Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 200 or 250 grain cartridge for .45-70

Man, the things I miss when I don't check this forum often enough...


maddog

Since Louisiana opened their primative weapons season to include certain centerfire rifles, I've been pursuing the ideal set up. On the allowed list is the John Moses Browning designed 1885 single shot rifle. I found a good used Browning BPCR w/o the vernier BP sights and adapted it to modern 45-70 loads. I mounted a Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14x42 with Ballistic reticle. My best load, so far, is 250 gr. Barnes TSX FN bullets over 53 gr. Vv 120. This load chrono's at 2,500 fps from the 30" barrel. It shoots around 1" at 100 and it just so happens that the reticle marks correspond perfectly to 150, 200 and 250 yds, and with the pointed top of the post, dead on at 300 yds. So, by sighting on the top of the duplex part of the vertical wire, I can put three rounds on a pie plate (approx 5" group) at 300 yds. Thus, this 12+ pound 1885 single shot BPCR is a bonafied 300 yd. 45-70 "primative weapon" per Louisiana regulations. Really, not that primative and deadly to anything in the path of that gaping, hollow point Barnes bullet.

Dirtfarmer

So... what about that 450 Marlin?

Oh boy, Yet Another Internet Tough Guy...

Ain't nothing more pathetic than someone trying to act all badass over the Internet.

From a theoretical standpoint, a 250 grain Barnes XFN driven to 2560 fps (50 fps less for a 22" barrel) will only yield an 8" diameter (most hunters use 6" for deer which would reduce the MPBR) maximum point black range of 228 yards with a zero of 197.7 yards. At 228 yards the projectile will be down to a velocity of 1330 fps and have 955 ft. lbs. of energy. Marginal or inadequate for anything larger than deer. If it is at all windy this load is literally blown all over the place. With a relatively light 10 mph wind you would have about 18.5 inches of drift at 228 yards to contend with. Trying to make the 45-70 into a flat shooter beyond 200 yards is likely to be at best an effort in futility and at worst add to the number of wounded game in the field.

Up close and personal, they shine like the brightest star in the sky. If ya want a 200-300 yard rifle, go 308, 30-06 or similar.

Hello Shootists! I do believe that the Hornady Leverevolution ammo can make that rifle a 200 yard weapon for deer. I had both my .444 and 45/70 down at the range shooting some of this rather high dollar ammo. The ammo is good stuff for deer anyway out to 200 yards.

Now I have found several mistakes in the Barnes reloading manual, I for one just don't trust their figures. However, I do use the Lyman, new Hornady and new Nosler reloading manuals.

Home defence? Ye gods. Where on earth (or possibly not) does this fellow live that he needs a dangerously overclocked 45-70 for home defence? Wherever it is, I definitely don't want to go there- at least without a tank, mostly to protect me from the overshoot from his 45-70.

It may all be immaterial anyway as Mr "Damn-the-torpedoes" Polska may end up in hospital, wrapped up like the anonymous "soldier in white" in Catch-22. Hell of a way to learn reloading.

To quote Einstain,
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity,
and I am not sure about the former."

In all fairness, however, (and because its Christmas) I hope he has paused a while to reconsider. "Repent, brother, repent, before it's too late!

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Stuart