Never shot one, but a 45/70 in a rifle can shake your fillings loose, putting it in a 5-pound handgun sounds like more excitement than I'm up for. But then, I'm 4'17" on a good day. Your own recoil tolerance and personal proclivities might indicate otherwise. Some folks clearly enjoy getting their foundations rattled more than I. 8)

 

I held one at the local funstore a couple of months ago. It is as it should be........ a B.F.R! Too big for me to want to hold, but it probably tames the recoil quite a bit.

 

What I am thinking is some 300 gr. light to moderate recoil loads. It will pass under our concealed carry law and allow me to carry a very effective ( hog, bear, other) gun while riding in the National Forest, without being illegal by carrying my lever gun. I am also thinking of the possibilities and enjoyment of developing a whole new range of bullets besides what is appropriate for my levergun at no additional cost, because it would be the same caliber? I am not some pain junkie or anything. I know what this cartridge is capable of, it just sort of seemed to make sense being I have everything to load a wide range of 45-70 loads already. Something like Trailboss and a 300 or so grain bullet is what I am thinking. I just wish I could actually find one to handle before I get my guy to order it.

 

If you're looking at sliding in under a power requirement for CCW in your state, why not go with .45 Colt in a Blackhawk?

Much more "carryable" and concealable, and affordable too. You have options from light cowboy load up through the extra hot offerings from ammo manufacuturers now. Seeing as you are reloading anyway, you can cook them up or down how to best suit your purpose.

Jon

 

I appreciate the info. However it is not a power requirement I am trying to get under. Our ccp has now power stipulation, just a barrel length and the gun has to be manufatured with a pistol grip made to be fired as a pistol. The 45 lc while it is a good cartridge does not really compare to the 45-70. I have a 44-40 revolver already, which will just about match a 45 lc, but still comes nowhere near the 45-70.

 

I used to have one and it was wonderful. My wife is 105 lbs after eating lunch and she was able to shoot it (didnt like it but she shot it on 3 occasions). I bought it from a gunshop that was going out of business so my price was a bit discounted but it is still a good gun.

 

Thanks, that is what I was wondering. I talked to some people who have 500's and have sold them, because they say the recoil is just terrible. There again they are a high pressure cartridge. I am curious what loads you were shooting in yours?

 

Does anyone know where one is in a store? I would really like to put my hands on one before I purchase one. I work in Louisiana and travel thru Mississippi on my way home to Arkansas. I could pass a little out of my way along thru there I guess.

 

Remington 300 grain semi-jacketed hollow point, and winchester super x also in 300 grain.

The remington put three pigs and a Texas Dall in the dirt. It's amazing how quick they fall when getting hit with 2500 ft/lbs of kinetic energy.

 

If you're looking to buy one just for the pucker factor then HECK yes, they are really a well made handgun and good lookin to boot. I prefer the looks of the shorter cylinder ones myself. BUT, if you are just looking for a large bore handgun to carry for animal protection then maybe not. If you're not riding in grizzly country, then a good 44mag or 45 colt will suffice and be a lot easier to carry AND shoot. None are worth a hoot if you can't hit what you're shootin at.....I'm sure the 44 or 45 would be much easier to handle.

 

The 44 and 45 are both fine calibers, however, as I said I have everything already to load for the 45-70. I do not want one if it is simply unmanageable. Which is why I wanted to hear from some actual users of this particular gun. Everything I have read says the recoil is better than other modern large hunting calibers. As for the 44mag. I looked at some numbers the other day which actually showed the MR45-70 having less recoil than the 44Mag partially due to the weight of their gun and the fact that the large case can use a slow burning powder, which gives a push rather than the sudden jolt of smaller case cartridges which have to use fast burning powders to attain the same velocities.

 

I might add that your impression of the 45 colt in a strong handgun is incorrect. In a Ruger Blackhawk, Redhawk, or older version Vaquero all are capable of 300gr. bullets that will just about match STANDARD 45-70 loads of the same weight. I have some 270gr GC loaded to over 1300fps but don't shoot many of them in my pistols, most in my model 92 for hunting where they run about 1700fps. Some even load bigger and hotter than that, but I find this to be about my limit for handgun. Besides not to many rampaging Rhino or Grizzley in these parts. ;D A 45 colt loaded with a good cast bullet of 250 plus gr. at 950 , 1000 fps will stop just about anything in the lower 48. My usual carry load in 45colt is the same bullet above at this velocity. I live in the foothills of the Simcoe mountains in South central Washington state and spend a lot of time horseback in the mountains right out my back gate..If you live or ride where you may find an intemperate Grizzly, then you may want a little more.. I will admit I was strongly considering a BFR in 475 Linebaugh with the 6 1/2in. barrel just because, and still might... :

 

Didn't read your last post before I submitted mine. I heard the same thing about the recoil for the 45-70 BFR. And like you, I've never seen one other than pictures. I think for the money they would be hard to beat...if you spring, inform us of your opinions and results. Curious minds have a need to know. ;D

 

I went through a BFR stage. My brother got a 475, and i got a 454. I've shot a 45-70 many times. Believe me, if you are lugging one of these, the last thing you want to think about is lugging a carbine. That is essentially what it is! The lower power trap door loads don't boom as much as a Casull, but the higher you load, the more it goes boom! They are not practical, but more associated and appropriate for targeting, and hunting. I shot a doe at 119 yards one year with very little trying. The gun is scoped and had poor iron sights at least for me. Sizing is different than for a rifle (for cast), and the powder choices will be different. We found better accuracy with high end 332, Rel. 7 and H4198 with the rifles, but not so with the BFR. 4759 with lower to moderate loads were the best loads for this pistol. 10 inch barrel better for the powders than the shorter 7.5 inch. I prefer 2400 for lower to moderate loads in the rifle. Nothing could be assumed between one and the other. The Casull was more portable, but still a very large gun. I'd gladly get rid of it for a like quality single action 45 colt, but there is no such thing I can afford. Ill hold onto mine. I don't enjoy higher pressure shooting, and in fact shoot mostly slightly higher end 45 colt stuff nowdays. They work just as well without having to lug all that artillery.