There is something to the statement that my brother makes often:

"You can get to an illogical result by taking small logical steps."

I like light rifles for lots of reasons. I also like big holes in things I shoot. I like to canoe on rivers where game is plentiful.

So, I bought a T/C frame, added a .45/70 bull barrel, scope mounts and scope and had it all dipped in camo to cut down glare from the sun on the water and to help keep it from rusting if it got wet. All logical steps.

My canoe has a compartment in it where the Contender will fit nicely, but the barrel stuck up a bit and when I got tired of hitting it with the paddle I thought I'd find a shorter barrel... and found a 16 1/4" one, albeit with a regular contour. Also, the scope had always gotten wet on the original rig, so when I changed barrels, I left it off. Yeah, it was logical to switch to synthetic from the wood since the canoe is a pretty wet environment for wood. Logical.

So, logically, step-by-step, I reduced the weight of the gun a couple of pounds, maybe more.

Well, I was shooting 325 grain cast bullets at about 1400 fps, but someone decided to give me some Hornady LeveRevolution 325 grain bullets that are advertised at over 2000 fps. Using them was logical...

Until yesterday, that is!
I hadn't shot the gun since I changed the stock, took off the scope and heavy barrel or had the hot Hornaday loads.

I've shot Saeed's .577 T-Rex, my Lott's, Westley's, Searcy's and Jeffery's and and Doc's .577 Nitro. I have a .416 Ruger Alaskan that weighs less than 7.5 lbs. and the recoil is pretty noticable, but...

Rest assured, nothing hurt me like that dang T/C did. My fillings are loose, my nose bloody, my eyes black and I had to throw away my underwear. I think I broke my middle finger on the trigger guard.

One logical step at a time I created a monster. I'm going to beat Saeed at his own game and start videoing folks (only ones I don't like, though) shooting the rifle. Dang... I still hurt.

Yikes! That looks like a brutal little rig. Hurts the shootER worse than the shootEE!

I've got some nice 525 BTB Pile Drivers at 1800+ for ya! Might help you on your endevor.

You getting a "pussy-ish" in your old age. Drink a little Glenlivit before you pull the trigger next time.

So what is the weight then?

give it to walter

Now push it out to 50-110, load it with a 675 grain bullet at 1200 FPS. Should be like shooting Thumper. Very controllable!!

I've got the same rifle, minus the camo. You really have to hold on to the forend to keep from it getting away and rotating upwards. Last time I shot it, I shot 6 rounds. My trigger hand hurt for a week, the lever really pushes back onto your middle finger. At about 3 pounds, it's a great backpacking gun. Weighs less than my 629 S&W Hunter, and a lot more punch. Wouldn't really hesitate to shoot a grizzly with it. Probably wouldn't even notice the recoil in that case.

Mine shoots about 4 inches at 100, that's the best I can do with the short sight radius, poor fitting stock and anticipation of the recoil. I'm going to make a .22 insert to shoot small stuff with in the .45-70 chamber. That would make it even more versatile as a backpacker gun. I can't think of a whole lot more use for it, as I don't have a canoe.

dave

Had one. Shot 250's at 2600+ ... not very nice on the bench ...

my chrakhead bigbore .. 45/120 in an unscoped hr breakopen that was originally 45/70 ... it does NOT weigh 7# ... i doubt its much over 6# .. and it will get your attention!

A canoe trip in the Southeast. I saw a movie about that a while back. I have hated banjo music since.

I did that when they first introduced the "super 16" barrel 20 years ago or so and have stayed away from the 45-70 ever since. I still have the barrel as a reminder of what not to do. I will stick with my 577 and 600 OK. That is all the recoil I need.

Matthew

Finally a rifle that Will won't think is too heavy for it's caliber!

Hope you and your fillings are better soon!

You are not use to pain anymore, you need to marry!

JD

My 16 inch contender carbine with a 1x4 leupold on it in 357 max only weighs 4.5 lbs. I sure yours weighs less bigger hole in the barrel composite stock mine is wood.

My NO3 at 7.25 lbs isn't fun to shoot with full house 45.70 loads works but not really fun.

I shot one a lot like it this spring hog hunting had a break and scope don't know the load it was do able but with out knowing the load I can't say much about the recoil.

I just fooled around with a recoil calculator and discovered that the "hurting factor" is apparently the recoil velocity, almost 1.75x the speed of a 9.5 lb .458 with a 500 grain bullet at 2150 and 2.5x times the velocity of a .30/06 with a 165 grain bullet (if I've calculated correctly).

If the Contender weighs 3.5 lbs, compared to a 8.5 lb .375 H&H, a .325 grain bullet in the .45/70 at 2050 and a 300 grain bullet in the .375... the free recoil is about 64 lbs in the T/C and "only" 42 in the .375 and recoil velocity is 38 to 18.

Owwwwwwwwwwwch!!!!

You got me curious,so I put mine on the scale. 3 lbs, 13 ounces. I know the recoil feels four times as bad as my .458 Mag. But, it weighs about 3 times more.

dave

them kinda dogs chew on both ends...

Rich
DRSS

Well Judge, I think you have a gift for understatement.

I haven't shot anything as painful as the stocked contender, and that was with a 7mm 08.

Put that horrible stock design with a real cartridge and lighten it up to pistol weight and I shudder to think what happens to one. Do you still have your retinas?

Apparently, sweetheart, you need to add more "w's" to your "Owwwwwwwww."

quote:

Originally posted by deankol:
A canoe trip in the Southeast. I saw a movie about that a while back. I have hated banjo music since.

They ain't all like the movie. I did the same river, (Chatooga), about twenty years ago in a canoe and didn't hear a single banjo for three days, but I had one hell of a ride!

Gee Judge,

I thought in your old age you would be smarter than that!

465H&H

I know about how you felt. I bought an Encore in 45-70 some years back - the short carbine with sights. Then a friend gave me some buffalo bore ammo, and I made the mistake of shooting it without hearing protection. I only did that once, and I think the ring in my ears now stems from that time. The thing kicked fiercely too. Later I sold the barrel, kept the receiver, and had a custom 9.3x74 barrel made, which I like a lot. It's my favorite Encore barrel, and fun to shoot, much better than the 45-70.

KB