Classic single shot day

[North Country Gal]

While hubby was annihilating 50 yard targets with his CZ 453V in 22 LR, I was busy with a couple of fine classic single shots, my favorite type of rifle.

First was my newly acquired Ruger No. 3 in 45-70.


This was my first outing with the newly acquired Ruger, so just wanted to get the Ruger sighted in after having added a red dot and an add-on leather recoil pad. The No. 3 in 45-70 is notorious for its recoil, thanks to its light 6 pound weight, so today I started with the classic first tier power loads with the Remington Core Lokt 405 grainers. Low tier these 405 grain loads may be, but keep in mind, this 45-70 power level was used in the market hunting days by buffalo hunters and later by big game hunters to also take bear, elk and moose. Gotta respect that.

1330 fps


After bore sighting the red dot to be approximately in at 50 yards and then a few shots to adjust, I went to 3" bulls to fine tune. Recoil was there, but not unpleasant. Just a hard push, but no sting or slap. My goal with the red dot setup on the No.3 was to be able to keep all shots in a 3" bull at 50 yards, so looks like this one is a keeper.


I had a few Remington 405s left, so stayed sitting, but took a few shots without using the rest. Love this rifle for offhand work. Points beautifully.


Just happened to have a few of the Hornady 325 grain FTX lever loads, so set the Ruger back on the rest to try one. These FTX are full power 45-70 lever gun hunting loads so I was expecting more recoil but ... whoa! Forgot to anchor the gun as hard as I should have on the rest. Recoil flipped the front end right off the rest and ... ouch. Okay, since I'm just a range rat these days, I'll stay with tier 1 loads in this gun. That was the plan from the beginning.

2050 fps


So bottom line for the Ruger No. 3 in 45-70? Absolute joy to shoot as long as I stay with the right 45-70 loads. Wonderful classic single shot.



Next up, a much, much milder shooter with my beautiful Low Wall Classic 22 LR.


Not the best lighting conditions given shade on the target and getting a bit tired after the workout with the 45-70, so not even close to what I've done with this gun in the past. Still decent using CCI SV, though, and always, always fun with this gun.


To my eyes, nothing more lovely than a classic single shot rifle. Hope you enjoyed this.

[Shakey Jake]

Good shootin' as always!
Jake

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, Jake.

Forgot to mention, the recoil with that shot with the Honorary FTX was actually severe enough to pull the barrel band on the stock out of position and off the stock. I only had it on a little tight for the sake of accuracy, but wow.

[daytime dave]

Excellent reports and shooting on those two NCG. I've never shot a 45/70 and probably won't. It seems like a potent rifle for sure.

[BigAl52]

Im impressed that you take on this caliber and shoot it very well. Im not there anymore and probably won’t be again. But I do love Single Shots. I enjoy shooting my Henry SS all the time. It’s easy on the recoil and the brass comes out in the hand.

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, guys. Yeah, the 45-70 can be a nasty thumper, but it doesn't have to be. Just stay with the power level that is comfortable for you. One of things I like about shooting the 45-70 or, for that matter, the 45 Colt is that it's like stepping into a time machine. You just can't beat either cartridge of history and tradition.

Ditto on the way brass just drops in the hand with a single shot. The Ruger single shots actually come from the factory with an ejector that is adjustable for power, but the whole ejector unit can be removed so that you have just a standard extractor. Otherwise, that ejector unit can throw brass into the next county. I always remove the ejector on Ruger single shots.

[220]

Nice shooting
The leverevolution certainly get your attention. I have a box here with 15 in it one 3 shot group and a couple of bystanders wanted a shot when I got the rifle a dozen years ago
It was purchased to shoot and hunt with cast and that is all it has fired since.
You can certainly taylor loads to just about any power and recoil level. My favourite to shoot are blackpowder loads a massive boom lots of smoke and just a very gentle push

[graywolf]

As always, nice shooting. Don't think I've ever seen a 45-70 much less shoot one. What kind of recoil does it have to say something like a 30-06? Only thing I've kept to shoot now is .22 and 410.

[North Country Gal]

Good question on the 45-70 recoil or for that matter, big bores in general compared to faster modern cartridges with lighter bullets. It's very subjective, of course, but I notice a difference. Oh, you can do all the math and give it numbers, but nothing beats actual hands on experience with a wide variety of guns and cartridges. In my experience, it's mostly bullet weight that makes the difference between say a 30-06 and a 45-70 or other big bore, though velocity also part of the equation, of course.

With big bones and those big heavy bullets, I notice more of a hard push and smack against my shoulder. I get the feeling that I've just sent a big chunk of lead downrange. My whole body rolls with the recoil, all the way down to my feet with the really big stuff. Seems like the recoil pulse goes on forever. With these cartridges, I like to lean forward to counteract that big push.

With something like a 30-06 or one of the modern high velocity magnums, it's a sharper thing, more of a sudden slap with more torquing (twisting). It's very fast and quick, so you better be in a proper shooting position with the right hold or you're going to get hurt. With these cartridges, I'm more likely to get stung and bruised if my head is out of position on the stock or my hold is somehow faulty. Since these cartridges typically run at much higher pressures, concussion becomes more a part of the experience.

That's my take on it Can't say I get along with one type any better than the other. The real challenge of shooting guns with heavy recoil is more than just being careful not to develop a flinch, though that is very important. The real challenge is mental toughness, that being concentrating on all the fundamentals, especially developing good follow through concentration when that shot goes off and the recoil slams you. If you're thinking recoil during any part of the shot sequence, you're going to miss. No shortcuts, here. You gotta get out and shoot the big stuff enough to lean how to deal with the recoil and still be accurate and, make no mistake, some of these hard, nasty kicking cartridges are inherently very accurate, but you'll never get that accuracy until you learn how to manage the recoil. I've got the scars to prove it.

Whew! Sorry about the long post.

[PBSnooker]

I try to shoot weekly sub-gauge sporting clays I'll shoot 12ga when I have to but not as enjoyable. I have a Ruger bolt 22wmr dialed in (100 yards) I like to shoot. It doesn't kick my @ss and is affordable.

[BrokenolMarine]

In my younger years, I'd shoot anything... I shot a custom 50 cal before the barretts were around. It was NOT pleasant but I shot it. Once. Built by a custom gunsmith in Hawaii, who specialised in ultra lightweight foam injected fiberglass stocks for Mountain Rifles. Everything HE built had some recoil. He shipped a lot of custom stocks to the Mountain states for Big Game hunters.

These days, after surgery on both shoulders due to my career(s)... I don't have any need/desire to shoot heavy recoiling calibers.
But, I have to say that BOTH of those rifles are beautiful. I have always loved the look of the Ruger design. Some of them have amazing wood in the stocks.



And... Nice shooting, your off days beat my ON days for long guns....

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, Marine. I'm still in good enough shape to keep shooting the heavy stuff, but just a matter of time before shooting those guns is over for me, too. Guess I'm trying to keep shooting the heavy kickers while I still can.

And I do love the Ruger single shots, too. Yeah, they have some quirks, but they are so typical Ruger as far as being overbuilt and super dependable once you get them tuned in, ya gotta love 'em. I also appreciate the faster lock time compared to traditional falling block single shots with exposed hammers. The No.1 B and V series are monstrously heavy guns and best snot from a rest, but some of the A and S series guns are wonderful to carry and point. My favorite to carry and point, though, is the full stock "I" (International) series, but very, very hard to find used. Almost never see one. Closest thing is the No. 3. That's why I bought it.

[fortyshooter]

A big BRAVO for shooting those FTX 325 loads NCG!!!!! I have shot those in my 1895 Marlin which is not a heavy rifle and they give me a headache sometimes. Looks like a very good shooter with the "mild" 45-70 ammo. I have more 405 gr. ammo loaded with 13 gr. Unique than the other hot stuff.

[220]

Recoil with the 45/70 can be mild to wild.
With +P and handloads at the top end of the range with heavier projectiles it is significantly more than 30/06 and more than even the heaviest field loads in a 12ga.
With loads duplicating the original loadings and safe in trapdoor rifles it is similar to 30/06.
Drop the projectile weight back to around 300gr and velocity around 1300fps and it is similar to 30/30, you can spend all day shooting off a bench or plinking and not really notice it.
Black powder loads are different again, while recoil can still be significant to me it feels like a big gentle push not the slap or punch you get from most bigger rifles.

I dont like recoil but really enjoy the challenge of shooting bigger rifles well. The satisfaction when you are rewarded with a lovely cloverleaf group from the 45/70 or sub 1" group from a 375H&H at 100y is much more than with most rifles. It is hard work to continually do everything right and gently squeeze the trigger when you know you are going to be thumped. When I am shooting full house loads through any of my big stuff off a bench I limit myself to 20 shots max in a day. Any more than that and I find I just dont have the mental strength to do it well and I will start flinching and jerking the trigger.

[North Country Gal]

Good points. Same experience for me on being careful not to shoot too many rounds of the big stuff so as not to get tired and develop a flinch, not to mention getting smacked hard by getting sloppy with my hold. Agree completely about the satisfaction that comes from getting a good group from the hard kickers.

[Luv the lever]

Nice shooting! I have friends that won't touch those Hornady Lever 45-70 rounds. Big guys! Impressive.

[BrokenolMarine]

Thanks, Marine. I'm still in good enough shape to keep shooting the heavy stuff, but just a matter of time before shooting those guns is over for me, too. Guess I'm trying to keep shooting the heavy kickers while I still can.

And I do love the Ruger single shots, too. Yeah, they have some quirks, but they are so typical Ruger as far as being overbuilt and super dependable once you get them tuned in, ya gotta love 'em. I also appreciate the faster lock time compared to traditional falling block single shots with exposed hammers. The No.1 B and V series are monstrously heavy guns and best snot from a rest, but some of the A and S series guns are wonderful to carry and point. My favorite to carry and point, though, is the full stock "I" (International) series, but very, very hard to find used. Almost never see one. Closest thing is the No. 3. That's why I bought it.

I don't know much about the Ruger Rifles other than owning a couple back in the 70s and early 80s. I had a nice GB Model Mini 14, and a very accurate Bolt Action Scoped 22-250. Both got sold or traded as my duty stations and needs changed. Or needs changed as my duty stations changed. With Ammo availability and my physical ability both changing these days, my Bucket List of firearms for my collection has dwindled down to just a few... the Ruger #1 has been on the list for a long time. I have wanted that one in 223/556 with the heavy barrel if i could find it for a long time. The Colt Gold Cup National Match in 45ACP is still on the list. Stainless is preferred. Sheesh...

I am not out scouring the shops for these guns. I'll come across them or I won't. I found the Birdshead 357... by sheer luck.
I dropped the M1A and the M1 Garand because of Ammo.
And I dropped the Single Action Colt because the prices have just gotten too high....

I actually planned to buy a Henry 45-70... but ammo and recoil took that off the list.

Again, beautiful Single shots...

Another thing I always point out with single shots...
You shoot, take the gun down and check the target, admire your shot, or grumble and make your adjustments. You eject the spent case and reload, settle back in and get your sight picture and sqeeeeeeze off the shot and .... take the gun down and check the target. Repeat.
A lot slower than any repeater... you can milk an afternoon from a box of ammo.

When teaching, it's easier to keep the students shooting slower. I love the single shots. All my kids started with a single shot rifle and with a Ruger semi-auto loaded with ONE round at a time.

[North Country Gal]

You definitely have the single shot gene, same as me. I'll keep an eye out for a No. 1 in 223 with a heavy barrel. That would be the No.1 V, though the No. 1 B is still plenty heavy for bench work. I had a 1B in 243 that was very accurate, but all I could use it for was bench shooting because of the weight and even then it was too much to deal with for my liking. Ended up selling it because I wanted something more versatile that I could use away from the bench. My No.3 sure qualifies in that way.

[Sir Henry]

I just read your post about putting the red dot on it. When I read it I thought you had made a range report so I searched this post out. It’s nice to know the full story.

https://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=15237

[North Country Gal]

Thanks, Gene. That Skinner dovetail red dot mount has been a life saver for me on several rifles over the years that had no option for a scope or red dot to be mounted. There are so many great vintage rifles out there, but let;'s face it, the sights on some of them are pretty bad.