shortening Handi-Rifle 45-70 questions

[45ACP4U]

Randall was what i have in mind to cut the barrel. And i am gonna skip porting and leave it as is. Do you know the address to Randall and he may charge?Thanks for the advice.

Try Randall (ar15barrels) for cutting the barrel.

I would skip porting, it'll just make it loud.

Recoil should be less than a light 12 gauge with slugs, depending on your load.

I have an 18" Marlin .45-70 that doesn't kick too bad at all. If you run too straight of a stock which reduces muzzle climb though, your gun will feel snappy, and your shoulder will get pounded more. I'd keep the wood stock on there- shorten it a touch if necessary.

-Dave

[elSquid]

mine, before I refinished the stock



I also thinned out the fore grip and finished everything blonde.

Nice!

I'm feeling the need to buy a new rifle....

-- Michael

[Whiterabbit]

keep in mind mine was a 357 maximum (357 mag reamed out longer), so that rifle as you see it weighed about 8 pounds. No joke. Heavy barrel. For NO other reason, the rifle was sold.

45ACP4U, if I didn't reload, I'd be shooting the cheapest 45/70 I could find. (and reselling the 1x fired, I am cheap. That's why I cast and reload).

I just strongly recommend to get a couple boxes so you can shoot a few groups before and after. No need to chase ghosts if you cut the barrel and it's not accurate, and you eventually find out you had an issue with the forearm.

--------------

You don't need to weld anything to the stud. You can go to OSH and pick up any knob with a 1/4-20 stud and use that as your forearm screw. instant tool-less barrel change. Not very attractive, but it works. That's how I carry it with the shotgun barrel when I go chukar hunting. it can stay totally in the pack till I'm way up the mountain.

You don't need the front sight installed if you don't want to, since you have a scope. if you want it, it's an easy drill and tap. You can also do this at home easily with a drill press and some taps from brownells.

you can still go to 16.5, you have plenty of room for re-crowning a few times before you are under 16. Remember, length is from the breech face with the barrel closed. Since there is no action in front of the breech, it REALLY looks short in person. I remember someone at an indoor range looked at mine and said "oh, that must be legal cause its a pistol cartridge" I said nothing but thought to myself "it's legal cause it's a 16-3/8" barrel!" No action in front of breech really throws people off. in a good way...

If you are serious about investing the time and money into the handi rifle, don't forget the metal forend spacer to improve action feel.

[ar15barrels]

Do you know the address to Randall and he may charge?

www.tcbarrels.com has my shop services for break-open single-shot firearms.

[45ACP4U]

Shortening handi rifle 45-70

Thanks for the advice. I will probably go to Randall since his services are reasonably priced. But you have given plenty of tips regarding my handi rifle. You answered a lot of my questions. I appreciate your time. I will post pictures after the work is done. I am gonna go to OSH during lunch..

I was able to secure a 223 barrel to supplement my 45-70 from NEF. They ran out of 308 barrels. What other barrel is good to have in your opinion? I am thinking may be a 3006 or 12 gauge.

keep in mind mine was a 357 maximum (357 mag reamed out longer), so that rifle as you see it weighed about 8 pounds. No joke. Heavy barrel. For NO other reason, the rifle was sold.

45ACP4U, if I didn't reload, I'd be shooting the cheapest 45/70 I could find. (and reselling the 1x fired, I am cheap. That's why I cast and reload).

I just strongly recommend to get a couple boxes so you can shoot a few groups before and after. No need to chase ghosts if you cut the barrel and it's not accurate, and you eventually find out you had an issue with the forearm.

--------------

You don't need to weld anything to the stud. You can go to OSH and pick up any knob with a 1/4-20 stud and use that as your forearm screw. instant tool-less barrel change. Not very attractive, but it works. That's how I carry it with the shotgun barrel when I go chukar hunting. it can stay totally in the pack till I'm way up the mountain.

You don't need the front sight installed if you don't want to, since you have a scope. if you want it, it's an easy drill and tap. You can also do this at home easily with a drill press and some taps from brownells.

you can still go to 16.5, you have plenty of room for re-crowning a few times before you are under 16. Remember, length is from the breech face with the barrel closed. Since there is no action in front of the breech, it REALLY looks short in person. I remember someone at an indoor range looked at mine and said "oh, that must be legal cause its a pistol cartridge" I said nothing but thought to myself "it's legal cause it's a 16-3/8" barrel!" No action in front of breech really throws people off. in a good way...

If you are serious about investing the time and money into the handi rifle, don't forget the metal forend spacer to improve action feel.

[45ACP4U]

Shortening handi rifle 45-70

Do you do same day service where I can make my way there and get the work done?

www.tcbarrels.com has my shop services for break-open single-shot firearms.

[ar15barrels]

Do you do same day service where I can make my way there and get the work done?

yes

[45ACP4U]

Thanks for everyone's input. This is very helpful, including stuff I hadn't thought of before..

[Whiterabbit]

Thanks for the advice. I will probably go to Randall since his services are reasonably priced. But you have given plenty of tips regarding my handi rifle. You answered a lot of my questions. I appreciate your time. I will post pictures after the work is done. I am gonna go to OSH during lunch..

I was able to secure a 223 barrel to supplement my 45-70 from NEF. They ran out of 308 barrels. What other barrel is good to have in your opinion? I am thinking may be a 3006 or 12 gauge.

12 ga for sure, 357 magnum (then you rent the 357 max reamer so you can shoot 250 grain 35 cal bullets at 1700 fps), and I liked the 50 cal muzzleloading barrel. You use 300 wsm cases cut down for the primer carriers, and with 150 grains of powder down the pipe (nef max load) the power on both ends is shocking.