i have a browning 78 in 45/70. i read in a hornady reloading book that it rates in the same reloading category as the ruger #1 or #3. can anyone tell me if this is true, i can't find any other reference stating this. i would like to be able to load up some hot loads, but don't want to blow up the gun!!!

Ken Waters rates the Browning B-78 in the "very Strong" category in his PET LOADS book along with the Ruger #1 and Siamese Mauser. The only place where I disagree with him is in his placing the new model 1895 Marlin in the same group.
I have a B-78 in 30-06 and I would consider it just as strong as the Ruger #1 which I also have.
I'd be willing to bet you tolerance level for recoil will show up before you reach the rifle's potential, especially if you have that curved steel buttplate.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by smoke_eater:
i have a browning 78 in 45/70. i read in a hornady reloading book that it rates in the same reloading category as the ruger #1 or #3. can anyone tell me if this is true, i can't find any other reference stating this. i would like to be able to load up some hot loads, but don't want to blow up the gun!!!

This rifle has to be about one of the strongest on the planet. The 78 was chambered in 7MM Rem Magnum. You are not going to blow it up with any manual data for the 45-70. If you look at the way the breech block is supported you will see that there is way more metal supporting it than any bolt gun.
A bolt gun has two relatively small locking lugs holding the bolt in. The Highwall has both complete receiver walls supporting the breech block.

Just like the 1885, VERY strong !

I was never worried about strength of the block in my 78, 7mag but was concerned about a blown primer and the firing pin arrangement. It seems to me that there is a slight possibility of a gas-in-the-face problem. That is the one reason the Ruger seems safer.

Josh

the hi wall is safe and strong - just stay away from the blasto #3 in 45/70 . ditching dynamite is safer

the action looked as strong as the ruger, thx guys. strong recoil will probably hurt with the curved metal butt plate, but i love when the gun goes BANG!!!!! and i'm only making up some moose/ elk loads, not practice or fun loads. so i won't be shooting a lot of them.

Slight OT

Is there anything to be done about the trigger pull on a B78? I could acquire one at a reasonable price but neither it nor others I have seen had the trigger I would want. Two pounds would be fine.

The trigger has some adjustment.
If that does not work a slightly weaker return spring might reduce the pull into an acceptable range.
At one time Canjar made a single set trigger for the B78.

I once saw a plain Canjar on a B78 at a gun show. The pull was not particularly light, but it was very crisp. The single set version would certainly take care of the weight of pull. But I had about put Canjar into the urban legend file; I have not seen an ad or heard of anybody being able to buy a trigger for a long time.