In the late 50s and through the 60s many of my friends and I were making our acquaintances with firearms and the female gender: we all still enjoy firearms. The 300 Weatherby was finally got some competition with the 300 Win Mag and we were in awe at the trajectories and spent hours pouring over various available charts and tables. The round we ridiculed the most was the 45-70 with a rainbow trajectory that seemed laughable. Times change, people change and firearms change.

It would have been shocking to me back then to think that I would not only own several rifles in that antiquated chambering, but, actually consider them some of my favorite rifles. In the interm stronger actions, better brass, better powder and other improvements have breathed life into the old warhorse. The advent of cowboy action shooting stimulated this dormant market as well.

The Ruger No1 is one of my favorites in 45-70 and I have both the blued and stainless version, courtesy of fate and an unexpected Christmas gift. Today at the Prescott Sportsman's Shooting Range I was excercising the blued version as well as an old original Trapdoor. Jacketed loads and cast bullets flew downrange with satisfying "thumps" into the yonder berms. The versatility of this round is amazing and it is a handloader's dream.

11grs of Unique with a 405 BB cast bullet recorded 1,105 fps, and, the same bullet with a dose of 2400 whizzed along at 1,312fps while 350gr jacketed bullets were leaving the muzzle at 2,420 fps. 300gr Hornady pills were screaming at 2,614 fps. All were amazingly accurate and typically punched five shots into one ragged hole. All chronographed loads showed lower SDs than most of my other centerfire rounds. Single digit SDs.

The Trapdoor isn't so accurate, but it, too, is enjoyable to shoot. That's the thing about this round and the firearms so chambered -- its just plain fun. But, the round has been effective on game as well, including elk, mule deer and, ahem, a coupla coyotes. What more could one ask for?

Well now, if I could find a SS Marlin Guide Gun . . . .

Sounds familiar....... I enjoy shooting my Marlin 1895ss (22" bbl) the most out of all my guns. The 45-70 is a great caliber. I load mine with Hornady 350 gr and Remington 405 gr bullets & using IMR3031 powder.

You should try black powder. My 45-70 (Pedersali) loves 60 gr of 2F with a 405 gr 3 land cast bullet. I use a 45 caliber Ox Yoke wad between the powder and the bullet. Have shot more than 5 targets at 100 tds of 50 2X.

I hope you have not given up on the Female gender!!! Give them a try again.....Some of them like guns too..:):):)
Yes do try BP, It is a wonderful experience in a old rifle or hand gun. I like 35 grains of BP substitute in my 44-40 1892 replica.

Crackshot wrote:

I hope you have not given up on the Female gender!!! Give them a try again.....Some of them like guns too..:):):) Yes do try BP, It is a wonderful experience in a old rifle or hand gun. I like 35 grains of BP substitute in my 44-40 1892 replica.

Howdy Crackshot: give up on females? Not exactly, but, like many things the imported model won out over the domestic ones. This, of course, is another subject, however, I still favor Fords.

Black powder was replaced by smokeless for good reasons and for many years I eschewed using it or the current substitutes. The new Pyro and Triple Seven pellets eliminated one concern of mine (massive house leveling explosions when metering the powder during lightning storms), so I have stuffed a few cases of 45-70 and 45 Colt (note: that is 45 Colt, not Long Colt) with them, enjoyed the "whuump" recoil characteristic and learned to take eyewash and burn ointment to the range when shooting into the wind. What is also interesting is the extremely low variation shot to shot with SDs typically in the single digits. Oh, and accuracy. Very accurate.

Oh no . . . that female is calling me from the other room even as I type. She demands food periodically; in fact it is an addiction to her. Imagine, eating twice a day! In and of itself, perhaps, this isn't too bad, but, when the kimchee* comes out and warms to room temp, I leave the premises. And, I thought anchovies were bad!

*supply your own spelling, I don't care.

By the way, I have not given up on women either. There are so many to love. They seem to get better looking all the time.

I have not tried black powder in my 45-70, but have thought about trying it.

1895ss wrote:

By the way, I have not given up on women either. There are so many to love. They seem to get better looking all the time. I have not tried black powder in my 45-70, but have thought about trying it.

One thing the distaff side has in common with firearms is the varied presonality of each. Some refer to this as a love/hate situation and I have served time with both examples. Have you ever had a rifle that simply baffled you, the challenged all your expertise? But, you still loved the old smoke pole for whatever reason? And, when it came to getting the meat, it did the job.

OTOH kimchee is fermented cabage, basically, and when loves and lives with the kimchee junkie, added flexibility may be required. I thought I had an invasion of gophers in the backyard, holes everywhere, until I found that properly aged kimchee is kept in earthen jugs, buried in the ground. That our Arizona ground temperature, this time of year, may exceed 130 degrees seems to have no bearing on tradition.

You fellas still trying to sell the unexpecting on old worn out cartridges? Aint the 45-70 just something of beauty? But I can not get settled on the #1 and the #3 in 45-70. Now my two Siamese Mausers are just wonderful.

I recently met a fellow in a shop that had two Marlins on the counter, a 444 and a 45-70 guide gun. He said he was having a real problem deciding. I inquired about buying them both, nope not enough dough, so I told him I have a 444 1970 edition Marlin and two 45-70 in Mausers. I advied him that I would buy the 45-70 if I were him. Big grin, and off he went with the 45-70. He will be happy.

By the by Handloader, I was out your way last week. Tried to visit every Mexican restaurant in Tucson. So many good restaurants and so little time. You know you are in the right place on Friday night when the place is full of Mexican famalies. Boy oh boy was it good.

Sorry to hear abot the Kimchee, just make sure she brushes her teeth before the big smacker is planted....
Ed

Dad said you could not get Kimchee past your nose to eat it!

Hi Y'all,
45-70 and kimchee...
Ok. For those of you who haven't tried the 45-70 in BP/substittute,try it.
I use 60.0-60.1gr of American Pioneer Powder,2F. 400gr Speer FP's.
The recoil is much better.

SwampFox wrote:

By the by Handloader, I was out your way last week. Tried to visit every Mexican restaurant in Tucson. So many good restaurants and so little time. You know you are in the right place on Friday night when the place is full of Mexican famalies. Boy oh boy was it good. Ed

Ed: Mexican food has been secretly blamed in part by Al Gore for contributing methane to the depleted ozone layer. Still, one shouldn't live in Arizona without developing a taste for it, Mexican food that is. Tucson is a good town for this delicacy. Three things distinguish great Mexican food eateries. 1. The menu is in Spanish (small print English available upon request) and often has food samples on it -- real food samples. 2. the Coca Cola is bottled in Mexico (no "real" Mexican restuarant would stoop to serve Pepsi). 3. You always pay at the register, cuz that is where the bill is.

If you ever visit Phoenix, let me know and I will give you my three favorite places for "real" Mexican food. Now, a word about Mexican beer . . . . .

Sincerely,
el gabacho

Thanks for the invite & will do. I prefer Madelo or Madelo Negro. No yuppie horse spit with a lime, thank you.

Went down to Estapa years ago stayed for two weeks, rented a cab for a day, had a paid tour guide, drove all over the countryside, for $25. Saw the little kids walking the streets with buckets filled with ice and beer. Asked the driver what kind of beer Mexicans drink said Madelo, stopped bought three, been drinking it ever since. By the way, the bill fishing was fantastic.
Ed

Got a Marlin 1895 Cowboy that I might just try and load up some BP cartridges for. It's rate of twist and Ballard rifling was designed for that type of cartridge and cast lead bullets.
I really enjoy shooting the 45-70 "Gubment". Quite a thump for deer and pigs. 400 grain Speer flatnoses and 300 grain Barnes bullets are my two favorite things to fling at targets and game.
Yotebuster

Mexican/Spanish food is great! My Father in law was Mexican and he new how to cook like there was no tomarrow, We also have been to Mexico City and a few other small towns, the people are great and their food is even better.