Setting up a new project......in 45-70!!!!

C

Charmedlyfe

Moderator
I'm getting ready to put together another toy (with more than a little assistance from my 'smith!), this time in 45-70. I'm going with a Manlicher-style stock and an 18" barrel. It's based off of a Brno action, Siamese bolt, and guard. Military trigger and shroud safety. It will have Express sights, and NO SCOPE (can't afford another Nightforce just yet). It will be Belgian-blued. It's designed around the 500gr Hornady bullet over their IMR3031 heavy load. Boargun extraordinaire!!!!

The stock will be walnut, with skeleton buttplate and bullet trap. The grip cap will have an engraving of a wild boar, and the original trigger guard will be removed and replaced with a fancy guard welded on. there will be scrollwork near the butt, and 'fishscale' carving on the grip and foreend. I'm hoping for a red-brown finish for the wood, but I'll have to wait and see on that.

I'll post a picture when it's done, but anyone who wants to see it as it's built is welcome to stop by Marineau Gun Works in West Columbia, SC. Also, any suggestions on neat stuff I haven't thought of would be appreciated.
 
Not a suggestion, but a request.

I have, sitting in my file cabinet, a Siamese Mauser action and bolt, with the bolt already welded for scope clearance. Who in this day and age does these conversions, I had envisioned a Mannlicher-stocked .45-70 with a nice older scope, perhaps a Lyman Alaskan, and running the basic 405gr bullet, maybe the same blackpowder cartridge loads as my Remington Rolling Block Creedmoor. Barrels are no problem, but a smith who can open up the Siamese Mauser's feed rails and finish the job is getting to be rather rare.
 
I have tought about getting a 45-70 for a year or two in the Browning High Wall. But, every thing I read and hear is you can't get good accurcy out of a 45-70. I mean an inch, half inch or less. I don't know why with a good barrel and tight action the 45-70 can't get moa. My custom 06 will shoot under an inch with 220 gr. round nose sierras. I know for hunting, the 45-70 is accurate enough. What you think?:confused:
 
Whoa! Dream gun written all over!!!!
I'll be waiting for you to post pictures... and in the meantime, I'll cry my eyes out looking at the description you gave...
Will you be limited to level 1 pressures?
 
It's designed as a short-range gun, meaning under 100 yards, optimal being 50. The usage of this gun for things trying to 'get me' means I don't need MOA, just within about 3MOA. As to the accuracy, Mike had given a lot of help with my .308win (Brno Vz24 action) and it shoots under 1/2MOA every time, all the time, with factory loads. I think this one will be good enough....

Regarding pressure, the Mauser action will take Ruger pressures without fail. I'll be using the Hornady bullets and loads, which is only about two hundred ft-lbs less than the 458WinMag. Grizzly, anyone?

And yes, it's a dream gun. But that's what you get when you've got a real gunsmith in town. Mike has worked many a miracle with Mausers, and the StG58s he puts together usually out-shoot my DSA, and look just as good!
 
The only people that say the 45-70 isn't accurate are the ones that have no experience with them. They will do 1/2inch groups with many different loads. It is less load sensitive then the bottleneck rounds. Needless to say recoil is quite high if you try to attain near 458 Mag performance. Potentially lethal to the shooter as well. A big bullet eats up a lot of powder space in the old case. Kind of self defeating.
 
I'm not really trying for more than 3000 ft-lbs. I was just surprised at the power the round is capable of. The safe Hornady loads are really impressive....one gives over 3400 ft-lbs at the muzzle. Truth be told, I'm only worried about the level two loads.....I want something left to eat. As far as safety, the Mauser action is quite capable of handling the round (and has been SAFELY chambered in beasties much hotter). This ain't a trapdoor....
 
Very, very cool. I plan on a custom bolt .45-70 myself, one of these days (after I finish 5 other gun projects) !!

My Marlin will almost shoot minute of angle w/ Georgia Arms 300-grain SJHP's. I'm not a great shot, yet, either, so a better shot might make MOA.

G98, you might want to talk to Forrest Halford of Gunsmoke Custom Gunsmithing in Colorado. He was recommended to me by Eric Ching.
 
Well, the work has officially started, and a parts bill the size of Texas has been run up. By the way, had to change the skeleton butt to a recoil pad. Any advice on which one would look best on this turn-of-the-century style gun? Thanks.
 
I am talking to someone who has a 26" bld Siamese Mauser in .45-70. It was the consensus that these rifles should have no trouble with Buffalo Bore/Garrett level loads? I know Navy Arms told me 2 years ago that their "soon-to-come" .45-70 Lee-Enfields would handle "any load the lever guns would". (I think that's a wee bit hopeful, myself.)
 
45-70

Until i got too old and fragile to shoot a 45-70 I loved to shoot a Hornady 300 grain bullet with 23 grains of 2400. It is easy on the sholder.
 
I'm sure this rifle will be a piece of junk, so send it to me immediately at PO Box *&%$, Kodiak Alaska, 99615 for safe disposal.


Hehe!
 
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