Recoil of a 45/70?

While the trapdoor level factory loads are easy going, that pressure level was accepted with the bullets of the day because it was, among other things, able to kill a horse at 2000 yds. So I think it might do on moose!

Just motoring the Barnes 300 grain Xbullets along at those factory levels makes a very potent load that is pleasant to shoot. Not that cast won't do it cheaper.
 
I wonder what the original BP loads felt like recoil-wise. Somehow I think that 70 grains of black powder over a .45 cal bullet can't be good for your shoulder ...
 
If you're going to shoot 45-70 you won't be able to afford the factory ammo for long, so you'll have to reload. Therefore you can select your power and recoil to suit yourself.

I found I had to go back to basics and really ensure I had a good left hand grip and pull it right into my shoulder; after that the recoil was perfectly acceptable even with hot loads.
 
beretta boy said:
Playing with a "Recoil Calculator" program ...

A 30-06 scoped rifle weighing 8.5 lbs with "factory" 180 gr.'s @ 2700 fps
recoils with 19 ft/lbs. energy.

A 45-70 XLR at 7.5 lbs ( no scope) with "factory" 300 gr.s @ 1810
recoils with 21 ft/lbs energy ... the "factory" 405's
@ 1330 fps, actually recoil a little less ... about 15 ft/lbs.

A good 350 gr. lever action load for the Marlin @ 2135 fps
recoils with 39 ft/lbs

A stiff 350 gr. load for an 8.5 lb. scoped Ruger No. 1 @ 2300 fps
also recoils with 39 ft. lbs. ( same as the Marlin, but in a gun that
is 1 lb. heavier ! )

For comparison, an 8.5 lb 338 Win Mag with 200 gr.s @ 2965 fps
turns up 44 ft/lbs of recoil ... and an 8 lb. 12 gauge with 1-1/4 oz.
of shot @ 1330 turns up 25 ft/lbs recoil.

An 8.5 lb. 458 Win Mag with 350 gr. loads @ 2500 fps generates
52 ft/lbs of recoil.
Click to expand...

thanks beretta.
Now that doesnt look that bad...:D now take the "actual" weight of the guidegun... (6.75 lbs-6.9 lbs stock no scope) and plug it in... rather than the XLR... and thats what most of us are dealing with... I dont have a recoil calculator, but allmost 3/4 of a pound makes a big difference from the rifle end... I'd prefer to shoot CHilly's 375 ultramag prone for a box than my 45-70 with the 500's off a bench.

RobSmith said:
I wonder what the original BP loads felt like recoil-wise. Somehow I think that 70 grains of black powder over a .45 cal bullet can't be good for your shoulder ...
Click to expand...
Not if your getting shot in the shoulder :) other than that, Pretty soft... try 70 gr's over a sabot in a ML, and it gives you a pretty good comparison, other than the fact that most of the rifles that were chambered for it back than were over 10 lbs....
 
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Johnn Peterson said:
It's not so much the recoil 'thump' at the shoulder that's my concern but rather the recoil effects on the fingers of the lever hand with the straight stock design of the 1895GS. A lot ot that is eliminated on the XLR with the pistol grip design of the butt stock.
Click to expand...



Yes, agreed Johhn.
I own a guide gun too.
I use a tight fitting mechanic glove on my R hand with 1/2 the trigger finger cut off.

This also makes my other straight stock marlin, shooting 38 specials, nicer to shoot.
 
I use a glove on my lever hand as well. Does anyone have any expirience with any of the oversized levers from Alaska?

As far as recoil goes I usually shoot my cowboy sitting or offhand, resting that pig (depending on handloads) gets me flinching like a mother####er.
 
werewolf said:
I use a glove on my lever hand as well. Does anyone have any expirience with any of the oversized levers from Alaska?

As far as recoil goes I usually shoot my cowboy sitting or offhand, resting that pig (depending on handloads) gets me flinching like a m****rf****r.
Click to expand...

I noticed on the front cover of the August issue of Handloader magazine that it looks as if the Marlin Cowboy pictured has a flip up ladder style rear sight. Does the Marlin 1895 Cowboy now come with this option? Or is this an after market sight that I see?

Anyone know for sure?

Here is the link: http://www.riflemagazine.com/magazine/PDF/hl248partial.pdf
 
.45/70 recoil

I have a Guide Gun...with factory ammo, recoil is light but this does not utilize the potential of the firearm or round......the new Hornady Leverevolution ammo uses a 325gr.bullet with good trajectory and lots of power, and recoil...I load a Rem. 405gr SP over a healthy charge of 3031 and recoil is substantial but it is a great round for dangerous/large game.....hey, you didn't buy the rifle to shoot off the bench anyway....in a hunting situation you will not notice the recoil...
 
Not to take this thread of topic but.....

How does the .450 Marlin compare to the 45-70, recoil wise? Is this basically just a hotter 45-70?

So for the O/T post, but I have been out of the loop for a few years, and just came back to all these wonderful new cartridge choices :D
 
Just received my Marlin GG and couldt wait to get out and fire off some rounds. Fired some remmington 405 Grain factory ammo, wow I was very surprised how little recoil there was.

Now I picked up the rifle in order to start hunting...looking for a info on a round that has good accuracy between 100 and 150 yards, and will stop what it hits.
 
ruger22 said:
Yes, agreed Johhn.
I own a guide gun too.
I use a tight fitting mechanic glove on my R hand with 1/2 the trigger finger cut off.

This also makes my other straight stock marlin, shooting 38 specials, nicer to shoot.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good idea, I'll have to try it. Probably a better ploy than what I'm presently doing. After a session at the range of pounding out some the heavier loads through my Guide Gun, I just whine & snivel. :redface:
If I was going to 'do it' over, I'd be tempted to get the XLR with its curved lever, pistol grip style butt stock and shorten the barrel to the same length as the Guide Gun. ;)In the meantime, I'll live with it.
 
I've owned the 45-70's listed below and haven't found any of them to be bad, shooting from a standing offhand position with standard loads. The only load that really didn't feel good was some 405 grain cast GC loads at 2,000 fps with a steel shotgun buttplate. The crescent butts are much better for spreading out the recoil. Here's the ones I've owned .... I've shot all of them a lot.

Marlin 1895
Browning 1886 SRC
Winchester/Miroku 1886 Extra Light
Winchester 1886 extra light takedown (1901)
Winchester 1886 rifle with 26" octagon barrel (1904)

Probably the heavier rifle with the octagon barrel kicks the least due to its weight. Personally, I see no need to push a 405 grain bullet any faster than 1,350 fps for North American game. At that standard load, recoil is hardly noticeable.
 
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