Plinking tonight ... With a 45/70 revolver

Friends had us in for dinner tonight. Usually these get togethers include a little plinking. Tonight we got to try out my friend's Magnum Research 45/70 revolver.

Ammo for this huge pistol really isn't appropriate for plinking given its cost so we all got one shot at least.

What a beast of a pistol! The two photos below are of my own big hands holding the ammo and the revolver.

Here's my 17yo behind the trigger:

 

That looks like.......fun.

 

Very cool.
I was waiting for a scope cut at the least, but recoil looked manageable. Kudos to your son.

 

From left, .30-06, .45-70, and .50-90 Sharps

Thanks. My son is 6 foot tall, 230lbs. He has shot my 9mm pistols many times but nothing this big.

It's a big gun but recoil is manageable due to the weight of the gun and long barrel.

Here's my oldest son just checking out the eye relief on the scope. It gives a good idea of the barrel length.

 

Velocities and muzzle energy from various loads in the ten inch barrel:

.45/70, 10-Inch Barrel

1. 300 grain Federal Sierra Classic, average 1507 FPS and muzzle energy 1513 FT/LBS
2. 300 grain Winchester Super X, average 1405 FPS and muzzle energy 1315 FT/LBS
3. 405 grain PMC, average 1056 FPS and muzzle energy 1003 FT/LBS

 

Plinking with a monster like that sounds like fun. You could probably do well with the scope at 50+yards. Steady hands??

 

We were resting the butt of the pistol on a fence post when we actually shot it. My friend says he wouldn't hesitate to take a deer with it out to 150 yards. It certainly has the muzzle velocity and energy to pull it off.

 

Wow, I enjoy shooting a 45/70 rifle but I bet in a handgun that packs one heck of a wallop!

 

When I had my .454 Casull I was able to plink with it using .45 LC through it.

.454 300 gr hornady xtp factory ammo fps 1650 ftlbs 1813

 

Looked like fun times with the hand cannon.

 

Looks like good times. I have a single shot Handi Rifle and a Marlin 1895 and they are a blast to shoot. I like the Handi Rifle a lot. I'm not so sure it'd be fun to shoot too many 45/70 rounds through a revolver.

 

There is even a derringer in 45/70.

 

I'd try it once. But my .38 der one killed my hands and I downloaded the rounds to min charge.

 

I think it would be safe to say that there are very few 45/70 derringers that have been shot more than once by anybody.