Anyone shooting the TC 45-70? I am thinking about buying a barrel and would appreciate any thoughts on this caliber. This would be used for whitetails, hogs, and a future trip to Africa. Thanks

i have one for the encore i use 300 gr semi jacketed hollow points and 46 gr of reloader 7 i havent got to do alot of shooting with it let but i think it would do a number on deer. jason

Years ago in the old SSK flyer JD said "it is the best 150 yard sledgehammer around". You have a wide range of heavy bullets including solids for big African game. Recoil is STOUT so work up slowly so you don't develop a flinch. Some people don't like muzzle breaks, but you might consider one for this brute. If you can afford a rechamber, or custom barrel I'd probably pick a .375 JDJ. I have one and it is great for deer as well as African game including ellephant. I have a SSK break on mine and the muzzle blast is not bad. I do not need to wear ear protection when hunting with it ( I do wear it when at the range ).

I've been hunting with one for over a dozen years now and it has taken around two dozen deer, all but one with one shot, and the one was a bad shot on my part and no amount of power can make up for lousy shooting. My barrel is a Fox Ridge 15" and it moves a 300 gr. X bullet at 1890 fps with 53.5 gr. H322 powder in Remington Nickel cases and Fed 210 match primers. This round will hold a 6" vital MPBR out to 183 yards with a 155 yard zero. However, the bullet drops below the minimum needed 1600 fps for expansion at 175 yards, so I sight in at 125 yards and am 4.75" low at 175. The 45-70 is definitely a flying sledgehammer and a brake is a must, at least for me and the heavier loads. The one thing you must commit to is practice, and lots of it. Recoil is rough, and you must practice if you do not want to end up with a bad case of the flinches.

If you would like to Opinions your 45/70. First if you are going to shot 500gr bullet you should send your barrel SSK to get the chamber open up so you can set the 500gr bullet out all the way this will help on recoil. Then you should counter bore your scope base holes about 1/32" so you can get all 5 threads in the holes in the barrel and use red lock nut under the base to hold it to the barrel. You need to have a Brake on your barrel and for add weight use rubber grip and forend. I have used the 45/70 for 10 years. The recoil of this gun pulled one scope off the barrel putting a nice cut in my head. This is why you counter bore and add red lock nut under the base. I use a Decade recoil glove with this gun. Now for the light bullets 300gr the loads I Powder is IMR 4227 and Vihtavuori oy N133

LOAD 1
Powder IMR 4227 40.8gr
Primer CCI BR2
Bullet Remington 300gr HP
Case Winchester
OAL 2.52
VEL 12BBL 1966fps

Load 2
Powder N-133 63.2gr
Primer CCI BR2
Bullet Remington 300gr HP
Case Winchester
OAL 2.52
VEL 12BBL 1995fps 14BBL 2027fps

Load 3
Powder N-133 63.2gr
Primer CCI BR2
Bullet Barnes 300gr SSP
Case Winchester
OAL 2.65
VEL 12BBL 1997fps 14BBL 2025fps

Load 4
Powder N-133 63.2gr
Primer CCI BR2
Bullet Barnes 300gr X bullet
Case Winchester
OAL 2.8
VEL 12BBL 2010fps 14BBL 2034fps

I haxe a T/C Contender in 45/70 with a Shilen SS 14" barrel by SSK w/SSK brake.(2x7Burris w/posi-lock and TSOB 4-ring mounts on top). I wouldn't trade this barrel for anything. I shoot 300gr Hornady FNHP with 54gr/H322 using Fed 210 primmers. This barrel will shoot 1 ragged hole @ 50yds and less than 7/8" @ 100yd. Recoil is not too terrible w/brake. I practice alot with a 22 with a 14" barrel and a 1XBurris on top. Shooting becomes 2nd nature under hunting conditions. I killed 3 deer with my 45/70 this year and damage isn't that bad if you stay behind the shoulder! It is a 100yd SLEDGE-HAMMER!

Paul Dustin has said it all ! I have mine for
years now and wouldn`t give it away !
I was luckier than Paul , I saw the scope
wiggeling while cleaning the barrel, that saved my face I guess ! You can save quite a
few bucks if you use cast bullets and even if
they do not expand , you still have at least
a .45 hole in and out !Go for it and have
FUN !!

I have had mine for a few years, and have settled on the 300 gr seirra hp and 54.0 gr of H322. This is a max load, and should be worked up to. It deadly on deer.

I have a couple questions.

How is the penetration with the 300gr bullets?
Do you feel comfortable with quartering shoots?
Has anyone tried Hdy 350s or Speer 400 gr bullets? What velocity did you get and how were the terminal results?
Has anyone had experience with the 300 partition(or is the velocity too slow)?

Just curious, thanks.

Gentlemen: I would like to throw in a question or two here also. I have an SSK 14" bbl with no brake. Was planning on Magnaporting it after the twisting recoil of two shots with Speer 400s left my wrist in pain. Anyone have experience with magnaporting vs. a brake?
Also curious about performance of bullets over 300 grains, as I acquired this barrel with a brown bear in mind (have a .375 JDJ for up to 300s, but I thought more power would be better). What bullet recommendations do you have? What about X bullets made specifically for the .45-70?
Just some questions I have that you guys might be able to help me on. Thanks.

I have been using the 45-70 in a 16.25 Hunter barrel for over ten years.

I have used the Speer 400 grain bullet with excellent results. I shot an elk @130 yds , took one step and went down. IMy load was a healthy dose of H322. The bullet expanded to .88, just amazing. JD was right about a 150 yd sledgehammer.

I now am using the Barnes X 300 gr and H322, a load similar to big bore's. Just need to watch the range since the X bullet needs 1600 to expand. Other wise it acts as a solid.

I am gong to try the Barnes 300 & 400 SSP on my next elk hunt. May use it for spring Bear.

Just a reminder don't over look using cast 405 gr LBT cast bullets in the 45-70 with AA2495BR, great combination.

If you don't reload check out Garrett's web site. They have some 420 gr stuff for the contender.

Just my .02 worth.

bd

Hay , HAS ANY ONE USED THE NEW 450.MARLIN IT,S SAID TO BE A BELTED 45-70 MORE IS SAID TO BE BETTER. DENMITCH

I have a 14 inch barrel built by Dennis Bellm
of Utah. It has HTG spiral porting, recoil is still brisk but not uncontrolable. 52grs.
of 322 with a Barnes 300X is very accurate,
it leaves alot of internal deer damage and
about a 2 1/2 inch exit. Won't give mine up either.

In the Contener/Encore, there is really no need to use the X bullets designed for the 45-70. They will expand to lower velocities, but your BC goes to hell with the flat nosed bullet. The 300 gr. X leaves my barrel at 1890 fps so it does not drop below the 1600 fps needed for expansion until 175 yards, which is plenty far enough for me. If I want to shoot longer range than that, I'll take the 309 JDJ. I have shot deer ranging from 90 to 200 pounds with the X bullet (Spitzer) and they have completely penetrated every deer I have shot from every conceiveable angle. As far as brake vs port, I have tried both on various rifles and pistols and have come to these two conclusions. If you want to reduce muzzle jump, but not much recoil, port it. If you want to reduce jump AND recoil, brake it. The brake will be louder than porting, but does a much better job of reducing recoil.

[This message has been edited by Big Bore (edited 02-20-2002).]

I have shot the 400 speer in my 45-70 with a close to max load of H322 for about 500-600 rounds. It is noticeably more there than with the 300gr loads. That be said, all that I have hunted with my TC in 45-70 is deer and other much smaller stuff like gophers and such to practice for deer season. So, I do not really need the heavy load for deer. I have shot a deer or two with the 400's, and they work very well. For me, if I have a load to be used on deer and shoot it all year long around the farm it makes me a better shot. Try it you may like it.

------------------

TJC,

The 45-70 is definitely a Sledgehammer! If you decide to get one, get a barrel from SSK. JD has used this one alot and the barrel is throated and has the proper twist rate to handle 300-500 grain pills.

However, not to sway you from a 45-70, but a better all-around cartridge would be the 375 JDJ or the 338 JDJ#2. If Africa, the Big Five are on your plate the 375 is the way to go. Only because 375 caliber is the min to use say on a Cape Buff. The 338 JDJ hits as hard as the 375, but is a flatter shooting round. Basically, 375 gives you 220-300 grain pills whereas the 338 is 200-275.

Just to show a Full House 338 JDJ #2:

Good Luck

Mike

[This message has been edited by Michael Swickard (edited 02-01-2002).]

Mike, That is a nice looking rig! I have been to JD's website and am very interested in a 375 JDJ. A couple of questions: Is the brass hard to form? What is the recoil like, is it comparable to a 45-70? Thanks, Tom

Brass for the .375 JDJ is easy to form. Recoil from my braked .375 JDJ and 270 gr. bullets is nowhere near that of my unbraked .45-70 with 400 gr. bullets. I have no problem shoting as much as I want with the .375 JDJ (30 or 40 round range sessions).

I would imagine with 300 gr. bullets from braked guns, the .45-70 would be about the same as the .375 JDJ. Velocities would be very similar between the two. The difference in recoil happens when you up the bullet weights in the .45-70.

As Rob mentioned, recoil in the 375 JDJ is not that bad with either a Magnaported or SSK Arrestor Brake. A buddy of mine has a 375 and I feel that my 338 has just as much recoil. When the barrels are braked the muzzle lift is eliminated\, but you get a straight rearward push.

If I were in your shoes, based on what your uses will be and the potential to go to Africa...Get the 375 JDJ..you won't be disappointed. It will take anything on the planet!

Here are some nummber to compare

338 JDJ 200 gr...2250-2300 fps
338 JDJ 250 gr...2050-2100 fps

375 JDJ 220 gr...2250
375 JDJ 270 gr...2050

45-70 300 gr....1900
45-70 400 gr....1700

Ciao

Mike

BTW, 375 and 338 brass are a snap to make. Just run them up a FL die, load themn and go shoot.

[This message has been edited by Michael Swickard (edited 02-01-2002).]

A little update on the .375 JDJ numbers. You can get 2160 fps with the 270 gr. Hornaday in 14" bbl using a max load of 53.5 gr. of Varget according to Jones' data. I don't push mine that fast, but given the velocities I do get at 52 gr. I believe you could get that much out of it.

Rob

Is this data for a 375 JDJ in a Contender or an Encore? Knowing how well the 375 puts down critter at less velocity, Really can't see pushing the limits if this velocity is in a Contender.

Mike

TJC I have a 358 JDJ And Shots great I can push a 225gr Sierra Bullet at 2462 fps out of a 14" bbl and this is with 48gr of Reloader-7 This gun is good on Elk and Deer. I have a 375 JRS in a Competitor pistol 16" bbl if you need power this gun will push a 250gr bullet at 2575 fps and a 300gr bullet at 2425 fps and it is not that bad to shot.

The .375 JDJ data for Varget is for the Contender and from a Sixgunner magazine about 2 years ago.

Years ago I read some accompanying literature with my Pachmayr grips for my Contender that recommended not to use it for 45/70 due to the possible breakage of the bolt. In my sometimes contrary way I have shot it plenty of times with super heavy loads with this grip with no problems. Has anyone else seen this warning and/or had any problems with this and similar recoiling calibers?

[This message has been edited by W. Wilson (edited 02-19-2002).]

I too have seen this warning, but it was many years ago. The current grips are just fine for use on the 45-70. Mine have been on there for quite a few years and there have been no problems. Just make sure you get a grip that has been made in the past five years and is not a close out that has been sitting on someone's shelf since 1983. Or, just order it from SSK. JD won't sell you anything that is not properly and expressly made for these handcannons.

I used to own a 45/70 Hunter barrel, I sold it after I bought my 454. Now I've replaced it with a SSK 375 JDJ. My barrel is SSK kromed, full lenght vent rib, and has a MNP. I really like this barrel is a lot more accurate than the 45/70.

I bought some 300 gr. Barnes 45/70 semi spitzers a few years ago. In my initial tests (I haven't loaded them much) they don't seem to be quite as accurate as 300 gr. Rem.Hp. Has anyone hunted with them and has anyone else gotten any accuracy to speak of? Also, has anyone found other ways to seat the bullets with? I know you can take parafin and create a plug for the standard seater. I used a 257 Weatherby seating die and adjusted it so the bullet contacted the shoulder portion, then a ever so slight crimp on the bullet, since it is not cannelured.

[This message has been edited by W. Wilson (edited 02-21-2002).]