T/C Contender SSK .45-70 questions

[John in WYO]

Good afternoon, Gentlemen.

I found a used Factory SSK .45-70 14” with brake and iron sights barrel many years ago.
Discovered it in the safe recently and realized I’ve never tripped a trigger on that barrel.

Any of you .45-70 Handcannon guys care to give a guy some fun load ideas to plink with?
Collar-Buttons or whatever?

I reserve hard kickers to my Linebaugh revolvers....
I usually use the .44 Magnum Super 14 barrel on the Contender.
Thanks.

[RedlegEd]

Hi John,
My first question would be, what do you have for bullets or moulds? My favorite plinker is one that I picked up from Larry Gibson which is an Accurate 45-275R (Rapine 460255 clone) over 8.0gr Bullseye. I powder coat mine and they are accurate to 200 yds and incredibly mild. I shoot it in all of my .45-70s (14" T/C G2 .45-70, 7.5" BFR, Trapdoors (rifle and carbine,) Rollers, Sharps, etc.) I'll send you a PM.
Ed
272966

[44MAG#1]

I have had an SSK 45/70 14 inch Contender barrel bought from them not too long after JD started selling them.
I used JD's loads in it . So I wouldn't be of any help.
I have an Encore 45/70 15 inch too and have used loads in it with a 550 grain cast that beat the SSK Contender 45/70 quite a bit.

[pettypace]

Guard Load! (https://www.google.com/search?q=45-70+guard+load&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeKk010ZyKVWHwtdxOApVEaKhHkwtEFjw:160760930 6864&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjuxrCty8PtAhWITN8KHc4OBa8Q_AUoAnoECAcQB A&biw=1093&bih=468#imgrc=UhShNOy0zm7Q-M)

[John in WYO]

Guard Load! (https://www.google.com/search?q=45-70+guard+load&safe=active&sxsrf=ALeKk010ZyKVWHwtdxOApVEaKhHkwtEFjw:160760930 6864&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjuxrCty8PtAhWITN8KHc4OBa8Q_AUoAnoECAcQB A&biw=1093&bih=468#imgrc=UhShNOy0zm7Q-M)

Thanks for that!
I never heard of it before.
This forum is great for learning!

[John in WYO]

Redleg Ed,

I have a Lyman 457122 BW Gould HP and an Ideal 457124 RN mound.

I got your pm also.

John

[Johnch]

,I have several 45/70 barrels for the Contender
I even have a 1 of 500 45/70 barrel that was a limited run of 500 , 14" with Iron sights but no porting

I shoot a lot of 300 - 400 gr cast bullets
My every day shooter barrel seems to not care what weight , they all seem to shoot well

Plinking I use 12 gr of Unique and a 300 gr plain base .460 dia cast bullet

I will tell you I have loaded full power Modern Rifle loads
Not fun , I pulled the last few down as I just didn't want to hurt my hand any more

Last fall I took a nice doe with the ported 14"45/70 at 150 yards
IMO with the right loads you could hunt any land animal on the planet

John

[leadeye]

Don't have a Contender, but I shoot these things off and on. They are pretty solidly put together along with being shiny. Last time out was 390 grain Lyman RN with 40 grains of 4198.

[lar45]

Ohhhhhh, Look at that Century Revolver! What a Beast.

I don't think the contender will hold the full power rifle loads in 45-70 very well.

[44MAG#1]

Ohhhhhh, Look at that Century Revolver! What a Beast.

I don't think the contender will hold the full power rifle loads in 45-70 very well.

It would depend on what "full power" rifle loads you are talking about.

[leadeye]

It would depend on what "full power" rifle loads you are talking about.

Very true.

45-70 is a wonderful cartridge that you can do a great deal with.

[Chuck Perry]

Just had mine out yesterday. 14" SSK with Arrestor brake. I'm shooting a Trapdoor pressure load, commercial cast 405 grainers over 29 grains of H4198. My Marlin likes them too [emoji1]

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[Groo]

Groo here
Got a TC super 16 with the break and an SSK 14 with porting.
When using the port any bullet cast or jacket will work fine.
The Break is hard to clean so jackets [plated?] are the order of the day.
As for load top end "Trap Door" or starting "Marlin" should work [SSK will send you there data if an SSK barrel ] BUT
I would start at the bottom and work up as top Trap Door loads quickly become "Hot"..
Ps DO NOT put off hand fingers UNDER the lever on the trigger guard, took me two weeks to heal up the first[ONLY] time...
PPS use Pachmyre grips ONLY [that pain thing again]
PPPS Mine shoots the SSK 500gr Hornad bullet and load best But its throated for it [longer] and it "KICKS"
The 300 gr factory JHP loads are much easer , accurate , and will take any deer you find.
JD says the 45-70 is a 150yd "Sledgehammer"