New cast bullet vehicle: Henry .45-70

[jordanka16]

My newest acquisition, a Henry color case hardened .45-70. Years ago I had a marlin I would punish myself with with heavy 405gr loads, but I think now I'll take it a little easy with some mild 300-350 gr loads. I would love a keith style SWC but I suspect I would encounter feeding issues. Anyone tried something like that with any luck? If not a simple RFN would probably suffice, preferable not gas checked, I have no problem keeping the velocity down for it, any ideas what speed would be ideal?

https://imgur.com/a/gk6NRGB

 

[fiver]

12-1300 fps.
or the ubiquitous 10grs of Unique.

 

[Brad]

Dude, where is the loading gate?

And the load mentioned by fiver would be a good start point

 

[Ian]

Dude, where is the loading gate?

That big hole in the mag tube just in front of the fore end cap.

Congratulations on the new thumper, and welcome to the "association".

 

[fiver]

they still ain't got around to putting a piece of spring steel on the side of the frame?

 

[Glaciers]

Try the Lyman 457191 at about 292 grains

 

[Spindrift]

Congratulations with your beautiful, new rifle!
I would’nt mind one of those myself

 

[jordanka16]

Normally I would want a loading gate on a lever action, but it holds 5-6 rounds, and I dont plan on doing any speed shooting with it.

Henry makes a lever action with a loading gate now, but they're really ugly, since they so far only put them on the x series I think they're called.

 

[Ian]

The X series in revolver cartridge calibers and I think the .30-30 steel frame too.

 

[fiver]

I think their all weather ones have it too, but I believe they'd be in the X-series also.

 

[462]

Yes, they are very ugly.

And horrors!, a black plastic stocked tactical lever action!? Is there a purpose and need that I'm missing?

 

[Glaciers]

Yes, they are very ugly.

And horrors!, a black plastic stocked tactical lever action!? Is there a purpose and need that I'm missing?

You got that right. Lever guns should be above defilement. I can see a plastic stock of traditional style, but hand grips, rails, no.
AR's are fine and that's where tactical stuff needs to be. Not levers. Don't get me started, I may end up speaking my mind. What little is still available anyway.

 

[Ian]

It's for those who live in socialist republics but still want the tacticool look. If there wasn't a market, they wouldn't be producing them. Gun manufacturers are going broke and filing bankruptcy left and right, notice that two of the ones who haven't (Mossberg and Henry) offer tactical levers. Whatever it takes to keep them in business.

I personally do not hold unto the sanctity of the levergun. They can be a tool as much as anything else and sometimes you need a flashlight mount on your plastic/stainless steel truck gun.

 

[jordanka16]

It's for those who live in socialist republics but still want the tacticool look. If there wasn't a market, they wouldn't be producing them. Gun manufacturers are going broke and filing bankruptcy left and right, notice that two of the ones who haven't (Mossberg and Henry) offer tactical levers. Whatever it takes to keep them in business.

I personally do not hold unto the sanctity of the levergun. They can be a tool as much as anything else and sometimes you need a flashlight mount on your plastic/stainless steel truck gun.

That makes sense, I suppose if I didnt have my plastic and tactical guns I might feel a bit different about tactical looking leverguns.

I do wish henry would add the loafing gate to more of their guns, I understand why they haven't, but I would love to buy one of their pistol caliber guns. If they made a 20" bbl. 45 colt case hardened gun with a loading gate I would buy it immediately.

 

[Glaciers]

Yes, they are very ugly.
And horrors!

As 462 said ^^^^^

Ian I understand the marketing reasons, an am fine with that, but..... I don't have to like it, and I won't own one. But no one really cares. Us older blue steel and lumber gun guys are a dying breed.
The Alaska list up here where you can advertise firearms for sale, 10 years ago was only about 20% tactical, now it's about 90% tactical firearms. It's the way of it, doesn't mean I like it. Don't like these computer operating cars either.

 

[Joshua]

How could this new generation of gun industry executives do such a thing. Using gimmicks to sell guns. They would have never done that back in the sixties and seventies!

Wait a minute! Didn’t Winchester name one of their rifles after a baseball player!!!

Sears Model 100 “Ted Williams Model” in 30-30

Josh

 

[462]

Us older blue steel and lumber gun guys are a dying breed.

And after we are gone, I don't foresee those who prefer ARs suddenly discovering lever action rifles.

 

[Glaciers]

I'm just not wanting attention brought to the anti nimrod crowd on levers by having AR style attachments. Those attachments are scary you know. Yeah I know, Can't hide in the sand and if a guy wants a lever that way it should be the way he wants it. Then I'm not the guy to stand in the way.
Well back to 45-70 Henry's.

 

[Joshua]

And after we are gone, I don't foresee those who prefer ARs suddenly discovering lever action rifles.

Oh they have! I’ve got a friend who’s been hunting costal blacktail with .300 BO for five or six years. He just picked up a 45-70 guide gun. His brother has a black bear on his property that’s been getting into trash cans.
When I asked him why he bought the 45-70 his exact words were. “You ever heard of an angry bear eating a man face before?“

He and I graduated in 92’. Whipper-snappers!
Josh

 

[RBHarter]

"Tacticool has no soul , no touch or feel " I believe is the phrase .
If I ever see the 92' rebarrel again it will have rail cut in one piece with the barrel for about 8" in front of the receiver and .750 the last 4" out in front of the band . I've hunted hogs in the dark I like having options for lights and sights . The .750 allows the use of things like Armalite Rifle design clamp on gas blocks and sight fixtures . The vented hand guards are over the top but would certainly protect the mag tubes . Depending on the arrangements it might even take the mag tube off the barrel and hook it only to the receiver on both ends . Free float barrel .

A buddy bought a Henry in 45 Colts and liked it so much he bought the 30-30 too . They are nice , slick running rifles . Yours is sure nice too .