Is a 12 in. barrel 45-70 any good

[brybenn]

Few years ago a place in northern Ontario I frequented had a group of bigfoot searchers come thru searching. They dressed in dark brown clothes and went thru the bush playing growling and howling sounds. Idiots did it during bear season. They lived but didn't find big foot.
As for the gun in question I would not bet my life to anything with the chiappa name on it.
As for the 4570 vs 12ga. I've shot black bears at very close range with each. The 4570 loaded mildly with 405gr Remington jacketed softnose did a much more immediate job than a 12ga slug. The slug in question was a 600gr brenneke gold. Now my 4570 was from a 23" barrel but muzzle velocity was 1600fps. That should be nearly achievable in 12" barrel
Even if you were to drop down to a 300gr load like the hammer down it would make for a fine defensive gun against anything that walks in Canada 2 legged or 4

What ever you choose. Practise with it. I once made a ramp with a pull chord. On top of the ramp I could use various objects like melons or baseball's or tennis balls. Pull the chord the ball drops and speeds down the ramp. The challenge was to shoot it as close to the ramp as possible. Extremely fun and very humbling but makes you ready for a fast incomer

Good luck on finding bigfoot

 

[V-Max]

I have one, and quite enjoy it. (1886 Ridge Runner 12 inch barrel takedown--mine is equipped with a Holosun 510C red dot). I have no hunting experience with it, but from what I understand about 45/70, stopping power is not an issue. I find it to be quick handling and very accurate. I have only shot it at an indoor range out to 30m.

A few thoughts from 18 months of ownership and several hundred rounds downrange.

1. If you shoot a lot of 45/70, then reloading is a must. I find my most accurate loads are 300gn Campro FMJ, and 410gn Hornady Sub-X

2. It took a while to work the action in. The action was a little rough, and I had a few feed issues and light primer strikes in the first 75 rounds. This is an action that needs to be worked FIRMLY. It took me a while to realize that gentle is not the way to go with this gun. Since then, I have had no issues, and the action has smoothed right out. I also set the trigger to the heaviest pull, and no more light strikes. Having done that, it is still pretty light and crisp--much better than most that I've pulled!

3. Recoil is subjective at best, but I find it very manageable shooting freehand--much better than my H&R Handi in the same caliber.

4. It is NOT a lightweight gun. I have an 1892 Alaskan 16" barrel, and it is night and day difference in the weight department. Having said that, the weight soaks up recoil and helps steady the short barrel on target.

5. Although it isn't light, it strikes me this would make a heck of an outdoor/harsh environment/camp/cabin working gun setup with the chrome and rubber covered wood.

6. Finally--You have to love it for what it is, not hate it for what it isn't, ie. this isn't a walnut/blued beauty, or a long range precision weapon. It is an in-close, deep-voiced, massive fireball producing, unburned powder spewing delivery system for chunks of lead weighing 300 grains and up.

There are three things in a man's life that are purely matters of personal taste--Vehicles, Women, and Firearms. And the Ridge Runner 12inch exemplifies that!

 

[DNR]

Great info, thanks everyone!

 

[Mik123]

Carrying a firearms might aggitate the creatures, I'd bring a 6 pack of Kokanee to distract them with instead.

 

[remington jim]

https://g4cgunstore.com/product/chiappa-1886-takedown-nsr-45-70-govt-12-black/

Very Kool outback protection rifle ! Prob only gonna hunt -shoot under 99 yards so it will be a fine with the right ammo. JMO RJ

 

[Ardent]

Okay here is the application which I hesitate to say but what the heck. An acquaintance of mine who grew up in a northern ontario community claims that while out hunting, to have had multiple encounters of...mythological creatures. Two of the encounters, which were from a distance, seemed to have a very aggressive nature. He is hoping to return and capture some footage and make a documentary which I would help film. The firearm is strictly for defense against said creatures and bears. This is absolutely not a hunt. My buddy will have his 30-06, but I think for myself I'd feel more comfortable with something better for close encounters in the bush. Currently I only have a 12 ga single shot which surely isn't adequate. I'm certainly open to other suggestions. Wild stuff I know, lol

Let us know where and when this quest is happening so we can all avoid the area.

A .45-70 is a good choice, the creatures at a distance will have little to fear.

 

[Mr.Rigpig]

Let us know where and when this quest is happening so we can all avoid the area.

A .45-70 is a good choice, the creatures at a distance will have little to fear.

The scary(funny?) part is that he might actually be serious???

Hopefully he chimes in with a bit of clarification as to which particular mystical creature he is hoping to defend against.(If its a werewolf or vampire I actually just found 1500 silver cast bullets, I will mail you some free just for the sheer enjoyment of it. You will then need a 38-55)

At first I thought it was bigfoot but now I'm not sure....

 

[Mik123]

The scary(funny?) part is that he might actually be serious???

Hopefully he chimes in with a bit of clarification as to which particular mystical creature he is hoping to defend against.(If its a werewolf or vampire I actually just found 1500 silver cast bullets, I will mail you some free just for the sheer enjoyment of it. You will then need a 38-55)

At first I thought it was bigfoot but now I'm not sure....

I'd also suggest a wreath of Garlic (preferably organic) worn around the neck for a passive deterent.

 

[DNR]

The scary(funny?) part is that he might actually be serious???

Hopefully he chimes in with a bit of clarification as to which particular mystical creature he is hoping to defend against.(If its a werewolf or vampire I actually just found 1500 silver cast bullets, I will mail you some free just for the sheer enjoyment of it. You will then need a 38-55)

At first I thought it was bigfoot but now I'm not sure....

Definitely Sasquatch, those were the primary encounters he's had and wants to try to capture on film, however he did mention multiple sightings of a shapeshifting black wolf in the area which he claims to have seen once as well. Garlic and silver bullets not a bad idea tho LOL

 

[Ardent]

Might I suggest the best defence against mystical creatures in the woods is sobriety. Guns and looking for imaginary creatures is an unnerving mix. Said as a guy who’s spent an awful lot of time remote.

 

[Mik123]

Ardent's right, In this case I'd spend my money on holy water and Narcan.

 

[Mr.Rigpig]

Ardent's right, In this case I'd spend my money on holy water and Narcan.

Think of all the problems solved if naloxone was discontinued.

 

[Jim870]

You guys are no fun.

The best defensive arm against any interdimensional cryptid creature is undeniably a 12 gauge shotgun and a triplex load of pure lead, silver and tungsten shot with garlic powder buffer. The elemental nature of these metals is toxic to interdimensional beings and most cryptids and you know garlic and vampires.

 

[gdawg]

He also needs to summon the spirit of Hunter S Thompson for maximum effectiveness, although sounds like he may have already.

 

[DNR]

I have one, and quite enjoy it. (1886 Ridge Runner 12 inch barrel takedown--mine is equipped with a Holosun 510C red dot). I have no hunting experience with it, but from what I understand about 45/70, stopping power is not an issue. I find it to be quick handling and very accurate. I have only shot it at an indoor range out to 30m.

A few thoughts from 18 months of ownership and several hundred rounds downrange.

1. If you shoot a lot of 45/70, then reloading is a must. I find my most accurate loads are 300gn Campro FMJ, and 410gn Hornady Sub-X

2. It took a while to work the action in. The action was a little rough, and I had a few feed issues and light primer strikes in the first 75 rounds. This is an action that needs to be worked FIRMLY. It took me a while to realize that gentle is not the way to go with this gun. Since then, I have had no issues, and the action has smoothed right out. I also set the trigger to the heaviest pull, and no more light strikes. Having done that, it is still pretty light and crisp--much better than most that I've pulled!

3. Recoil is subjective at best, but I find it very manageable shooting freehand--much better than my H&R Handi in the same caliber.

4. It is NOT a lightweight gun. I have an 1892 Alaskan 16" barrel, and it is night and day difference in the weight department. Having said that, the weight soaks up recoil and helps steady the short barrel on target.

5. Although it isn't light, it strikes me this would make a heck of an outdoor/harsh environment/camp/cabin working gun setup with the chrome and rubber covered wood.

6. Finally--You have to love it for what it is, not hate it for what it isn't, ie. this isn't a walnut/blued beauty, or a long range precision weapon. It is an in-close, deep-voiced, massive fireball producing, unburned powder spewing delivery system for chunks of lead weighing 300 grains and up.

There are three things in a man's life that are purely matters of personal taste--Vehicles, Women, and Firearms. And the Ridge Runner 12inch exemplifies that!

Hell ya!

 

[BigUglyMan]

I can't see why a 12" 45-70 makes any practical sense. You could argue that it makes sense for a bush pilot who is concerned with size and weight, but in that scenario, a 12" 308 barrel would be much more practical.

 

[MosinMan13]

I can't see why a 12" 45-70 makes any practical sense. You could argue that it makes sense for a bush pilot who is concerned with size and weight, but in that scenario, a 12" 308 barrel would be much more practical.

Oh it’s simple, 45-70 CQB rifle, kicking in doors with that Wild West twang, it’s not about the practicality, it’s about sending a message.

 

[old303]

Oh it’s simple, 45-70 CQB rifle, kicking in doors with that Wild West twang, it’s not about the practicality, it’s about sending a message.

Needs the black powder cartridges to clearly convey you've gone old-school, and then the 12" barrel means that much less cleanup after.

 

[MosinMan13]

Needs the black powder cartridges to clearly convey you've gone old-school, and then the 12" barrel means that much less cleanup after.

Yes I like it, you also gain the advantage of being both the flash and the smoke coming into the room.

 

[stubblejumper]

I had a Marlin SDT with a 16-1/4" barrel, and with full power handloads, it was punishing to shoot, 9 rounds, and I had a headache. A 12" barrel would be even lighter, with more muzzle rise. But if you like noise and muzzle flash, and recoil, a 12" barrel will provide that. And the recoil might actually shake a person back to reality, if they start believing in monsters.