Handi Rifle in 45/70

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dak0ta

dak0ta

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Hey

Are these rifles a good high pressure alternative to Marlin 1895s?

HOw does this break action receiver work and is it strong enough for this caliber? How is accuracy, reliability and durability?
 
Not equal to the Marlin in strength, if that's what you're asking.
It's strong enough for the lower .45-70 loads, but shouldn't be pushed too hard.
Reliability is usually good, accuracy depends on the load.
Denis
 
Handi

The newer Handi-rifles are rated for the heaviest of Grizzly or Buffalo Bore's factory loads. The newer guns are stronger than the models of years ago. I do not know when the change was made, nor what was done. I do know that BB states on the ammo box what guns can safely use their +p ammo.
From the Website: Use should be limited to....
All Marlin 1895 (1895 Marlins are all model 336 actions, chambered in 45-70) iterations made since 1972, all Browning 1885 and 1886 copies, Rossi Rio Grande, New England Arms Handi Rifle, T/C Encore, ALL falling block actions made of modern steel such as Ruger #1 and #3, Shiloh, Christian and Persoli Sharps, all Winchester 1886 iterations made since 1915 and all Siamese Mauser bolt actions.
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Pete
 
check out graybeard out doors forums they have a special handi rifle forum. they will answer your question there.

Bull
 
I've read about hot or miss quality control im regards to the barrels and accuracy as well as the hinge opening up on firing. Any weight to this?
 
go to greybeardoutdoors.com for some good info. keeping the hinge dry (both surfaces) usually cures the "popping open" problem.

murf
 
The old 45-70 IS NOT a long range round and you can't make it so. On the other hand, it is quite a 'thumper' and at quite moderate loadings will kill anything you are likely to need to kill. Besides, it is a heck of a lot of fun!
 
News to me if the Handis can handle those hotter loads. I wouldn't have tried 'em in the one I had. :)
Denis
 
they switched to the SB2 receiver which is stronger, not sure what the differences are though.
 
An H&R Handi Rifle on an SB2 receiver is rated to at least 65,000 PSI chamber pressure. It is substantially stronger than any 45/70 lever gun.

The old 45-70 IS NOT a long range round and you can't make it so.
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Shenanigans. It is not a flat shooting long range round. It can be shot accurately at quite long distances, especially in the hot loads one can use in an SB2 45/70

THE SHOOTER at the heavy bench rest squinted as he aligned his .45-70 Allin-Springfield Model 1873 Army rifle on the distant target. The rifle fore-stock and barrel was cradled in a rest; the butt was supported by his shoulder. The rear sight was flipped up to its full height, so with no stock support for his head, the rifle tester from Springfield Armory worked carefully to align high rear and low muzzle sight on the speck that was the target - a surveyed 2,500 yards distant.

Holding his breath, he squeezed the 7-pound trigger. The rifle fired, and some 15 seconds later, signals from the target indicated that his shot had struck well inside the 6-foot diameter bullseye on a target well over a mile away!

The Report of the Secretary of War, 1880, Volume III, under the chapter titled, "Extreme Ranges of Military Small Arms," had this to say:

"The firing was done by Mr. R.T Hare of Springfield Armory who has the enviable distinction, so far as is known, of being the only person in the world who has hit the 'Bull's-Eye' six feet in diameter at 2,500 yards with three different rifles, and who has ever fired at and hit so small a target as that described in this report at 3,200 yards.
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http://www.researchpress.co.uk/longrange/sandyhook.htm

One may wish to educate oneself about the other Sandy Hook.
 
I found one new with a synthetic stock, iron sights, scope base, bushnell 1.5-4x scope for $250. caveat is a light scratch on the bootom of the receiver.
 
HOw does this break action receiver work and is it strong enough for this caliber? How is accuracy, reliability and durability?
Click to expand...

Much stronger than a levergun. I never understood a levergun in 45-70, you can't harness the cartridges true potential. Hornady selling leverevolution rounds for premium cash, all it is is a dog load.

Very reliable, its' a single shot. Very durable, it's a pretty basic weapon. Accuracy? I couldn't stomach the recoil to get it sighted in with the loads we cooked up which was a warm 385 grain. Absolutely brutal, and I'm not someone who minds recoil much at all. I have a .444 marlin custom bolt rifle built from an old Enfield with a brass buttplate and it's got stout recoil, but the handi-rifle is the most brutal rifle I've tried. Never done african caliber stuff but let's just say the light weight caused the comb of the stock to beat itself into my cheek. I couldn't bear it.

I recommend the buffalo classic with the longer barrel to help tame some of that, though it is rather more expensive.
 
The Buffalo Classic recommendation is a good one. I have never shot a regular Handi Rifle in 45/70 but I used to have one in 30-06 and that was already fairly brutal given the rifle was about 5.5 lbs. I have a 20" barreled 45 Colt Classic Carbine reamed to 454 that I built a Mannlicher stock for and hot 454 loads (250 gr FTX at 2150 fps) are stiff but not unpleasant. That's an 8.5 lbs rifle with a Magnum recoil pad. I think the stock geometry of the Buffalo Classic (straight grip) is somehow helpful in mitigating felt recoil along with the added weight.
 
Currently reading Hemingway's "Green Hills of Africa." He hates the 45/70 they brought along on the Safari and consistently misses with it.

A little off-topic but thought I would share.
 
I don't have a Handi-Rifle in .45/70, but I still feel qualified to comment since I do have one in .500 S&W Magnum.

I am not going to argue over the 2 cartridges, I am just going to point out that if the SB2 frames safely handle the .500 mag, they will take the .45/70.

Recoil can be rough with some loads. Yes, I added quite a bit of lead to the buttstock. It is better now.

I would think the .45/70 would handle any load that any halfway reasonable person would shoot on a regular basis. Will the shooter be able to handle the abuse? Lots of people shoot mine one time, and then lose interest.
 
i don't know about the 45/70 part of it. but you will need to start weight lifting with your trigger finger NOW! lol. they have a stout trigger pull. and it is long and creepy. i had a trigger job done at a gunsmith, and it is still the heaviest trigger pull out of any gun i own. but at least the creep was shortened dramatically.
 
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