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I rescently purchased an H&R Ultra Hunter in 45-70 and must say it's a neat little rifle, more than I expected for the price. It has a 24" Stainless hvy bbl with a thumbhole laminate nutmeg stock. I was quite surprised that the stainless finish was not cheap looking in appearance, I expected it to have brush/polish lines similar to many cheap stainless rifles, but it has a very nice dull grey bead blasted finish. The trigger wasn't to shabby at all, it broke clean at 4lbs.

I bought this for a family member that wanted to use a 45-70 in our "Primitive Weapons" season, which now allows break action single shot rifles (Cal must be .38+) with a design prior to 1900.

I purchased the rifle, a Leupold 3-9x40 VX2, Rifleman Weaver style rings, and 3 boxes of Hornady Leverevolution 325grn for $796 total.

Here's a few pics:

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I mounted the scope, cleaned the bbl, and fired 9 rounds at the range. I fired 3 to get it somewhat zeroed and the pic is of the first 3 shot group. I lowered 5 clicks and 2 clicks right, which gave one shot 2" high and touching the right side of the center line and the next shot touching that hole on the left side of the center line. I then fired 2 shots at 205 yards which were both 6" low.

Before I fired the rifle I was thinking it was going to recoil unpleasantly as I had heard the Handi 45-70s were hard kickers. I must say I was wrong, this thing is a breeze to shoot and has no more percieved recoil than your average 30-06. I could easily shoot this rig for hours.

If any of you are looking for a inexpensive and accurate 45-70, definitely give this rifle a look.

Reloader7RM
Yup, that 3X9 makes 'fer a real primative outfit, alright.
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Yup, that 3X9 makes 'fer a real primative outfit, alright.


If it's legal, I'm all for it. I don't make the rules, just try my best to follow them.

Like I said, this is for someone else and it should make them a darn fine venison slayer. I'm going to stick with my Savage ML10II for now.

Reloader7RM
Including everyone who wants to hunt is a good thing.

It seemed different when one had to master a set of skills to keep the spirit of fair chase. Now the appeal is to push every rule to the max, for a price, of course.

Additional opportunities to get away from the regular season crowds was a nice option as well.

Not knocking anyone, just an observation.
That'll do the trick.

I've never seen it in person, but that 45-70 cartridge must make a deer look silly dead.
I don't have one in .45-70, but I do have a Handi-rifle in .22 Hornet, and I really like it. They are pretty slick little rifles!

Good for y'all!
I had a Buffalo Classic and liked shooting it.Then I bought a Handi in 45/70 and got just as accurate shooting so I sold the Classic.I like my 45/70 Handi.These big bulets do their best moving relatively slow so that they will expand.Too many people try to load them "hot".
I also have a Marlin 1895 in 45/70.Love the big boolits.

Stan
Mississippi was the first state to allow this type of firearm for the primative weapons season. The first two years the H&R was hard to come by, most stores had a waiting list. Though I hunted with a muzzleloader I did so only because it gave me another month of hunting time. I bought my H&R ASAP.
I frequently hunt with mine in the regualr season, it's short and handy.
These Handi Rifles are great guns! I have one with three different barrels. I have a .223, .243 and a 45-70. They all shoot great and the 45-70 with Hornady LE ammo is a great deer rig. I use the .223 and the .243 for targets and varmints. For the money you can't beat these guns. I belive you can even get a muzzleloading barrel for them as well.
The 45/70 Handi rifle is the absolute best one to have.

Stan
You need to learn reloading now for that 45-70!
My Encore shoots about as well and is not too bad to clean. That being said if TN would let us use the 45/70 in ML season that is what I would use without doubt. I shot one of my best bucks this past year with the muzzleloader and all he did was fall for about 10 yards and was dead. What if I would have missed and he ran about 60 yards and stoped? I would not be able to get that 2nd shot off with my ml but you might be able to with that Handy 45/70. I must say it was cool seeing that buck fall as the smoke cleared. I'm in the if its legal use it camp I guess.
Originally Posted by Stan_in_SC
The 45/70 Handi rifle is the absolute best one to have.

Stan


Stan, any experience with the 444? I've been tossing around the idea of either a 45/70 or 444 in a HR or Knight KP1. Ballistics charts on Hornady's LeverEvelution show the 444 with a pretty good advantage as far as down range power and trajectory.
Glockface, these straightwall carts are a breeze to load for. I've got some recipes to push either the 300 Sierra or 300 HDY over 2500 fps, but this rifle isn't mine I just set it up for someone so I will not be loading for it. I wish HDY would offer the LR bullets to reloaders, but they are being alittle stengy at this point. The LRs were only 23 a box, not too bad.

Wildlife, I looked at the 444 as well but it's only offered in the standard handi. The ballistics are much closer when you compare handloads, but I admit, HDY's advertised MV for the 265 LR in 444 looks nice.

These 45-70 LRs aren't too bad, only 6" low at 205 with a 2" h 100 yd zero. You could bump it to 3 at 100 and bring it to around 3-4 low at 200.

I looked at the KP1, but think I like the Ultra Hunter better.

Ya'll have a good one.

Reloader7RM
That is a nice looking rifle. I bought the plain Handi rifle in .45/70 to use during primitive and it seems to like the Winchester Super X 300 grain Hollow Point the best. I am probrably going to use it some during regular rifle season since a lot of the places I hunt are thick and brushy.
Rel..,

Handi rifles sometimes get a bad rap on this forum. It's ignorance or inexperience talking. They are a tremendous value for the dollar, accurate and, as the name implies, HANDI. Plus they are just plain differant and fun.

The muzzel loader and slug guns are my favorites and they out shoot everyone else's pricer version. Check Walmart. Almost everything they sell is less than $200.

O
Where can I order mine?!?!
I've owned an H&R Ultra slug hunter for a few years now. It is one of the most accurate guns I have ever owned. Winchester BRI Sabot slugs at 50yds 3 shots touch and at 100 yds under an inch. Here in CT we are required to use slugs on State land and have been shooting them for 20+ yrs. That is a nice looking setup and would love to see us go the same way as other stateshave gone and would pick one up in a second.

My only complaints on the USH is very heavy and the bluing rusts very quickly.
I'm thinking about buying one for box blind and bad weather hunting.
swampman u cant even handle a 7mm 08 let alone 45/70
Whats up with digging up old threads lately? Nothing wrong with it, but its been happening more often lately.
I own 3 .45-70s, a vintage 1895 Marlin, a 1874 Sharps, and a Ruger #3. I hate the 7mm-08 having owned several.
SC primataive states that a rifle must be .36 cal or larger, have a 1/8" apature sight (no scope), use black powder (any non nitrocellulouse) and may use any ignition system.
Folks around here have gotten to calling it muzzleloader season but the truth in the way the law is written is that a Marln lever action in 375, 444 or 45-70 with a williams peep is legal if you load it with 777 or pyrodex.
The DNR book reads only this
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3.2 For Special Primitive Weapons Seasons, primitive weapons include bow and arrow, crossbow and muzzle-loading shotguns and rifles (.36 caliber or larger) with open or peep sights or scopes, which use black powder or a black powder substitute that does not contain nitro-cellulose or nitro-glycerin components as the propellant charge; there are no restrictions on ignition systems (e.g. Flintstone, percussion cap, shotgun primer, disk, electronic, etc.).

but the state law reads this way
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South Carolina Code > Title 50 > Chapter 11 > � 50-11-45 - Certain rifle defined as primitive weapon


In addition to weapons defined as primitive weapons by statute or regulation, a rifle, .36 caliber or larger, which uses black powder only as its propellant charge and which has a one-eighth inch nonmagnified peep site on the rear of the barrel, is a primitive weapon.


The way that DNR phrases it is that its muzzleloaders only, but the statye statute which would hold authority over the DNR regulation makes no mention of muzzleloader.
Ive had a pile of them New England & H&Rs they are shooters I love the Buffalo classic makes feel like thier back in time. Also less costly then Ruger or Thompson .Can buy 2 or 3 for the price of theres an just as good maybe better then Thompson
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