I think originally it was done so that shooters wouldn't have their employing company internet servers block content as many would do if they saw "bullet" ~MuirI think "cute" comes into it, though it seems to be an accepted term in some circles.
Language evolves at a remarkable rate. The Oxford English Dictionary adds new words on a regular basis: Updates to the OED | Oxford English Dictionary
However, if a millennial at the range tells me my rifle outfit is "on fleek", they'll get a slap!
45-70
- Thread starter Rhudson89
- Start date
First of all massive thankyou to everybody who's got involved. This place never disappoints when it comes to advice, didn't think one post would create so much attention.
I come under staffordshire and west Midlands police and to be honest I've always found them pretty decent to deal with so fingers crossed it all goes through ( my variation when off today) I'm currently running a 243 which is a brilliant rifle but I just dont think it hits hard enough. The reds we have on our ground are pretty big. Yes I'm sure people can argue that the 243 is more than adequate with correct shot placement and the right bullet but theres just too much meat damage and neck shooting isn't really something I want to be doing. Theres other calibres out there but i want a lever action...a rifle I can just point and shoot. I dont shoot over any great distance when out after deer, it's always less than 100 yards. My main argument is going to that I want it for deer and wild boar in the future at some point. Some of the ground I stalk is thick brush and a big rifle isn't really ideal. Like you say...play the game abit. For now it's the waiting game.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Staffs are a great team. Brett Oaks is a gent.
All of them are very approachable.
Shameless plug but mine is really, really short. The gun, I mean...
LeftHandGuy
Well-Known Member
that funny slotted thing come off the end at all? Looks painful.
To the ears I mean!
It is, and it does. I might just have a go at fitting a moderator to it before I let it go, it's great fun!
It's certainly not that common in the UK from what I can gather. A few of us use them but not many. I liked the idea because I could easily get 1700ft-lbs for deer using a soft bullet that I can cast myself. It's pretty cheap to run because of that and great fun at the range. I don't suppose the police deal with that many requests for them, but it's good that they're being reasonable about it.
There used to be a group (maybe family? maybe friends?) who came to Pickering Range many years ago in a VW camper van whose rear end was decorated with the Confederate flag emblem. (Not a lot of Johnny Rebs around in North Yorkshire IME) The lead guy owned and shot historic US arms and of course got himself a Trapdoor Springfield, Italian repro', not original as they were like hen's teeth in the UK back then. This rifle couldn't cope with the allegedly loaded to Trapdoor pressure level Remington factory ammo - it was the only self-ejecting 19th Century design around, blew the chamber open and sent the case trailing smoke in a nice arc over his shoulder. So much for Plan A! Plan B saw him take up handloading and use black powder and that worked fine.
Wow. I would have had a serious look at the locking mechanism of that Trapdoor. I have and original, an have owned a half dozen others, and never had that issue. I was looking over a collection of US Martial Arms once and found two, consecutively numbered prototype Trapdoor Springfields built at the Armory in Massachusetts, that were chambered in 30-40 Krag-Jorgensen. There were built to see if the armory could whip another tour of duty from the Trapdoors, of which they had many. According to the paperwork, the rifles were tested and didn't fail.
In recent years i have settled on the Siamese Mauser for all of my 45-70 usage. Never a question as to suitability of loads. I once used 59 grains of H4895 behind a 400 grain jacketed bullet as my standard load. It was exceedingly accurate and brutal on the back end -even in a nine pound bolt gun. I was younger then, and wanted a flat trajectory and raw power. Now I don't worry about such things as much, and realize that -as many have found- once you punch a .458" diameter hole in a creature it falls over in due course. I bought that Siamese Mauser thirty-nine years ago for $125 US and it's still going strong. The gunsmith who built it never finished it, with the last chore being to widen the bolt face a tad to take the 45-70 rim. Once done, the rifle has been trouble free and a joy to own.~Muir
In recent years i have settled on the Siamese Mauser for all of my 45-70 usage. Never a question as to suitability of loads. I once used 59 grains of H4895 behind a 400 grain jacketed bullet as my standard load. It was exceedingly accurate and brutal on the back end -even in a nine pound bolt gun. I was younger then, and wanted a flat trajectory and raw power. Now I don't worry about such things as much, and realize that -as many have found- once you punch a .458" diameter hole in a creature it falls over in due course. I bought that Siamese Mauser thirty-nine years ago for $125 US and it's still going strong. The gunsmith who built it never finished it, with the last chore being to widen the bolt face a tad to take the 45-70 rim. Once done, the rifle has been trouble free and a joy to own.~Muir
When I got my original copy of the large format paperback Frank de Haas book on rifle actions back in the '70s or early 80s (long since fallen apart), I was really taken with the Siamese Mauser action. I reckon the surplus ones must have all gone to the USA, or if not the lion's share of them. I've never heard of one here, although I bet somebody on this forum will have seen one somewhere. Of course, there is a lot less incentive here as 45-70 is a much smaller player and what popularity it has largely came with the arrival of the M1895 Marlins at a much later date. I do remember seeing and handling the occasional original Winchester 1886 at Historic Arms comps though back in the '80s, and looked a year or two ago at what outwardly at least seems a very nice Italian repro by Chiappa, this one:
Chiappa Firearms // 1886 Lever-Action Rifle (Color Case) 45-70/26"BBL
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
I had the same book , mine fell apart too lol . I had a Navy Arms Siamese Mauser Carbine many years ago . It was a very accurate and reliable rifle , but a handful with heavy loads . I was like Muir when I was younger , I always went for the highest velocities I could safely get ( I managed 2000 FPS with a Speer 400 gr out of Browning B-78 , try that with a steel cresent butt plate , better yet don't lol ) You don't see to many Siamese Mausers around anymore in any calibre , even the military issue ones .
The Chiappa built rifles have a mixed reputation out here . Some models are fine , others seem to have issues . I've seen a few Chiappa 86's in use and their owners liked them , so we'll see how they do long term . There are still a fair number of original 1886's around here for not much more money , I think I'd go that route . Obviously that's not an option in the UK , but I would take a look at the modern Miruko produced Browning and Winchester copies . The Japanese made rifles are extremely well built and nicely fitted . I did have a chance to pick up an 1886 in 33 Winchester lately . It was a gray rat rifle , but the bore and internals were fine . I have enough rifles chambered in obsolete calibers , so I passed . For some reason , most 86's around here are chambered in 33 Win or 40/82 Win , neither of which float my boat . Most rechamber them to 45/70 as the bores on the 40/82's are usually blown out and 33's require some tedious case forming . It's OK if their worn out or modified ( no collectors value ) but I couldn't do that to a nice example like some do .
AB
Ruger No1 for ever .....a proud 45-70 user!
The only rifle for hot loads.and..for safety..all others are not strong enough,the falling block is nigh on infallible!
The only rifle for hot loads.and..for safety..all others are not strong enough,the falling block is nigh on infallible!
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I knew Frank DeHaas, We corresponded on a number of subjects. I worked at a large gunshop that took on a lot of odd single shots and we discussed the merits of one or the other for a couple of years. The last topic was about the workings of the breechblock on a Werndl rotary block single shot. He laughingly promised me a foot note in his next book but the next time I heard from the deHaas family it was from his son Mark in a letter containing his Obituary. HE was quite a gunsmith but quite blind by the time he died. He recognized the shortage of original Siamese military rifles and said that Navy Arms had enough of them in circulation so that original military guns might be spared. The last time I saw a Siamese in issue form was about 10 years ago and it was very expensive. The Navy arms conversions used to be plentiful. (The also did a 45-70 on a Kropatchek action: Ugly but strong) Now, a 45-70 Siamese Mauser in private hands usually has a waiting list of potential buyers. ~Muir
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
I've never seen a Kropatchek conversion in the flesh , but apparently , they worked quite well . I remember talking to you about Frank DeHaas , he was quite the gunsmith .
The Werndl has always interested me , unfortunately , Unicorn poo these days .
AB
The Werndl has always interested me , unfortunately , Unicorn poo these days .
AB
greenshoots
Well-Known Member
Just got a variation slot for a 45 cal rifle so I can get a 45-70
better check that and change the slot for 45-70
greenshoots
better check that and change the slot for 45-70
greenshoots
Interesting to hear mention of Frank de Haas, and that you knew him, @Muir .
I've got his Vault Lock rifle plans, and am planning to build one. It's not a fancy design but it's fairly simple and I quite like the proportions.
enfieldspares
Well-Known Member
I saw, and shot, a Rigby Mauser in .303 British in the 1990s.
A genuine Rigby and, yes genuinely made in .303 British by Rigby.
For the 215 grain bullet. And yes a slanted magazine.
Rigby made them when Mk VI ball was still the standard Army ammunition.
A genuine Rigby and, yes genuinely made in .303 British by Rigby.
For the 215 grain bullet. And yes a slanted magazine.
Rigby made them when Mk VI ball was still the standard Army ammunition.
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alberta boy
Well-Known Member
I had a copy of those blue prints , unfortunately lost in a move years back . I would love a copy of them if you're able ………. I have very cool things to trade for them lol .
AB
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