I'm getting real close to buying a Ruger No. 1 in 45-70 and need some reassurance from the experts as to it's suitability as a cast boolit shooter. Also favorite light target punching, and heavier hunting loads for whitetails? THANKS!

I have been shooting a Barnes X 300 gr spire points over 50 grains of H4198 sparked by a CCI Benchrest primer. It averages around 1.25 MOA. Recoil is a noticeable but not bad.

I have not shot many cast bullets in mine, but have read other posters complain that the short throat on Rugers do not allow them to seat bullets out and as a result when shooting longer, heavier bullets the powder capacity is reduced.

B.Ebert,
I have a Browning reproduction of the 1886 Winchester lever action carbine,in of course 45-70. This rifle and the 1895 Marlins can handle what they call the "middle" range of power loads for the 45-70. The lowest range is for the original trapdoor springfields and reproductions there of. Your Ruger #1 handles the "top" range and if loaded for such should never be fired in any other rifle. Okay...I load a RCBS cast gaschecked 405 gr flatnose over 50 grs of H4895 for my carbine which gives me about 1850 fps over my chronograph. It's a stiff load and probably not need be that stout for deer. When my bullet is seated to the proper depth and crimped it resembles the Remington factory loaded 405 gr jacketed. I mention this because of a few reasons. One, with the bullet seated to this depth, there's still enough powder room to push it faster. Probably unsafetly faster for my type of action. Two, it fits the chamber just fine. So what I'm getting at here is that your Ruger #1 more then likely will chamber the Rem factory load as Ruger wouldn't make a rifle that wouldn't chamber a standard load. So I'd say you can shoot any factory jacketed bullet from say 405 grain and down and probably any cast bullet in that same weight range. I'm sure if you were going to hot rod your Ruger #1 that you would have bought a 458 Winchester magnum. As it is the 45-70 in standard loadings will handle about any game on the north american continent. Plus you have an extra margin of safety in your Ruger to load alot hotter for the big bears.

Joe

I have #1's in .458WM and others.

There is a difference in the throat and in twist between the .458 and the .45-70 . The .458 is great! Check with others that have them - there are serveral that post here.

The Ruger #1 in 45-70 of recent manufacture have what Ruger refers to as a "Government ballseat". This pattern duplicates the chamber and throat form of the Springfield 1873 "trap-door" service rifles, and features a very short throat with abrupt rifling origin. I have one of these rifles, and every factory load I've tried will chamber without difficulty. That's easy--these loads are all constructed with the assumption they will be used in trapdoor Springfields. Likewise, bullets used in 45-70 applications USUALLY present no problems to the handloader.

My rifle will print rounds-touching cloverleaves at 50 and 100 yards with cast bullets all day long. RCBS 300 grainers and several 400-405 grain cast bullets do this reliably. I set bullets to "kiss" the rifling, and all is well.

I can see where heavier bullets might be a problem for two reasons--deep seating to accomodate that throat, and slow rifling twist for the 400+ grainers. 45-70/#1 has 1-20" twist, while the 458 has 1-14". In my rifle I have to launch 405 grain spitzers faster than 1400 FPS or they will be inaccurate, possibly due to instability.

This is not to say that the 45-70 can't be used with heavy loads--350 grain bullets at 2100 FPS can be done with this rifle, and 400 grain bullets at 1900 FPS in a 7# rifle let you know the primers functioned.

My thoughts--if heavy bullets and frequent high velocity loads are intended, the 458 might be a better idea--faster twist and heavier rifle being the concepts here. If cast bullet accuracy is the prime directive, I can heartily recommend the Ruger #1 in 45-70......it is among the most accurate of my many cast bullet rifles, and was easy to get it that way.

I'm quite fond of my No-1 in .45/70. For me it is the perfect stalking rifle as it short, lightweight and has a safety which can be operated fairly quietly if done slowly. Mine shoots both heavy loaded jacketed bullets and low velocity cast very well. Mine has had its throat slightly lengthened to the orginal design. This allows loading of 400gr bullets up to 2178 fps (this is data from Speer for use only in Ruger No-1 or siamese mausers). Like crowrifle I use a 300gr barnes-x which give spectacular results on whitetail.
The only bad thing I can say about the rifle is that the cases don't fully eject due to the large rim catching on the tang safety.

Wes

Since we are on the subject of various 45-70 actions and their strengths and weaknesses. How does the Gibbs rifle, built on the enfield action fit in on the strength scale? I don't know anyone in my area that has one.

Ed B

I would have to say being that they made alot of the Mark III's into 308's that the 45-70 Gibbs would have to be near the top. Definately stronger then the lever actions. Sorta would be close to a converty Siamese Mauser with the Mauser getting the stronger nod.

Joe

I too have a Ruger #1 45/70 and had the throat reamed to accomodate the larger bullets .

The best grouping so far with cast bullets was with the Lyman 470gr GC mould (I think it is #457167 ) and it gave a .751" threeshot group at 100m - 1750 fps .
The Hornady 350 RN and Speer 400 gr groups as good at even higher velocities .

Ben

I've shot my stainless Ruger #1 quite a bit. Use SAECO #015 cast bullet made from linotype with 13.3 grains of unique. Nice pleasent round.