[10-Ring]

A newly met shooting buddy says that he has a Ruger in 45 - 70 that he has been hinting with for years and states he will bring it next time out so we can try it
I've shot a long gun in 45-70 and really didn't enjoy it so this wheelgun doesn't scream out at me to give it a shot..so, my question, what's it like (really) to shoot a single action revolver in 45-70?

[ArmedBear]

A Ruger?

[Virginian]

I'm ready to bet money right now it is not a 45-70. He doesn't know what he has most likely, and it's a .45 Colt caliber.
If it's a 45-70 it's a strictly custom job. Will need to see a picture.
I forget the brand, but I did get to shoot one of those 45-70 monster handguns someone made some years ago with the great big long cylinder. A guy at the club was shooting it and let me loose a round. It was too big to shoot one handed, and didn't kick me as bad as a Smith 29 4" with stiff magnums.
When it gets too big to be a hand gun and turns into a hands gun, to me we're in gimmick territory and I would sooner tote a rifle or a shotgun.

[Chicken-Farmer]

If it truly is a 45-70 i would put my money on a BFR from Magnum Research Company. Interestingly enough i believe American Derringer makes a 45-70 model!

Chicken-Farmer

[PotatoJudge]

There are a couple of 45-70 revolvers out there, but nothing by Ruger. The 45-70 won't fit in Ruger's longest frame, the Blackhawk in 357 Maximum. I can't say if your friend is wrong or just misspoke, but regardless I would recommend against shooting it if you're unsure.

[BCRider]

I suspect that you or he is getting the second or both numbers wrong. The .45-70 cartridge is pretty close to 3 inches long give or take a little. That's one helluva cylinder! There's a bunch of other double number chamberings that it may be in. A common one being .44-40.

[ACP230]

A friend has a BFR in .45-70.
With his reloads with 300 grain bullets it isn't bad to shoot at all.

[Coyote3855]

Are you sure your new buddy has a revolver, or did you assume Ruger meant revolver? I think Ruger made one of their single shot rifles in .45-70. A Ruger revolver in that caliber is unlikely. Not a direct answer to your question. I don't like recoil and wouldn't shoot .45-70 in a handgun. Not even once to say I did it.

[GUNKWAZY]

As was stated above, Ruger has never produced a 45-70 revolver.
There is a few others that do however. It's most likely a BFR Big Fn Revolver or correctly known as a Biggest Finest Revolver.
There were a few others that made them in 45-70 and even a couple BIGGER like the 50-70 shown below. It was a Single Action that was made by Century. It weight about 6 pounds "unloaded".
I'll be interested to know how it shoots and who actually made it.
Keep us posted.

Jeff (GUNKWAZY)

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq172/toykwazy/century1.jpg

http://i445.photobucket.com/albums/qq172/toykwazy/century3.jpg

[farscott]

That Century is amazing!! I remember reading Hal Swiggett's writeup on the Century in Gun Digest during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He mentioned that the original triggers were like gate latches (as in the trigger pull was above the gun weight!!), but he convinced the owner of the company to make the trigger more usable.

Hal used to shoot and write about some great "Sixguns and Others". He was responsible for my interest in the 10mm in a revolver as well as my interest in Contenders.

[goodtime]

Century sold the rights to Super Six Ltd, and they still make it under the name "Bison Bull Super Six". It has a bronze frame. Check it out:
www.bisonbull.com

[BCRider]

from Coyote3855;
I don't like recoil and wouldn't shoot .45-70 in a handgun. Not even once to say I did it.

I'm with you. I've fired a couple of pretty heavy reloads in 45-70 from a rather light TC Encore and while in THAT platform they were actually fun I can't imagine shooting the same from a handgun. Like to pull your thumb right off'a yer hand! ! ! ! ! :D