H&R single shot .45-70

I really don't know how strong the SB2 Handi-Rifle is in .45-70. I don't think it can take the loads that a Ruger #1 can handle, and I don't think my shoulder could take the punishment. Let's face it, it's a break open action put together with steel pins; not the strongest .45-70 action ever made. I settled on the Hornady 325-grain Leverevolution factory ammo when I sighted in the rifle, and it is very accurate out to 200 yards. Think I will keep my handloads in the range of those appropriate for trapdoor and lever action in the little H&R beast.
 
Alk8944 said:
A trapdoor action is not the same as a break-open like a single-shot shotgun! The last I looked some of the H&R guns, specifically the Officers Model , are going for over $1,000, well over.
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With all of your esteemed wisdom can you explain to me how one might mount a cheap 3X9 variable scope on a trapdoor rifle?
 
I have a 416 grain cast boolit that I load for mine at about 1500FPS and it doesn't seem all that bad to me out of my Handi.

As for strength. The Handi rifle is/was chambered in much higher pressure cartridges such as 30-06, .270, etc. If it can handle those pressures, I feel perfectly safe shooting at least Marlin Level loads in the 45-70. The 45-70 Handi is a SB2 receiver. A SB1 should never be used for hot loads. Unless you swapped barrels, a SB1 wouldn't have 45-70 OR a higher pressure cartridge chambered in it anyway.

Rosewood

Rosewood
 
An alternative suggestion. CVA Scout can be had in 45/70. I picked up one new in .300 BO for under $400.00. The barrels are made by Bergara and the accuracy of mine is outstanding. Stainless barrel and action as well for your humid climate. Mine is threaded too. Love shooting it suppressed.
 
I have a Traditions 45-70 break open . It has a pad on the buttplate. It’s not to bad to shoot. Neither is my Henry Big Boy. My father in law had a H&R in 35 Whelen. It would get your attention when you fired it. So would my H&R 10 gauge. They hold up well functionally. It’s hard to keep the wood and blueing looking nice. Only problem I have ever had was with bullet ejection. Nothing is cheap anymore. If you like it I am sure you can get $400 worth of enjoyment out of it!

Hugh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
alwslate said:
With all of your esteemed wisdom can you explain to me how one might mount a cheap 3X9 variable scope on a trapdoor rifle?
Click to expand...

I think B-Square used to make a "No-Drill" mount that replaced the rear sight.

On the H&R Trapdoor Officers Model. I have two friends with the first batch (below 5000) and the accuracy is excellent (with good sights almost up there with a Sharp's) Later models, not so much. Best loads for long range are real Black Powder and 500-535 RN lead.

On H&R Handi Rifles. I had some early rifles in 22 Hornet and 30-30, that had very surprisingly good accuracy! Scoped the Hornet was a 1/4" @ 100 and both 30-30's were 1 to 1.5" @ 100. Some were grooved for scopes and some were factory tapped, and some you had to drill & tap. There is a standard Weaver Base too.

Ivan
 
As for price. I think anything over about $250 is too much for a Handi or CVA, but the market has driven the prices up. For some reason since H&R was shut down, folks all of the sudden think those single shots are worth more than a bolt gun. I have seen some listed at over $500. They were $200 guns when they were still in production and so were the CVA when Academy was selling them.

That being said, they are both good guns. I have several Handi's and CVAs and love them all. The CVAs do seem to be incredibly accurate for the value. I have been white-tail hunting with a CVA single shot for about 6 years now.

I do favor the wood stock for a 45-70, adds a little weight and just fits the cartridge better than plastic. Refinishing a stock is a simple process in your garage if it really needs work.

I might offer him $300 and see what he says, then go from there.

Rosewood
 
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steelslaver said:
You could barrel mount a long eye relief scope like used on handguns. If they put up with hand gun recoil they would handle 45-70 recoil
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I suppose, but a $1000.00 replica Trapdoor officer's model and the abomination of it being butchered to mount a blister pack 3X9 pistol scope seems a bit unlikely unless your name really is bubba :eek:
 
Have had a weak spot for single shot rifles for a long time. Went thru a period where I bought a lot of H&R, NEF, CVA rifles. Now have one in 22 mag since my Rugers were collecting dust, so forced my self to get them
out when I wanted to carry a long gun. Know that Remington bought H&R awhile ago and then stopped making them. The price for H&R's is slowly climbing. To me 400 is about 50 dollars high these days for one in good condition. If it is something you want, I say go for it. 300 grain cast bullets are the norm for me in my Encore and Contender and not bad recoil wise.
 
Lonegle57 said:
Know that Remington bought H&R awhile ago and then stopped making them.
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The name/brand is all that is left; the skilled work force is dissipated and the machinery and tooling was scrapped. It doesn't appear anyone thinks they can be made economically enough to be profitable (which should say something about the prices the naysayers seem to think they should cost) and with competition from CVA and Henry single shot availability the Handi-rifle is basically past history. The Henrys are comparatively expensive and I just personally don't care for the CVAs.



I do wish there was a reasonably priced source of new barrels, but as close as they were, a lot of of them needed final fitting to the frames. So a new chambering and/or barrel is now basically a custom gunsmith proposition. Having owned and fired both, I personally find the price difference between an H&R/NEF and a Ruger single shot to be not worth what 'ol Bill's gun brings. But the market does what the market does . . . .
 
CAJUNLAWYER said:
For some reason I got the hankering for an H&R single shot in .45-70. Has anyone owned one of these and if so, are they bearable to shoot?
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In a word YES if you reload or can get reloads. 405 gr. Cast Lead bullet loaded at 1200 - 1300 fps duplicates the original black powder velocity. It will completely punch through a bison at 155 yards. It also performs well out to 600 yards using a Soule Adjustable Tang sight and hooded front sight shot from crosssticks.

CAJUNLAWYER said:
Got one for sale locally with open sights and a 3x9 cheap scope that the guy is asking $400 for. Metal looks good but the stock is all scratched up. Good price? Too much?
Click to expand...

Your sight options are limited.

The biggest problem with this rifle is it doesn’t have a metal tang to mount a tang rear sight on. It can only be screwed to the wood stock. This is not very strong and generally not very satisfactory for the long run.

The 45-70 cartridge doesn’t need optics but in modern times most shooters think their rifles need a scope. I wouldn’t use a el cheapo scope. So consider $400.00 as the base price and be prepared to buy a good quality scope, rings and getting it mounted.
 
WARNING!! Be careful of those H&R Trapdoor replicas!
For some reason they used a two-piece latch that is known to fail under pressure.
The fix is to replace it with an original Trapdoor latch (one-piece). I understand they are interchangeable. (May need a little judicious fitting.)
 
I realize that putting a scope on a trap door is an abomination. I feel the same way about optics on revolvers.

2 things

1 not my gun

2 question was "how?" not should I

I get excellent accuracy from my Trap door carbine. The trigger and sights are the main reason it takes a back seat to my 2 Sharps.
 
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