TC Contender in 45-70

[cdet69]

What is the pressure rating for a G-2 Contender carbinie in 45-70? I see there are three sets of data for this cartridge and was wondering wich one was appropriate.

[jhalcott]

I believe the loadings for the Trap door are good in the Contender. The Encore can handle MUCH heavier loads. Remember , it is the size of the case BASE that determines the thrust on the gun. You could stretch the frame with heavier loads.

[NickSS]

I had a contender pistol with a 14 inch barrel in that calober. I fired it exactly one time with a 300 gr bullet loaded to trapdoor ballistics It hurt my hand to the extent that I could not use it for two days for much of anything. I sold the barrel to a buddy who likes big caliber hand guns and he shot three rounds and sold it too for the same reason recoil was really excessive. A contender carbine is very light weight for your own self preservation I would not go above TD ballistics and only use lighter bullets until you determine how tough you are. Me I am a wimp and would not own one.

[jhalcott]

Recoil IS stout but not unmageable. Heavier bullets will increase recoil quite a bit. I've had 2 or 3 Contender barrels in 45-70. I have a 15" one now. It does NOT kick as hard as my 358 JDJ barrel on the same frame! DO NOT try to fight the recoil! Let it ride up and back. Locking your wrists and elbows will get you hurt. Slamming the gun back down on sand bags or the bench top will damage the gun! The 45-70 Carbine is a fantastic "brush" gun. Loaded with Factory rounds it is good for 100 yard deer and bear. Further once YOU get used to it. If you can handle a 20 gauge shot gun, I think you can handle the 45-70 carbine.

[ButcheN]

jhalcott your right most try to fight the gun like a 22 or 357 but with big boys you just go with the flow. It will not hurt your groups at all, in fact once you let it go and just kick you, your groups will get smaller.

[aaalaska]

Yes the contenders are only considered good with the TD loads anything more and you risk frame stretch.

[bearcove]

And a broken collar bone.

[bearcove]

If you shoot a plastic stock fill it with lead shot for load development.

[Artful]

I have a 45-70 barrel but it doesn't get used much - I got it made up (before the factory offered them) when I had a hit with 44 mag that didn't take down a steel ram @ 200 - the .45-70 slaps a ram down with a hit anywhere. That said it has knocked a few shooters heads and I don't let any new / inexperienced shooter use it anymore do to the amount of recoil it does generate.

The lower pressure data set is what you should use - and over time it will stretch a frame with use.

[Stampede]

I have .45-70 barrel (10” Hunter) for my (Pistol) Contender, when I bought the gun i all so bought the official TC reloading book/manual. If you like to have the data from TC please let me know, than I will scan the pages for you and email them to you.

A funny note from TC in the manual is: The recoil from the 45-70 is simply a fact of life. :-P

Peter (Stampede)

[pietro]

I would advise only TD-level or factory 300gr loads, which is all I found manageable in my pre-G2 Contender Super 14" Hunter - and those only with a Pachmayr grip out back.

With the issue, cushion-back wood grip, the rear of the triggerguard drew blood at every shot.

Once the rubber bumper went on, though - it proved to be very accurate, indeed.

.

[bearcove]

I sold my 45-70 contender barrels and kept the Encore barrel. The extra weight in the Encore helps some.

[aaalaska]

My son shot his second moose with a contender 45/70 16 in barrel, when he was 15. Yea it kicks ,but really?