Ok maybe it's a stupid question/idea, but I was just thinkin that my Savage 110 in 30-06 gets no time at the range or even hunting and needs a make-over to get me attached to it again. (No I don't have the money but that's beside the point ok?) I've been looking at 45-70s for quite a while and just started wondering if my Savage could be re-barreled and bolt faced for a 45-70 chambering. I just visited SharpShooterSupply which is a Savage specialist and they don't chamber for anything over 30cal, so I went to ER Shaw and they'll do anything (I guess that included Savage). But my question to you guys is, if it's something do-able? If so, how would you go about it? If not, tell me why, so I don't do it again! I hate embarresments.

A beer
for your
troubles?
Suz

Suz,
anythings possible if you throw enough money at it.
The 45-70 was made obsolete by the .30 cals over a 100yrs ago.
From that POV the 30-06 is a better cartridge for nearly every application, so why the attraction or do you just like a challenge?

Rebarrel to suit caliber and a rimmed cartridge, modify the bolt face to handle a rimmed cartridge.
You shooting single shot or want to keep it a repeater?, a spacer / feed ramp may be needed to suit the 45-70 as its a lot shorter than the 30-06, you then have the rim to contend with in a magazine.

Heres some reloading info;
www.adi-powders.com.au...ern+Rifles

for beer I'll settle on a 5 liter keg of heineken

Brownells has the shaw barrel kits for under $225 minus tax & shipping, you would have to have your bolt face opened up. They even list the 458 winchester mag for under $225!! no 45-70 though....

www.brownells.com/rifl...23300.aspx

Forgot about the rimmed cartridge.....that screws it up...well it was a thought but it looks like a lot of trouble now. A single shot or a lever action, maybe I could trade it in, I just don't use it, don't know why I never really took to it. Maybe I should play with it some more and make it a tack driver. Wonder what the optimum bullet would be...I don't like the synthetic stock either, it needs a make-over, has a great trigger and action...I'll mull it over. OMG a 458 wouldn't that be the end all! No way I'm not touching that, I'd have to be shooting cement trucks or something.

try some 180grners they shoot really well in my buddys 06.

I know it's not what you want but a .450 Marlin might be easier.... just a thought !!!

My 06 really likes 165gr B-Tips !!!

Sierra HP GameKings are another excellent choice.

Suz-another way to go for a 45-70 is with a nef rifle(currently owned by marlin/remington I believe)sold at bimart.It would probably cost less than the conversion for your savage(plus).My buddy has one and it shoots excellent.......downside is that it is kinda light weight for a 45-70 and he says with std handloads it kicks like a mule!

I've been pretty tickled with my Marlin 1895s...

Ok here's my take, I'll make the 30-06 a real dream boat or sell it, I just don't (for some reason) like it all that much.

Was considering the Marlin 45-70 but don't like the shortness (18" bbl), wait a minute their web site says 22" but all I can find are 18", what's with that? I should look into that further....anyway that's the only reason I've ditched Marlin....ok well the 444 also has a 22" bbl Hhhhmmm...the NEF's are very light weight for the calibur, it would kill me to shoot it, as are the H&Rs (same thing?) but the Marlin is only 1/2lb. heavier....might make the difference. Thinkin out loud here guys....

Truely I wanted a falling block or trap door action and the capability to shoot black powder cartridges, why? cause they're cool! cause I don't have one! But they're too expensive and they cost too much and on top of that they're too expensive. The antiques I've found I'm not sure I can trust them to stay together, and they have like 37" barrels, the modern versions (replicas) are incredible looking but like I said cost is an issue.

Well there's also the 32-40 Winchester, I've heard you can load it to approximate the 30-30 cartridge. Haven't looked into an actual rifle, but the cartridge sounds interesting.

as Clem Kadiddlehopper
would say,
Good night
and God Bless

Without knowing what you already have it is difficult to make a decent suggestion but a 45 Colt carbine might fit the bill. At least it is the same caliber (more or less).
You could also turn the 30-06 into a 270 or 257 Roberts (although the action is a bit long for the Roberts).

May the Moon touch you gently as you sleep, the wind bring inspiration to your dreams, the morning Sun transform your day and the waters cleans your hands from your toils.

The 45/70 is still with us because it still works. It is a reloader's dream with a very wide selection of bullets and three power levels based on the type of rifle being used. Level 1 is for trapdoor rifles, level 2 for Marlin lever guns and H+R Handi and level 3 for Ruger #1. I've owned several Marlin's chambered for it and for my money the H+R rifles are just as good or better in many respects. Currently I have one of their Talo specials that have the shorter 18" barrel, but they come standard, in a Handi Rifle, with a 22" barrel at 7lbs. They also sell the Buffalo Classic with a long reaching 32" barrel and it weighs 8lbs. Both Marlin and H+R use can the same level 2 loads. Here's the Buffalo Classic:

BigBlue wrote:

The 45/70 is still with us because it still works. It is a reloader's dream with a very wide selection of bullets and three power levels based on the type of rifle being used. Level 1 is for trapdoor rifles, level 2 for Marlin lever guns and H+R Handi and level 3 for Ruger #1. I've owned several Marlin's chambered for it and for my money the H+R rifles are just as good or better in many respects. Currently I have one of their Talo specials that have the shorter 18" barrel, but they come standard, in a Handi Rifle, with a 22" barrel at 7lbs. They also sell the Buffalo Classic with a long reaching 32" barrel and it weighs 8lbs. Both Marlin and H+R use can the same level 2 loads. Here's the Buffalo Classic:

There is a 4th power level BB...Gelan's BLOOMPH...very low power, in fact is a veritable miser when it comes to powder consumption mate.

PaulS wrote:

May the Moon touch you gently as you sleep, the wind bring inspiration to your dreams, the morning Sun transform your day and the waters cleans your hands from your toils.

PaulS!!! How poetic, where'd you get that? Strangely sounds familiar...alright the 32-40 rifle would really take some work to even find one that I could afford, back to the 45-70 idea. What I've found is the single shot and the lever actions can be had at reasonable prices, especially if I trade in the 30-06. I don't think I've buggered it up and should get a few bucks out of it, although it's an inexpensive gun, it still looks like new.

So now it's lever? falling block? trap door? The new Marlins look too new and perfect, I don't like getting a hair cut that's too short, so it'll grow out later and in the mean time you have to wear a hat. If you get a hair cut that's perfect, it will grow out too soon and you need to get trimmed every week to look good again. A new Marlin will need to get beat up to look like an old veteran but then you've destroyed the value. I like at least, older looking guns, I guess, but the price is right.

Thinkin about it I probably should go the Marlin route because I'll need to put a scope on it and they're tapped for a mount. That'll add some needed weight also.

I don't buy shoes this way...I just go in and grab...I'll continue to think on this.


May the moon
frighten coyotes
to howl

The wind blow
the dust of ages
from your eyes

The sun melt
the snow from
your path

And the water
refresh your
parched lips

But for the life of me I'm going to strangle that dog next door that keeps barking at absolutely nothing all day long....

Posted in another forum, I found this interesting comparison of cartridge loadings (handloads and factory loads)


.444Marlin
200g @ 2730fps, 3311fpe (Accurate Arms, 41,300CUP)
240g @ 2499fps, 3329fpe (Hodgdon, 42,100 CUP)
250g @ 2200fps, 2687fpe, Nosler Partition $27.78 (Conley)
265g @ 2200fps, 2849fpe, JFP (Conley)
265g @ 2273fps, 3041fpe (Hodgdon, 41,100 CUP)
265g @ 2335fps, 3209fpe (Hornady @ Cabelas)
280g @ 2200fps, 3009fpe (Corbon)
300g @ 2082fps, 2888fpe (Hodgdon, 42,500 CUP)
300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, JSP $22.75 (Conley)
300g @ 2150fps, 3078fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo)
300g @ 2152fps, 3086fpe (Hodgdon #26)
300g @ 2211fps, 3257fpe (Speer #13)
305g @ 2100fps, 2988fpe (Corbon)

450Marlin
250g @ 2509fps, 3495fpe (Hodgdon, 42,200 PSI)
300g @ 2321fps, 3589fpe (Hodgdon, 42,200 PSI)
350g @ 2196fps, 3749fpe (Hodgdon, 42,300 PSI)
350g @ 2100fps, 3428fpe (Hornady Factory)
400g @ 2023fps, 3636fpe (Hodgdon, 41,900 PSI)


.45-70
250g @ 2200fps, 2687fpe, Barnes X Flat Nose (Conley)
300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, HP (Conley)
300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, Barnes Original Flat Point (Conley)
300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, Nosler Partition (Protected Point) (Conley)
300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, Barnes X Flat Nose (Conley)
300g @ 2424fps, 3915fpe (Hodgdon, 40,00 CUP)
325g @ 1950fps, 2745fpe, Barnes X Flat Nose (Conley)
350g @ 1970fps, 3017fpe, JFP (Hornady) (Conley)
350g @ 2191fps, 3732fpe (Hodgdon, 39,300 CUP)
400g @ 1900fps, 3207fpe, Barnes Original Flat Point (Conley)
400g @ 1900fps, 3207fpe, Swift A-Frame Flat Point (Conley)
400g @ 2002fps, 3561fpe (Hodgdon, 39,400 CUP)
405g @ 1900fps, 3247fpe, JSP (Conley)
430g @ 1925fps, 3539fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo)
500g @ 1625fps, 2532fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo)
540g @ 1550fps, 2880fpe (Garrett)

Factory ammo and costs:

.444Marlin
$37.93 200g @ 2320fps, 2391fpe, Barnes XPB @ Conley
$37.93 225g @ 2200fps, 2365fpe, Barnes XPB @ Conley
$19.99 240g @ 2350fps, 2942fpe (Remington @ Cabelas)
$27.78 250g @ 2200fps, 2687fpe, Nosler Partition (Conley)
$24.99 265g @ 2335fps, 3209fpe (Hornady @ Cabelas)
$22.62 265g @ 2200fps, 2849fpe, JFP (Conley)
$17.00 270g @ 2200fps, 2902fpe Speer Gold Dot @ Georgia Arms
$39.99 270g @ 2250fps, 3034fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo @ Cabelas)
$36.32 280g @ 2200fps, 3009fpe (Corbon)
$17.00 300g @ 2000fps, 2665fpe Speer Gold Dot @ Georgia Arms
$39.99 300g @ 2020fps, 2719fps, Swift A-Frame @ Conley
$22.75 300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, JSP (Conley)
$39.99 300g @ 2150fps, 3078fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo @ Cabelas)
$37.11 305g @ 2100fps, 2988fpe (Corbon)
$39.99 335g @ 2025fps, 3049fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo @ Cabelas)


450Marlin
$20.21 350g @ 2100fps, 3428fpe (Hornady @ Midsouth)


.45-70
$41.54 250g @ 2200fps, 2687fpe, Barnes X Flat Nose (Conley)
$??.?? 300g @ 1810fps, 2182fpe (Remington @ Remington web site)
$20.39 300g @ 1880fps, 2355fpe (Winchester JHP, Natchez)
$20.60 300g @ 1880fps, 2355fpe (Federal, Natchez)
$29.81 300g @ 1880fps, 2355fpe (Winchester Partition Gold, Natchez)


$22.84 300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, HP (Conley)
$44.66 300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, Barnes Original Flat Point (Conley)
$32.50 300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, Nosler Partition (Protected Point) (Conley)
$41.54 300g @ 2100fps, 2938fpe, Barnes X Flat Nose (Conley)
$25.08 350g @ 1970fps, 3017fpe, Hornady JFP (Conley)
$34.89 350g @ 1800fps, 2519fpe, BCSP (Corbon @ Corbon web site)

$19.47 350g @ 2025fps, 3188fpe, PMC @CheaperThanDirt.com)
$39.99 350g @ 2150fps, 3593fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo @ Cabelas)
$24.99 400g @ 1250fps, 1388fpe (Black Hills @ Cabelas)
$44.66 400g @ 1900fps, 3207fpe, Barnes Original Flat Point (Conley)
$54.46 400g @ 1900fps, 3207fpe, Swift A-Frame Flat Point (Conley)
$12.99 405g @ 1350fps, 1639fpe (PMC @ Cabelas)
$18.99 405g @ 1100fps, 1088fpe (Ultramax @ Cabelas)
$22.50 405g @ 1325fps, 1579fpe, RNFP (Conley)
$18.99 405g @ 1330fps, 1590fpe (Remington @ Cabelas)
$24.50 405g @ ??? (Winchester @ Cascade Ammunition web site)
$35.57 405g @ 1700fps, 2600fpe, FPPE (Corbon @ Corbon web site)
$22.99 405g @ 1900fps, 3247fpe, JSP (Conley)
$39.99 405g @ 2000fps, 3597fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo @ Cabelas)
$41.99 405g @ ??? (Obsolete Ammunition @ Cabelas)
$50.00 420g @ 1850fps, 3200fpe (Garrett)
$39.99 430g @ 1925fps, 3537fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo @ Cabelas)
$34.50 460g @ 1650fps, 2780fpe, HC (Corbon @ Corbon web site)
$41.99 500g @ ??? (Obsolete Ammunition @ Cabelas)
$52.99 500g @ 1625fps, 2931fpe (Buffalo Bore Ammo @ Cabelas)
$50.00 540g @ 1550fps, 2880fpe (Garrett)
$180.00 500g @ 1530fps, 2600fpe (Speer AGS Tungsten, Garrett)