Looking for some advice on loading 500 gr RN in a 45-70 #1. I have heard that some of the #1's have a "short throat." Have any of you loaded the 500 grainers in the 45-70 with success? Have you encountered any throat issues and what kind of performance are you getting. According to the Hornady manual they're getting 1800 FPS with IMR 3031, would be a nice bear stomper within 150 yds.

If the recoil doesn't kill you first.

The Interbonds have a more tapered profile which allows them to be seated to the cannelure and chamber in my short-throated 45-70 (Ruger #1). Standard RN Interlocks do not chamber unless they are seated deeper than the cannelure.

These were max loads per Hornady data. IMR 4198 gave just under 1800; IMR 4895 was just under 1700 fps.

+1 thinking it would be a little "jumpy"

so would this be an ok load for my #3

If you like shoulder separations, dig in!

why not?

i tried them in my sxs double rifle. shoulder surgery is scheduled in 2 weeks. good luck:

Honestly I think you'll get better performance with lighter bullets. Expanding bullets typically need a minimum impact velocity of 1700 fps, which is barely over your muzzle velocity. I can't see using expanding bullet over 400 gr in the 45-70.

I actually think the 350s loaded all the way up, and perhaps even the 400s, kick worse than the 500s in the short throat Rugers. The 45-70 simply doesn't hold enough powder to kick the 500s out with the same energy. (Not saying they don't kick however. )



Yeah, well, you gotta restrain yourself. Just because it's a double doesn't mean you gotta burn both barrels at once.

I hear a No. 3 with 500 grain Hornadys is one of the most miserables rifles in existence to shoot, especially when really loaded up (i.e. near 50K CUP).

Check LYMAN'S Manual.

My first Ruger No.1 had a long throat, and the second didn't, so I had it "throated" by .30". Load it with AA2015 behind the 500 Hornady and you'll be tramping on the toes of the .458WM!!!

2000 fps is easy and safe.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

Instead of all this nonsense with "short throats" "long throats" etc. why not just get a .458 WM and be done with it? it'll do any the 45-70 can and much more.

I plan on going to some 530 grain slugs in a 45-90, but it will be with a 15 lb Sharps and black powder. I have an 1895 Marlin that's a pleasure to shoot and very accurate with Remington 405 grain slugs. They step out at about 22 LR velocities (1230 fps). It is my dedicated dark timber elk rifle.

Being the type of guy that likes to rewind a motor once in a while, I cranked out some reloads with the same slugs that are doing 1,700 fps. Holy moly!!! Does that thing ever kick. On a bench it takes all of my concentration and fortitude to employ proper and accurate shooting technique. It is amazingly accurate though.

Unless you have an exceptionally heavy rifle, 1,800 fps with 500 grains is going to get your attention. A No 1 should be able to handle the stresses. It will not be something you will use for ground squirrels and rattle 500 rds down range in a day though.

I'd suggest one secure a few slugs and give it a try before investing in several hundred bullets. Being a straight walled case with plenty of room for many of the smokeless powder loads, one can simply seat the slugs deeper into the cartridge if he has any short throat issues.

Clue us in on your impressions after you light one off. 1Minute

I have always wanted to dump a bullwinkle with a big 500 Hornady soft. I'm sure it wouldn't have any special effects that something like the Remington 405 running the same speed wouldn't have. It just seems like a nice big freight train appropriate for a freight train sort of deer. But the practical side of me knows that the 350 Speer is all one really needs in plain old bullets. And you can push that one as fast as the 45-70 - even in the #1 - can handle. And it kicks smartly!

well that rabbit had bad intentions

If you think 500's are bad at 1700 fps, try em at 2300 fps

I used to think I could handle fair amounts of recoil, but with my 500 Jeffrey, I finally reached the point of saying uncle. My starting loads were 100 gr RL-15 under a 600 gr bullet, and they clocked 2200 fps. I never went beyond the starting loads, but have little doubt the gun could push 600 gr 2500 fps.

Seems to me if someone wants a .458 then get one in that caliber otherwise shoot the 45-70 at 1700 FPS in the Ruger No.1, that is easy enough to obtain in that strong action...

I shot a big Eland bull with a friends No. 1 loaded to very near 458 Win velocity and the recoil was pretty grim in that light rifle and my thumb had to be extracted from my nose hole!!

You sir, are a man's man. I'll just watch other folks shoot that one.

Now that there is funny, as long as it is not your thumb and not your nose.

Hell use a cast bullet at 1400-1500. Cast it at 30:1. It'll smoke any critter I can think of outof its sneakers at any range you care to set the sights! Why use such a hard cast slug that it is actually a solid in performance?? At the lower speeds they penetrate like an anti-tank round and kill like a safe fell on the critter. This is a 545 grain bullet after penetrating 36" through my moose, INCLUDING a full paunch. The moosekillers here can tell ya what that is. This is from a Sharps Rifle and was castat 30:1. It smoked a moose out of his sneakers with 1 shot

Yep, got me one of them .458 Winnies too... It just manages to keep up with my Ruger No.1 in .45-70 Improved!

Nothing against the Winnie, but it does weigh 11 lbs loaded, whereas the Ruger weighs in at 7.4 lbs, is 38 inches in length and only "kicks" at 83 ft-lbs shootin' them 500's.

Hey! This are the Big Bores forum, ain't it?
Bob

www.bigbores.ca

Well......after all is said, I think I'll leave the 500's alone and stay with the 350-405 class slugs in jacketed bullets. Although I am curious about the the longer throat. After the throat is lengthened does it affect your accuracy with the lighter (350-405) grain slugs? Is it worth the effort and money to get the work done? Also, never heard of a 45-70 Imp. just figured that would be a 45-90 which means even more money

Ray did the surgery last very long or was the Doc. good at his job and had it out fairly quickly? Sure glad I wasn't drinking a
coffee when I read your post. Cheers NC

I've been trying to stay away from here all day - AND to keep my mouth shut. Two failures at once, but that's not new.

I cast and shoot 500 grain bullets through both my #3 and my custom Siamese Mauser. Velocity has exceeded 2,000 FPS with a few loads and these are NEVER going to be used again in the #3. In the Siamese Mauser they don't really hurt - but the lovely STEEL - VERY CURVED butplate on the #3 - well it just proves that I would make a poor masochist. The jacketed 300 grain HP and 350 grain RN bullets will do anything I really need to do on this side of the ocean, but shooting those gignormously large cast 500 grainers - even at 1,500 FPS is soooooo much fun I simply can't talk myself out of it.

I used the Mauser with the 500 grain Hornaday solids and softs in Tanzania and they worked - period - perfectly on anything I thought needed more than the 300 grain Hornaday softs and solids I had loaded in my .375 H&H.

Bottom line - shoot what makes YOU happy - even 500 grain bullets!

bluesman I bet those 500 grainer are still going & going, they
have to be real penetrators on game. What did you shoot and did you find any of the bullets.Thanks for your time. cheers NC

1Minute, I cranked those Remmie 405's out of my Guide Gun a little over 1900 one time, just for giggles. It's definitely a T-Rex load. That's one thing about the old .45-70...it can be loaded from mild to wild, depending on your fancy and your target.

Try the 560 gr cast lead at 1200 fps!
I sold mine after that experiment. The 35 Whelen is like a kiss from your sister after shooting Elmer Keith loads in a 45-70 Ruger single shot.
The Ruger #3 feels like a logsplitter attacked your shoulder with that hard buttplate!
I suggest running the 350 gr Hornady just under the speed which would detach your retinas!
whelennut

Northcountry,
Naw I pulled it out, wiped it off, cleaned my fingernail, blew my nose, and continued to shoot with my clean thumb lying on the right side of the pistol grip,!! No hill for a stepper!:)