45/70 barrel length

[Charlie98]

Yes it can. From the Buffalo Bore site.

It depends... on how you define 'lever-action' pressures.

My Pedersoli 1885 has a max pressure of 31900PSI, according to the manufacturer. Looking at random 'lever-action' data on the Hodgdon site, I see data as high as 40000PSI... so, no, not necessarily.

 

[CraigC]

It depends... on how you define 'lever-action' pressures.

My Pedersoli 1885 has a max pressure of 31900PSI, according to the manufacturer. Looking at random 'lever-action' data on the Hodgdon site, I see data as high as 40000PSI... so, no, not necessarily.

Yes, necessarily. The 1885 is stronger than the Marlin 1895. Manufacturers typically aren't going to endorse loads that exceed SAAMI standard pressures.

 

[Charlie98]

Yes, necessarily. The 1885 is stronger than the Marlin 1895. Manufacturers typically aren't going to endorse loads that exceed SAAMI standard pressures.

So you are saying it's cool to load a max load (40000PSI) in my Pedersoli?

 

[CraigC]

So you are saying it's cool to load a max load (40000PSI) in my Pedersoli?

According to Tim Sundles, it's a safe rifle for it. I think I saw in one listing they're below 43,000psi. The Pedersoli guns are always considered equal to their Browning/Winchester/Miroku counterparts. The later Miroku guns were made in .454Casull. Other falling blocks like the Ruger are good to 50,000psi. Whether or not you want to actually shoot those loads in that rifle is another matter entirely.

 

[Charlie98]

Whether or not you want to actually shoot those loads in that rifle is another matter entirely.

...and that was my point with the 'not necessarily.' Generically speaking, 'lever-action' loads top out at 40K psi, Pedersoli (in my case...) states specifically to limit loads in their rifles to 31900PSI... and I'm assuming they are doing that for a reason. You made the comment...

Manufacturers typically aren't going to endorse loads that exceed SAAMI standard pressures.

...so I would think Pedersoli would have said 40000psi if that's what they meant.

I agree with you... the 1885 action is very strong, no doubt about it... but I'm not going to readily flaunt the limits stated by the manufacturer. I'm already ugly enough without having an action blow up in my face.

 

[Csinn]

Would I be better hunting with a cimarron 1894 3030 with 26” barrel than the 45/70? I know that’s very different but I feel like the longer barrel in a 3030 could actually make it a decent 250 yard deer/ short range elk gun. Really like the gun though it’s $150-$300 more than a Winchester or marlin 45/70. Honestly want both with 20-22” 45/70 and 26” 3030 but wife might have a thing to say .

 

[Charlie98]

make it a decent 250 yard deer/ short range elk gun.

I'm not a hunter, but I would think the ballistics of a .30-30 would be running out of gas by 250 yards, while the kinetic energy of a .45-70 bullet, even something like a 300grn, would still be greater at that point.

 

[OLDE RETIRED COASTIE]

I have to be honest, I have had three Marlin 1895s including the guide gun, 2 Ruger #1s, a Ruger #3, now 3 Henrys including the new all weather , with the loading gate and 18.5 inch barrel, all in 45-70. I do reload, and was stationed in Kodiak , Alaska, and loaded for brown bear. The Ruger #3, was the worst as far as recoil goes, followed closely by the Marlin guide gun, and the Henry with the 18.5 inch barrel.
I now have a Henry with a 22 inch octagon barrel, and it is considered a rifle, and it weighs in at 8.1 lb empty.
If you are recoil sensitive, go with the long barrels, can even get a 1886 45-70 with 24 and 36 inch barrels. I have heard they weigh in at 9 lbs.
I guess it just depends on what you really want. For carrying, the Marlin guide gun or the Henry all weather, with 18.5 inch barrel are the best to carry. For shooting, the rifles are the best.

 

[mm93]

I'm in the camp that likes longer barreled rifles myself, but I shoot mostly iron sighted rifles from the 1800's so a long sighting radius is important. On a scoped rifle there's no gain in sighting, and the longer barrel doesn't add enough velocity to make me care what 4" or even 6" will do.

 

[Varminterror]

I'm not a hunter, but I would think the ballistics of a .30-30 would be running out of gas by 250 yards

It’s not. A 30-30 at 250 is more powerful than a 357magnum leaving the muzzle, with a better sectional density. Connecting at 250 on a live animal with iron sights on a levergun might be challenging, so a lot of folks assume the cartridge itself isn’t up to the task, but a 170 at 1300fps is no joke. The 45-70 DOES hit harder because of its considerably greater momentum (325grn at 1150fps at 250yrds = 53.4 lb.ft/sec vs. 170 at 1270fps = 30.8), but the 45-70 isn’t a minimum performer at 250. Compensation at 250yrds is only 2.1 mils for my 336 with 170 interlocks - wind is tough, but nothing which can’t be practiced - 10mph wind with my load is 2.1 mils elevation and 2.1 mils windage. Comparatively, my 22LR is 10.2 mils elevation and 2.3mils windage at the same distance and wind, so 30-30 is waffle stomping the 22LR for trajectory management.

 

[Show Me]

It’s not. A 30-30 at 250 is more powerful than a 357magnum leaving the muzzle, with a better sectional density. Connecting at 250 on a live animal with iron sights on a levergun might be challenging, so a lot of folks assume the cartridge itself isn’t up to the task, but a 170 at 1300fps is no joke. The 45-70 DOES hit harder because of its considerably greater momentum (325grn at 1150fps at 250yrds = 53.4 lb.ft/sec vs. 170 at 1270fps = 30.8), but the 45-70 isn’t a minimum performer at 250. Compensation at 250yrds is only 2.1 mils for my 336 with 170 interlocks - wind is tough, but nothing which can’t be practiced - 10mph wind with my load is 2.1 mils elevation and 2.1 mils windage. Comparatively, my 22LR is 10.2 mils elevation and 2.3mils windage at the same distance and wind, so 30-30 is waffle stomping the 22LR for trajectory management.

Yep, not a joke and numbers make good reading. My take on the 30 30 is I wouldn't want to hit a deer with a 170 at 1300 with jacketed or cast. After shooting cast for hunting back when, I lost my taste for poking simple holes in the yard deer and watching the results. My Xtp and FTX .357 load works fine in the woods. The simple hdy 170 expands nicely for me and great in my more open areas out to about 125 yards. The back fields are for the .308 and 30 06 out to 300 .
Makes good reading and your right but personally the results soured me on poking holes at unnecessary distance. I prefer to not encourage it.

 

[Varminterror]

My take on the 30 30 is I wouldn't want to hit a deer with a 170 at 1300 with jacketed or cast. […] My Xtp and FTX .357 load works fine in the woods.

I'm not sure I'm following what you're trying to explain - the FTX in 357mag is a jacketed bullet...