Why are there no 45-70 Mare's Legs being produced by anybody? Yes, obviously it would be hard on the wrists for all you ladyboys out there. Is there a way to legally alter an 1886 into a Mare's Leg? I really think this would be a great backpacking/hiking bear gun. I've been looking at the current Mare's Leg offerings and a 44 magnum just doesn't cut it.
45-70 Mare's Leg?
- Thread starter CTomz
- Start date
- Location
- Western Manitoba
I am thinking the Mare's Leg is based on 1892 Winchester size - so revolver size cartridges? Just read on Wikipedia, that although Steve McQueen's character on TV show wore 45-70 cartridges on his gun belt, the rifle was chambered in 44-40...
OP, have you shot a 44 mag mares leg?
I had one for awhile and the 44 mag was more then enough. The thing would shoot a fireball out the end like a Mosin M44
A 45-70 would prob not be very effective as you would have wat too much unburnt powder editing the short barrel
I need to get another in 44 mag it was hella fun to shoot
I had one for awhile and the 44 mag was more then enough. The thing would shoot a fireball out the end like a Mosin M44
A 45-70 would prob not be very effective as you would have wat too much unburnt powder editing the short barrel
I need to get another in 44 mag it was hella fun to shoot
Yes I have, I was being facetious with the ladyboy comment- I get that for the majority of shooters it would likely not be in any way enjoyable to shoot. Chiappa has the Ridge runner which is close with the 12in octagon barrel, and if it was stainless instead of chromed I'd probably settle for it. And yeah you would definitely lose some performance from the 45-70, but that hasn't stopped other unusual offerings, and it would still be far more powerful than any 44 mag. Also, who doesn't love a good fireball!
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
One of these would be fun if Chiappa had good quality control. Perfect for night shoots using loads with FFG black powder or Pyrodex.
https://www.chiappafirearms.com/product.php?id=459
https://www.chiappafirearms.com/product.php?id=459
I hear you... It would be nice, but I think mare's legs have a very limited market in the US. Even here, a lot of people don't find them to be of any use. I'm not one of them, we sleep with a .44 mag rossi ranch hand at our heads in the tent, and it's full of 310 grain hard casts ready to leave the barrel at 1,450fps. It may not be the most practical gun but with the hollowed-out butt stock it weighs just over 4 pounds and it's 2 feet long. Much easier to pack around the mountains and manipulate in a tent than even my guide gun.
I think right now your best bet would be cutting down the stock on a Chiappa with 12" barrel. They are just under 31 inches long, so you could lop 4" off the stock, install a new butt pad if you like and have a 26.5" rifle with a very short LOP. You're talking about 2.5 inches longer than a mare's leg. I would also hollow out the stock with a large drill bit to further reduce the weight. Still, it's a big ol' heavy rifle action and the octagon barrel is of no help in keeping the weight down.
Since we're talking wishful thinking, what I would like is if Rossi made a stainless ranch hand in .454 casull. Everything is already in place for such a firearm to be produced, except demand... The pistol cartridge would be less affected by a short barrel and likely come out ahead of a .45-70 at equal length. I had a Rossi trapper in .454 with a 16" barrel, and it would send off 300 grain factory jacketed rounds at almost 2,100fps. Matched my .45-70 guide gun with a 2.5" shorter barrel and 1.5 pounds less. Sadly, it had to go back due to excessive head space and horrible finishing of the receiver.
Hope springs eternal.
I think right now your best bet would be cutting down the stock on a Chiappa with 12" barrel. They are just under 31 inches long, so you could lop 4" off the stock, install a new butt pad if you like and have a 26.5" rifle with a very short LOP. You're talking about 2.5 inches longer than a mare's leg. I would also hollow out the stock with a large drill bit to further reduce the weight. Still, it's a big ol' heavy rifle action and the octagon barrel is of no help in keeping the weight down.
Since we're talking wishful thinking, what I would like is if Rossi made a stainless ranch hand in .454 casull. Everything is already in place for such a firearm to be produced, except demand... The pistol cartridge would be less affected by a short barrel and likely come out ahead of a .45-70 at equal length. I had a Rossi trapper in .454 with a 16" barrel, and it would send off 300 grain factory jacketed rounds at almost 2,100fps. Matched my .45-70 guide gun with a 2.5" shorter barrel and 1.5 pounds less. Sadly, it had to go back due to excessive head space and horrible finishing of the receiver.
Hope springs eternal.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
Ye be on track with those 310 gr hardcast loads fer sure. No worries for penetration on the big stuff and decently accurate inside 80 yds or so.
I run cast loads only in my RH 45 Colt. Happily, I'm not into tenting anymore.
