Since the Ruger #1 45-70 has a fairly light barrel and the overall gun is fairly light, heavy 45-70 loads are really about the most I would shoot in one. I have a #1 458 Lott weighing 10.25lbs with a 1" Decelerator pad and it still kicks pretty hard even with light Lott loads (400 grains @ 2200fps).

Not really a classic rimmed caliber but I had my #1H in .458 Win Mag rechambered to .460 Weatherby. Shoot great but kicks a bit.

Neal in AZ

Well.....

I'd first take a trip out to the range with some stout 45-70 loads pushing 400-500 grain bullets in your Ruger. I put a 24" 45-70 barrel on one of my Encore frames and went out to the range the other day. I thought I was tough, and would need to punch the chamber out to 45-90 to get my thrills. The Encore only weighs 6 1/2 lb. and with heavy loads the rifle took me to the cleaners. It made my 7 1/2 lb. 375 H&H seem "normal".

Without having cartridge drawings handy, I'd say .450 Nitro Express #2, .45-90, .45-110. Anything else would probably require a rebarrel.

George

Can't answer your question about the rechamber, but for recoil pads, the Sims Limbsaver is the best choice as far as I'm concerned. I've had a decelerator before and the Limbsaver has it beat, hands down. If you use one of the grind to fit models that are oversize to the butt stock, you can grind the mating surface but leave the fullness of the pad for a larger footprint. I've got a limbsaver on my 835 Ulti-mag shooting 3.5", 2.25oz turkey loads, makes it very tolerable to shoot, even from the bench. Have one on my .45-70 Handi-rifle and both my TC Black Diamonds. I like em a lot!

William,

The 450NE #2 is a huge cartridge that shoots a 480-500 grain bullet at about 2150 fps at very low pressure (similar to 45/70 pressures) and develops over 5000 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle. Recoil would be similar to the 458 Win but pressures would be way less. It's a rimmed cartridge. I think it is one of the very best NE cartridges but is ballistically similar to all the 45's and 47's in the NE loadings. You'll want to make sure you have enough weight to slow the #1 down with this one! Let us know what you decide!

I considered the 458 WM and Lott but would prefer a "classic" cartridge. The 450 NE seems like an interesting idea. WHat can you tell me about it?