The "newer" Single Shot 45-70's

[rfd]

Lyman 17AUG front globe added.

[sharps4590]

The Farquharson falling block and the ALEXANDER Henry falling blocks will handle Ruger level loads but..........take second mortgage with you.

I've read it was the Farq. that influenced Bill Ruger. I have no idea if that's true.

If Henry would do something different with that wrist at the comb they'd have the nicest looking of all those rifles that has been made.

[uscra112]

Magnunitis never dies.

If you want Ruger #1 45-70 loads get a .458 win magnum or a 450 Lott in a proper arm for that energy.

Well, you know that a motto in Texas is "Too much ain't enough". Other places, too. Some men just need the have the testosterone knocked out of them before they can see reason.

[Shawlerbrook]

My choices would be Ruger #1, H&R/NEF or a T/C Encore or Contender. I also prefer to buy American.

[P Flados]

When comparing break open single shot strength, I like to "run the numbers".

One of the dominant considerations for these guns is breech thrust. Precisely calculating this value is a challenge because the source of the force is internal pressure acting on the case ID area, but brass wall thickness, brass strength and brass friction with the chamber all come into play. I typically ignore brass strength and estimate Case ID as base OD minus some value (0.04" used below).

Approximate breech thrust values for several notable rounds (including 45-75 with the 55,000 psi limit I found for the Ruger #1) are tabulated below:

	
	Base	EW	Est ID	Area	Limit	Thrust
	(in)	(in)	(in)	(in^2)	(psi)	(lbs)
243 Win	0.470	0.04	0.430	0.14522	60000	8713
308 Win	0.470	0.04	0.430	0.14522	62000	9004
45-70	0.505	0.04	0.465	0.16982	55000	9340
270 Win	0.470	0.04	0.430	0.14522	65000	9439
500 S&W	0.530	0.04	0.490	0.18857	60000	11314
300 Mag	0.512	0.04	0.472	0.17497	65000	11373

My attempt at a break open single shot estimated strength ranking is as follows:

Some Handi rifles were based on a cast iron receiver and I estimate that they are not quite as capable as a TC Contender.

The TC Contender is not able to handle any of the above. The 5.56 round is probably close to limiting for breech thrust.

The CVA's are probably stronger than indicated by the limiting round I could find it available in, the 243 Win.

The Henry SS is also probably stronger than indicated by its limiting round, the 308 Win.

The Handi Rifle "SB2" steel receiver guns were available in the 270 Win which exceeds the breech thrust of the top tier 45-70. It looks like the previous postings about Handi capability were in reference to these steel framed guns, not the cast iron ones.

The TC Encore can handle the 300 Win Mag.

[uscra112]

"Cast" Handi Rifles are malleable iron. White iron castings that have been soaked at high temperature in an oxidizing matrix to leach out most of the carbon. The result is a part with mechanical properties close to mild steels. Still not as strong as forgings, for a variety of reasons, but brittle cast iron they are not.

[Miles42]

My choice is REPO Officers Model. Pedrosoli

[varsity07840]

Don't forget to take a look at

the new Henry single shots !

Were you a ditty dud?

[FredBuddy]

Nah....

98G/04B/SS

[Gray Fox]

I enlisted for 98G in 1967, but got a call in basic one day from the personnel office in DC that handled the intel folks (that freaked out the basic training cadre!) that handled linguists and was offered the chance to switch to a newly reactivated MI Interrogator/Linguist MOS (96C). Did so and went to Ft. Holabird, MD for training then to DLI for South Vietnamese and then to 'Nam. GF

[Cosmic_Charlie]

Been enjoying my 45-70 SS Henry. These are extremely "handi" rifles. Quick handling and potent. So far I have only shot 405 grain out of it. Heating up the pot for some 500 right now.


Not sure if the Henry's 22" barrel can make good velocity with a 500 grain boolit though. CVA offers a 26" in 45-70.

[JohnH]

There are three levels of "loads" for the 45-70. The actual low pressure loads are for Trapdoor rifles because there are still so many of them around being shot. Next is the 1886 and Marlin type loads, and last is the Ruger #1. The CVA and Traditions ARE NOT in with the Ruger #1 loads. I don't know of any break action guns that are rated like the Ruger #1 and I'd be very, very hesitant to even consider trying them in those guns.

TC Encore will handle it, they made 375 H&H barrels for it and it's chambered in the likes of 7mm Remington Mag and 300 Winchester Mag.

[warren5421]

I have currently a Springfield 84 Trapdoor rifle made in 1884, an H&R Trapdoor rifle made in the 1960-1970's, a C Sharps 30", and a Marlin lever gun customized by K DeHeart out of Texas with a 32" barrel. Handloading one round at a time I use a full case of black powder, Goex or Swiss, 535 gr Lyman bullet. I can shoot 100-200 rounds and walk away without a black an blue shoulder. Put that in a lighter gun and 30 rounds will hurt your shoulder and cause a flinch. My favorite gun is the H&R Trapdoor rifle to hunt and shoot. The Marlin can't cycle the rounds through the action but single loading it shots them fine. For the breaktop rifles I would load the stock up with as much lead as I could put in it adding weight and wear a KICK-EEZ if you want to load heavy rounds. Uncle Sam had light rounds for the carbine and heaver rounds for the rifle.