The Accurate Reloading Forums
Safe load data for 45/70
30 July 2008, 01:56
Montana MaddnessSafe load data for 45/70
I have a H&R Handy rifle in 45/70. I have always stayed in the Trapdoor section of my Hornaday manual. Figured the loads would be safe for the breach break action, but a friend claims the breach break on the H&R is strong enough to take Ruger #1 loading data and pressures. Can that be right? Seems that the action would not hold. Maybe I'm just to safty orianted.
Info Please from those of you that would know the facts.
MM
30 July 2008, 20:59
Rusty MarlinConsidering that the H&R is chambered on the same frame for the .500 S&W which has an upper pressure limit of 50Kip, it bears to reason that the .45-70 in the H&R can be loaded to similar pressures.
30 July 2008, 21:21
blackbearhunterJust call H&R & ask?
I have some loads in Marlin territory.
I have a load for the Speer 350gr bullet that gets out there at 2300fps.
I don't shoot that load much. It's at the high Marlin territory but under Ruger #1 territory and it does kick.
The BC will take some heavy loads, but I don't feed it a steady diet of them.
The BC is a very light gun. Most of my loads are 405 grain bullets in the 1600 fps range. Gets the job done and doesn't trash the shoulder.
Maybe Wrongtarget will show up and add more info. He's one of the best sources of info on the Buffalo classic.
01 August 2008, 22:59
tnekkccI think Joe at Realguns web site instrumented his Ruger #1 with strain gauges to determine the max load for his guide gun.
I think since then he went to transducers.
http://www.realguns.com/loads/4570.htmI have personally met my match with 45/70 recoil in light rifles, and so never get to high pressures in practical loads.
02 August 2008, 00:00
Tyler KempBefore I reamed mine to 45-120 I shot some max Marlin loads, and low Ruger level loads. Kicked like a son of a gun because of the metal butt plate. Didn't set the lug back on my gun at all, everything worked fine. The Handi-Rifle is in 270 as well, which is pretty high pressures. If you can honestly say the Ruger level loads don't hurt, might as well shoot them. I'd rather shoot the gun now that is has a recoil pad on it and some weight in it, even though the recoil numbers are much higher.
Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too!
Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system.
02 August 2008, 00:21
jeffeossothe handirifle ahs 3 different frames, and is handled by them as three different things
NO shotgun frame can be fitted, from barrel accessory program, with any rifle cart
high pressure rifle carts have a serial range and or mark
and the 45/70 frame, as bought from them, AINT the high pressure frame.
it's a CHEAP single shot... how much pressure do you want, next to your face, from a cheap single?
and, of course, I have one, I have rechamber to 45/120.
02 August 2008, 03:07
tnekkccquote:
"Lyman's 47th" 1992
385 cast gr cast, 17.5 gr Unique, 1411 fps, 38,500 cup, for Ruger #1
In a 45/70 Handi Rifle I did a work up with Unique and 405 gr cast:
shot 1) 18 gr, primer looks fine.
shot 2) 20 gr, primer is fine
shot 3) 22 gr, primer looks flat.
shot 4) 24 gr, primer is flat.
shot 5) 26 gr, primer is top hat and flowing,
action popped open and case ejected on firing
shot 6) 28 gr, primer is top hat and flowing, case
head expansion .001", action popped open and case ejected on firing
shot 7) 30 gr, case head expansion .0015" action
popped open and case ejected on firing, some leading in the muzzle.
shot 8) 32 gr, case head expansion .0025", case head separating where case head is flowing into the extractor, action popped open, some leading in the muzzle, and case ejected on firing, primer is spreading out .010"
02 August 2008, 05:36
Tyler KempWhy did you do that to your rifle? It probably set the lug back and wasn't any good for it.
Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too!
Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system.
02 August 2008, 11:16
tnekkccI did that becuase someone on line questioned my math in 1999 that predicted I could do that.
I went to the trouble of calculating action strength, and some one disrespected it.
What was I going to do?
My attitude was that there are no engineers currently working at gun companies that are as good as me.
Some shmuck on line had the attitude that I was a dumb consumer like him.
So I validated the calculations.
That did not change any one's attitude.
In engineering we do calculations, and if there is some disagreement, we do a test to see who is right.
On line, posters just type flames and never change their minds.
So why do I bother interacting with them?
That's a good question.
03 August 2008, 17:47
Hot Corequote:
Originally posted by tnekkcc:
...So why do I(aka Batman) bother interacting with them? ...
Because Batman loves it!

04 August 2008, 10:50
303Guyquote:
So I validated the calculations.
That did not change any one's attitude.
Ahhh .... but you see .... the more you do that the better you get at it!
Besides, there those of us out here who are very interested in your tests!

I don't recall you mentioning doing any destruction tests on Lee Enfields. Have you done any? Could I 'provoke' you into doing some?

(I have this theory that the Lee Enfield is actually a very strong action and the only way it can fail is for the bolt to unhook from the breach face and tip back into the shooters face, due it's flexibility). But I digress from the original topic.
OK then, just how flexible is a break action rifle? Handi-Rifle or any other. I have been told that they stretch cases and that case head separation is as bad as in the Lee Enfield. If that is true then
Montana Maddness would be well served to stay with his current loads.
Regards
303Guy
04 August 2008, 19:07
tnekkccI have never pushed an Enfield but I have some notes:
quote:
If I use my Quickload program to estimate the pressures that destroyed
the Enfields in
Ackley's book:
P.O. Ackley 'Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders Vol. 2', 1966, page 2,
actions to be
tested:
6. Eddystone-Enfield Number 952302
62 gr 3031 140 gr .270 Ackley magnum
102,000 psi
7. Remington-Enfield Number 673777
68 gr 3031, 180 gr .270 Ackley magnum
197,000 psi
13. British Lee Enfield, Mark III caliber .303, Number 41469
50 gr 2400, 150 gr .30-40 Improved [.303 Epps]
159,000 psi
I have done destructive tests, and reading between the lines, more
testing is needed before
we form conclusions.
The big problem with Ackley is that no one has written anything better
since. He thought that the P14 was a strong action in Volume 1, but when
he tests it in volume 2 he finds differently. This is obscured by the
use of the term "Enfield" on page 10 that can only be identified from
inference from the test ordering corresponding to the paragraph
description order.
1962, Volume 1 , page 447:
"Any rifle chambered for the 303 British can be rechambered for the Epps
version but the SMLE type rifle will not accept the heavy charges as the
P14 Enfield rifle"
1966 Volume 2, page 10:
The Enfield action [Remington and Eddystone] proved somewhat of a
disappointment in these tests. It was expected that it would be the
strongest one, and further tests will be run with this particular action
to see if the two used were representative. However, the two which have
been tested so far are widely different in physical characteristics.
That is, the heat treatment given the two actions varied a great deal.
One action [Eddystone] was extremely hard and blew up rather easily.
When the blowup occurred, the action was nearly disintegrated and is one
of the few blowups which would have perhaps proven fatal to the shooter.
The other Enfield action [Remington] was extremely soft. It was
practically impossible to break the action but after the loads reached a
high pressure level, excessive setback was indicated on each successive
shot, resulting in a dangerous headspace condition."
1966 Volume 2, page 13:
The British Enfield gave us an example of the rear locking lug system.
The strength of this action seemed to be good; probably a little better
than the Krag. [page 15: "The Krag actions tested showed surprising
strength."] However the locking lugs are over four inches back from the
face of the bolt. When this action gave way, the receiver itself went
down at the rear, allowing the front end of the bolt to come up out of
the receiver ring, thus allowing the bolt to be bent and to be broken.
The locking lugs themselves did not give way. The whole action appeared
to have plenty of strength except for this one characteristic, which
allows too much spring in the bolt and receiver. This action is not of
prime consideration, however, because it des not have the appearance or
another feature which make it desirable for sporting use. It also must
be noted that regular .30 caliber bullets were used in this rifle
instead of the oversized .303 British bullets. This, doubtless, gave
slightly lower pressure than the standard bullet would have given."
04 August 2008, 21:58
Montana MaddnessThanks guys
MM
04 August 2008, 23:34
303Guyquote:
When this action gave way, the receiver itself went
down at the rear, allowing the front end of the bolt to come up out of
the receiver ring, thus allowing the bolt to be bent and to be broken.
The locking lugs themselves did not give way
Thanks for that
tnekkcc. Much appreciated.
Regards
303Guy