Hand Cannon, does this qualify?

[HeavyMetal]

Gentleman:

After a series of swaps and trades made last month I now possess a Super 14 barrel for my Contender chambered for 45-70.

This one has a nice factory muzzle break on it I expect to be seen as far away as the moon when I fire it!

I am thinking this offically qualifies as a "Hand Cannon"?

I am now working on a site set up and am modifing a weaver mount so I can hang one of those reflex sights on it wthout it coming off.

They say these are "Shock Proof" I plan to find out!

I figured out the bolt pattern on the mount was the same no matter which way it was pointed and figure to turn it around cut off the excess length and then file fit until it just closes and butts up against the frame.

This is similar to how the Redfield mount works and by reducing weight and using a real good Loctite I hope to have no issues with mount movement.

I did notice the previous owner had a weaver mount on it, was on it in fact when I recieved it, and that the bolt slots were peened from recoil.

Suspect it was loose and maybe the scope weighed to much??

So far I think this will work.

Now as to loads for this beast.

I'm thinking H322 and my RCBS 300 grain 45-70 cast as a start load?

Curious as to some suggestions.

By the way is the Contender as strong as my Marlin 95? I am in no hurry to stretch the Contender and will be real happy to reduce loads I have shot in the Marlin for years, 51.5 grains 3031, rather than damage the Contender.

I do have the complete load book for Contenders and it has a great section on 45-70 loads for this gun.

Should be fun too shoot come the Thanksgiving family get togther!

[Jack Stanley]

Loads ??? hmmmmm how about something that flashes REAL good , Maybe ET will think ya gots some kinda photon gun and won't coma messin' [smilie=l:

Honestly , the biggest contender I ever had was a 32-20 so I can't help :oops:

Jack

[Gunfixer]

Load it with Black for and "interesting" experience with the brake. ( Shot someone elses at the sillouhette range) . Been shooting a 444 mar at the 45-70 specs using 4198 and a 300 j- word. I am in the process of moving and all my load stuff is packed, but I picked up the non ported version you have. Please post results. I cant wait to get my new shop built so I can get back to fun

[redneckdan]

the tender cannot handle marlin spec loads. Stick with trap door loads.

[Johnch]

I have that exact barrel

Easy to shoot with any 350 - 400 gr boolit with 13 gr of Unique , around 1000FPS

Trap door loads are easy enough

Mid range Marlin loads are what I hunt with
I have been using .....40 gr of 4198 and a GC 350 gr RCBS boolit cast out of range lead ( close to 50/50 Pure and WW )

And yes ear protection is a must

Black powder is a blast to shoot when there isn't a breath of wind
Or a slight breeze is blowing tward some fool with a AK blasting away

True Shock and Aww loads can be loaded with a 300 gr cast boolit like the Lyman 457191 my freind has
And mid 50 gr's of 3031

My guess 2/3 of it burns outside of the barrel LOL

John

[SwedeNelson]

HeavyMetal

Shoot a 50-70 Gov. Contender

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i80/swedenelson/Contender50-70004.jpg

15 3/4" long barrel, open sights
Started life as a joke but real fun to shoot.

45-70 and 444 Marlin are just as fun.

Swede Nelson

[rollmyown]

You guys are all guilty as charged. You are all having WAY too much fun!

In my book theese are all definetly hand cannons. Good times

[redneckdan]

Here is what I do for hand cannon scope mounts, a friend of mine had .357 herrett that kept shearing off the screw.


First I take and rough up the scope mount area on the barrel and the underside of the mount. Then clean with acetone. I apply a polyurethane adhesive to the bottom of the mount. Then install the screws with loctite 271. I use the polyurethane adhesive because it is not a brittle as epoxies. I have never had a mount come off using this method.

[bobthenailer]

h 322 ought to make a nice fireball

[Whitworth]

I would say you definitely have a hand cannon!

[HeavyMetal]

Thanks guys!

[docone31]

Men's Town material.

[Gunfixer]

SWEDE..... I WANT ONE!!!!!!!!!
Heavy Metal, enjoy

[35remington]

The pre G2 Contender frame that lacks the reinforcing bosses on the side has more frame flex and stretch with the large case head 45-70 and is generally considered to be suitable for 28,000 psi and lesser loads.

These are still quite powerful. It will take any game animal in the 50 US states.

Believe it or not, the muzzle braked barrels have more trouble with scope slippage than the standard barrels. I had some trouble with scope retention with Weaver scope mounts on a 7-30 Waters muzzlebraked Contender using a 2-6X scope.

I rather like a triple ringed setup with Burris Signature Zee rings on the Weaver base. Won't mar the scope tube, can get offset inserts to positively align the scope without maxing out the adjustments.

[canyon-ghost]

I'd agree, that's a handcannon. Mine is a Super 14 in 41 Remington Magnum! There's just something great about a big bore Contender.

[dale2242]

I shot a friends Contender in 45-70 with my Trapdoor loads. It was quite accurate and the recoil was manageable.
30 gr IMR4198, 457124HP at 370grs, Rem 9 1/2 primer.
Start your loads at Trapdoor level and work up....dale