I finally got some handloads worked up for my 45-70 Browning 1885. I started with the minimum loads listed for a Ruger No. 1, and worked up. The first load was what it liked best, 50 grains of Reloader 7 with a Speer 300 gr. FP. It's running these just over 2100 FPS and this will be my deer and pig load. Only four shot groups as I only had 12 of the Hornady cases to load and 3 loads to try.



That's 1.37" c-c at 100 yards with a front sandbag, as suggested by some of the other members I went to a 6 o'clock hold which seemed to help. I also tried to shoot the same loads in Remington cases but they are all over the place, they seem a lot softer than the Hornady cases.

Looks like you have a good shootin gun! Time to head out and get some animals on the ground with it!

Justin

BG,
That is pretty good shooting with iron sites. You can imagine what they will shoot like with a scope. The 400 grn Speer is usually more accurate too but it hammers you at the higher velocities.

I like shooting the 85 with a receiver site or the factory iron sights. They are easier to load with out a scope. They also don't really look right when they are scoped.

Thanks guys, I'll agree with you Ireland2. Mine is a hunter model with the factory tang sight and I can just about shoot it now. If I had to use the buckhorn sight I would be in a world of hurt though.

High browningguy,
last saturday I shoot this 10-shot-group at 100m with my traditional hunter in .30-30WCF. The load was a 168grs Berger VLD and 30grs of Vith N135. I used the shaky browning tang sight. If I have the money, I will buy a better vernier sight.


Martin

That's the first time I've heard what is wrong with the Browning Vernier sight. Shaky wouldn't be good. I love the 1885 and hope to have one at some time. I like the idea of a 30-30 but I think I would prefer a low wall in 22 hornet.

If I have luck, next year I will get a used one in .22-250 Rem. A friend bring it to me, from the USA. This would be the thired and last High Wall for me, I hope ( and my wife).

Martin

RL7 is a good powder in the 45-70. My favorite load is 40 grains of RL7 under a 405 grain pill that I cast. Those 1885's sure are alot of fun to shoot. I get about 1600 fps from my 405. With the price of bullet's the way they are you should try them. Tom.