6.8lb 45-70

[Close Range]

I have recently been bitten by the straight wall cartridge bug and have decided on the Henry 45-70 single shot. In looking at load data I see Barnes has one with 50 gr of aa1680 and a 400 gr original at 2185 out of a 24” barrel. Anyone have any idea what the recoil will be like in a 6.8lb rifle?

 

[R.M.C.]

I could only guess but I'd say "unpleasant". Would be handy to walk around with though

 

[CoElkHunter]

It'll be nasty! Wear a neck brace to prevent head movement and thus prevent a detached retina and a mouth guard to prevent chipping a tooth. Ha! Ha!

 

[CJW]

I wouldn't shoot it.

 

[leslie hetrick]

i shoot a hornady 300 gr flat nose at 2000.fps out of a ruger #1 and #3 and they have killed every thing i hit. recoil is pretty snappy, but not anything i can,t handle hunting.

 

[kukusya]

Will kick like 12ga shotgun with 3” shells

 

[crs]

kukusya,
Good idea, well done.

 

[CJW]

I was curious and did some looking because I didn't even know that henry built a single shot 45-70. What I found was a number of people saying that the remington 405 gr loads at 1300fps were, and I quote, "stout" and "definitely noticeable". Another 900 fps?

I've fired lots of 3" 12 ga and I find it hard to believe these two are similar with that load, especially seeing that it gives up a pound to most 12 ga shotguns.

They did say that the supplied recoil pad was decent.

I would look into a heavier lever action or even a 458wm if I wanted to shoot .458 400gr bullets at that speed.

Just food for thought.

 

[Close Range]

That’s what I’m thinking. But it begs the question Is there a dg round that it would compare to?

Thankfully there is plenty of trapdoor load data available. My sister has one in 44 mag and 265gr bullets at 1700 fps are far from uncomfortable.

 

[Close Range]

Not my picture. Just one off the net. For the price as close to perfection as it gets! In my eyes at least.

 

[Nevada Mike]

I had an '86 Winchester take down in .45-90, complete with hooked metal butplate. I was sually good for 3 or 4 shots, then found something else to shoot. Ouch.

 

[Primal]

Beware that the stocks on those are prone to cracking, especially the ones chambered in larger center fire cartridges.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

I have recently been bitten by the straight wall cartridge bug and have decided on the Henry 45-70 single shot. In looking at load data I see Barnes has one with 50 gr of aa1680 and a 400 gr original at 2185 out of a 24” barrel. Anyone have any idea what the recoil will be like in a 6.8lb rifle?

I have a Baikal double that clocks in about that.

Recoil with a standard 405 at ~1600 and a 525 Postell at ~1300 was just fine.
325gr Hornady at ~2000 is decidedly unpleasant to shoot.

I would think a 405 at 2000+ is going to be a handful.

... though perhaps not unbearable if you're already used to heavy hitting cartridges.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Will kick like 12ga shotgun with 3” shells

View attachment 418340

Great recoil database! Except, you typically wouldn’t shoot from a bench with the shotgun to site it in? I’ve shot my buddy’s 18.5” Marlin .45-70 with factory 325gr. Leverevolution ammo from the bench and the recoil is very nasty. Lighter rifle and poor stock design for recoil. He never even shoots it anymore. I’ll shoot my CZ 550 .458WM everyday, all day over his .45-70. Heavier rifle with a better stock design for recoil.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

Lighter rifle and poor stock design for recoil. He never even shoots it anymore. I’ll shoot my CZ 550 .458WM everyday, all day over his .45-70. Heavier rifle with a better stock design for recoil.

Echoing this sentiment: I've shot my father's 18.5" Marlin 30-30, and similarly I'd shoot the 405gr 45-70 out of that Baikal, lightweight and all, all day long if I had to choose between the two of them.

Perhaps the 24" barrel is massive game changer, but on the face of it really does seem to be a design best suited for the revolver cartridges it was intended for in the good old days.

 

[Close Range]

I was curious and did some looking because I didn't even know that henry built a single shot 45-70. What I found was a number of people saying that the remington 405 gr loads at 1300fps were, and I quote, "stout" and "definitely noticeable". Another 900 fps?

I've fired lots of 3" 12 ga and I find it hard to believe these two are similar with that load, especially seeing that it gives up a pound to most 12 ga shotguns.

They did say that the supplied recoil pad was decent.

I would look into a heavier lever action or even a 458wm if I wanted to shoot .458 400gr bullets at that speed.

Just food for thought.

I’ve burned cases of 3.5” 12 ga. loads as fast as I could cycle it and it never bothered me. Then one day with the same gun propped up and shot it like a rifle with a light 2.75” shell. You talk about a complete different feeling.

In reality a 44 mag is all the power I will ever need. I just don’t like pushing a cartridge to the max if I could just down load a bigger one.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

View attachment 418347

Not my picture. Just one off the net. For the price as close to perfection as it gets! In my eyes at least.

Might end up being an absolute bastard to shoot at your intended load, but have to agree, it's a fine looking rifle for the rest of time!

 

[Close Range]

Beware that the stocks on those are prone to cracking, especially the ones chambered in larger center fire cartridges.

This is the first I’ve heard of this. Is there anything that can be done short of lowering the recoil?

 

[Close Range]

Will kick like 12ga shotgun with 3” shells

View attachment 418340

That’s what I was looking for. Thanks

 

[crs]

Nevada Mike,
You mean like this 45-90 ?

It is all in how you mount the rifle. Just tuck the lower point of the butt plate into your arm pit and let her fly. It will rise up, not back, and with no bruising or pinching and drop back down on target. Pretty handy when actually shooting game. I have fired 450 grain 2150 fps African loads with nary a bruise.
A nice big bore rifle when you get the technique down pat.