Henry 45-70 Load Data

[dale2242]

Is the Henry lever guns in 45-70 as strong as the Marlins.
Which level of load data should I use, Trapdoor or Lever guns?

[sukivel]

I wouldn’t hesitate to use levergun data.


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[T-Bird]

I'd use trapdoor for my shoulder's sake!

[Nobade]

Likewise. It's a very light weight rifle, and damage to your body is a real possibility with heavier loads.

[sukivel]

Likewise. It's a very light weight rifle, and damage to your body is a real possibility with heavier loads.

He wrote 45-70, not 458 Lott…


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[Nobade]

He wrote 45-70, not 458 Lott…


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45-70 loaded to the pressure that rifle can handle fired from a 6lb gun can hurt you. I learned that the hard way years ago with a Ruger #3 and I believe it is heavier than that Henry.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

As I approach 70 years, I only use my 45/70 Pedersoli 'Sporting Rifle' Model 1886 with trapdoor loads. A typical weekly range session is at least 40 rounds which is quite enough for this body.

[robg]

i load to trapdoor level for marlin SBL .i want fun not pain.

[ABJ]

I agree with most of the above members. Trapdoor load level does everything I need it to do. I load 300 grain to 1200 ish.
Tony

[Castaway]

ABJ, I get that easily with my 92 in 45 Colt and can come close to it with a Black Hawk

[ABJ]

ABJ, I get that easily with my 92 in 45 Colt and can come close to it with a Black Hawk

Normally I stay in the 250 ish grain area with the 45 Colt and and same with the SRH in 44 mag. My 45-70 is a Buffalo classic with a scope and the first load I tested was a plain base 300rf. It was so accurate it became my hunting load. I did try faster loadings and I tried the RCBS 405 gas check and kept going back to the 300. The manual quoted it at 1200 plus, but I think it is faster coming out of a 30 inch barrel.
If my 45 Colt was a 92 I would push it little but mine is a Uberti 66 with a 20". I have a freedom arms 454 I will hunt with this year, the only loads I have tried so for, hit 1350 with Unique under a 260 fn plain base. Softer recoil than the SRH at 1200.
Back to the 45-70, my load is a very soft shooting load because the Buffalo Classic transfers more recoil than most Levers I have shot. I am not saying the OP's gun can't take it, just that out to 150 yds I don't need anything more for whitetails.
Tony

[Castaway]

I’ve killed a slew pigs and deer with a 255 or 300 grain bullet in that velocity range and have never felt under gunned. Plenty of mass and velocity for Florida short range hunting under 100 yards.

[FergusonTO35]

I think your shoulder will break long before the rifle does! My side job shop has been getting the Golden Boy .45-70 in pretty regularly, anybody need a 43 year old kidney for the bargain price of $1049.95 plus tax?

[JSnover]

Is the Henry lever guns in 45-70 as strong as the Marlins.
Which level of load data should I use, Trapdoor or Lever guns?

It IS a lever gun and Henry probably isn't selling a dangerously weak lever action. If damage/fatigue/injury are your main concerns but you want more than trapdoor performance, start in the low end of the lever action load tables.

[danmat]

45-70 loaded to the pressure that rifle can handle fired from a 6lb gun can hurt you. I learned that the hard way years ago with a Ruger #3 and I believe it is heavier than that Henry.

I did not realize these Henrys were that light weight, reason I never had no interest. Most henrys are pigs.
Have to check 1 out.

[pworley1]

They should handle the 1886 loads fine, but if you have any concerns just call Henry and ask them.

[elmacgyver0]

I would love it if Henry would offer the beautiful wood stocked models with threaded barrels. At the present they have a Plastic stocked atrocity with a threaded barrel.
Of course, I haven't received approval yet for my suppressor, the wait seems forever, and I may be long dead, before it is ever approved.
The Ruger's are expensive, but they seem to be made of unobtanium.
Right now, I am in a state of limbo.

[dale2242]

I have tried 35 gr. of IMR 4198.
Not too much recoil and it shoots well.
That is the top end of TD loads.
Now on to load 100 rounds.

[sukivel]

I have tried 35 gr. of IMR 4198.
Not too much recoil and it shoots well.
That is the top end of TD loads.
Now on to load 100 rounds.

I load 37 gr of 4198 on a 500 gr Lyman bullet. It doesn’t rip my arm off with my H&R.

According to my manuals, that’s approaching #1 starting loads.


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[Capt. Methane]

Matt’s Bullets 405RFN GC ahead of 44.5gr IMR 4895. Lots of authority but not brutal offhand or standing shooting from sticks. The old buffalo cartridge will punish you from the bench because it’s harder to roll with.

That is a decently accurate load (2” at 45yds)from my X model and yeah, the plastic isn’t pretty but that rifle is growing on me!