inch shorter than the .45-70; originally fired a .515 diameter bullet, but current production (Italian Sharps and the Lone Star reproduction Remington Rolling Block) calls for .510 bullets. (Same as the .500 Linebaugh) Cases are available from Starline and .510 cast bullets from several sources. Barnes has two jacketed .510’s, a 300 and 450 grainer. The Bullberry has a 1 in 16 twist which is very much faster than the original Sharps (1 in 48, then later, 1 in 36 and finally 1 in 24). I figure in the Encore pistol, this will be the .500 Linebaugh on steroids.

[Myrddin]

I was just digging through my safe yesterday to locate a couple of my car titles. I discovered a T/C pistol barrel in .223. I didn't even look to see if it was the Contender or Encore. It will be 6 weeks before I'm home to even consider taking it to the range.