Henry Rifle Forums

Finally got to shoot my 45-70 X-rifle with some different powders. At 50 meters with a Hornady 300 grain XTP Alliant 2400 put 5 shots into 1.8 inches. This load was at the low end of the lever gun range in a old Lymans manual 45th edition. It was the peak of the trapdoor range. IMR 4227 printed a 5 shot group of 1.25 inches. This was a midrange Trapdoor level powder charge according to the Hornady manual. Also a 300 Grain Hornady XTP. AA5744 put 6 shots into .802 inches with a midrange Trapdoor level load.
Did some longer range work with IMR4895 and AA5744 but was not satisfied with my bench setup and the groups had some flyers that could be caused by that. Even the trapdoor level loads of IMR4895 had considerable recoil from the bench.

All your shots would have put meat on the table. Even out to 200 yards.

Just an update on the 45-70x rifle. This gun can shoot. It shoots better than I anticipated. I think the very good trigger pull has a lot to do with it. With loads of AA5744 and a 300 gr Hornady I have shot some 1 inch groups and better at 100 Meters. Shot a 3 shot .7012 MOA group yesterday. And shot a 3 shot.8959 MOA group today,. They were the only groups I actually tried to shoot at 100 meters. Is it a true MOA gun. I dont know If I would call it that. BUt it shoots that bullet and powder combo very well. At 50 meters the gun just stacks them with most any load Ive tried with AA5744 and this bullet. Today I was just trying to get my windage an elevation correct for this load because I upped the charge a bit. It is over the trapdoor power level, Its at the very bottom of the Marlin level in most manuals. It is very comfortable to shoot out of that rifle. I could shoot it all day long. Kicks less than my inline muzzleloader. Im suspecting its about a 1600fps load. But have not chronographed it.
Our firearms whitetail season opens this Saturday. Hope to put it to use.

That is some great shooting with the .45-70! How are you measuring the groupings so precisely to the tenth of a thousandth?

Measure outside of the bullet holes with my reloading calipers. Subtract .458 bullet size. Then I plug it into a MOA calculator. http://www.indecorous.com/bullseye/moacalc.html

I had another web site calculator saved but I cant find it.

Here is another calculator.....https://ontargetshooting.com