Hey Guys,
I've done so much research on this, and read so many things on line, that my brain is fried and I can't sort it out any more
My goal is to have a good single shot falling-block rifle, with a curved pistol grip stock, to shoot big bore bullets at low speeds, at 50 to 100 yards, at paper, coffee cans, and stationary clay birds. In other words, just a fun gun. I am not in any cowboy shooting.
From my research, I was convinced that what I wanted was a .45 Colt. But, I've found that nobody made or makes a falling block with pistol grip in that caliber. I guess I could buy one in a different caliber, and have a custom barrel installed, but spending $2,000 or so for such a toy is out of the question.
So then, I started looking at the .45-70, with a view to using 350 grain Berry's plated lead bullets and a case filled 80% or so with Trail Boss. (I would follow a reloading manual.) 1,400 fps or so would be fine with me.
But, guess what, no rifle meeting my description is made or available in .45-70, except for the Ruger No. 1. Not my favorite rifle, but if I got a used one that is not a red-pad, I could probably live with it.
So, I started looking a these online, and found that there are lots of them, in the $1,200 area.
I noticed, though, that there are also a fair number of Ruger No. 1s out there in .458 Winchester Magnum, and most of them are somewhat cheaper than the .45-70. I guess because the .458 is a defunct cartridge.
But, for some reason, too me at least, the .458 Win Mag just seems "cooler" to have than a .45-70. Those huge long cartridges are interesting looking and kinda calling to me.
I know that the .458 Win would use more powder than the .45-70, but it could shoot the same bullets as the .45-70. (Both are .458).
The brass cases would cost more in .458 than .45-70, but if I am shooting such light loads, I would think that I would get lots and lots of reloads out of them.
Any ideas or advice as to how to go with this? Does anybody know whether the .458 Win Mag were only made in the redpads only? (Most online have thick black pads, but I guess they could have originally been redpads.)
Does anybody know the rate of twist of the Ruger No. 1 in .458 Win Mag? (I guess that if it is really fast, it would tear up those soft Berry's bullets.)
Thanks for all opinions and advice.
Mannyrock
I've done so much research on this, and read so many things on line, that my brain is fried and I can't sort it out any more
My goal is to have a good single shot falling-block rifle, with a curved pistol grip stock, to shoot big bore bullets at low speeds, at 50 to 100 yards, at paper, coffee cans, and stationary clay birds. In other words, just a fun gun. I am not in any cowboy shooting.
From my research, I was convinced that what I wanted was a .45 Colt. But, I've found that nobody made or makes a falling block with pistol grip in that caliber. I guess I could buy one in a different caliber, and have a custom barrel installed, but spending $2,000 or so for such a toy is out of the question.
So then, I started looking at the .45-70, with a view to using 350 grain Berry's plated lead bullets and a case filled 80% or so with Trail Boss. (I would follow a reloading manual.) 1,400 fps or so would be fine with me.
But, guess what, no rifle meeting my description is made or available in .45-70, except for the Ruger No. 1. Not my favorite rifle, but if I got a used one that is not a red-pad, I could probably live with it.
So, I started looking a these online, and found that there are lots of them, in the $1,200 area.
I noticed, though, that there are also a fair number of Ruger No. 1s out there in .458 Winchester Magnum, and most of them are somewhat cheaper than the .45-70. I guess because the .458 is a defunct cartridge.
But, for some reason, too me at least, the .458 Win Mag just seems "cooler" to have than a .45-70. Those huge long cartridges are interesting looking and kinda calling to me.
I know that the .458 Win would use more powder than the .45-70, but it could shoot the same bullets as the .45-70. (Both are .458).
The brass cases would cost more in .458 than .45-70, but if I am shooting such light loads, I would think that I would get lots and lots of reloads out of them.
Any ideas or advice as to how to go with this? Does anybody know whether the .458 Win Mag were only made in the redpads only? (Most online have thick black pads, but I guess they could have originally been redpads.)
Does anybody know the rate of twist of the Ruger No. 1 in .458 Win Mag? (I guess that if it is really fast, it would tear up those soft Berry's bullets.)
Thanks for all opinions and advice.
Mannyrock
