1874 Military 50-70

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Cabinfever35
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1874 Military 50-70

Post by Cabinfever35 »

Thinking of ordering the military 1874 in 50-70. What does all think :idea: Has anyone had one made :?:
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Dennis Armistead
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Dennis Armistead »

Welcome to the forum. Are you talking about the Military Carbine model? I do have a 74' "sporting rifle" in 50-70 and it's my all time favorite for hunting.
Dennis
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Eric Johanen
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Eric Johanen »

I have had a military rifle in 50-70 for years and it is my favorite hunting rifle. It is very accurate with proper loads and I really love the sling on it. Keeps hands free when dragging out a deer. My good friend has a original rifle and we have shot it a few times. It is in excellent condition with a great bore. His dad picked it up back in the 1950"s. My Shiloh is a accurate reproduction with a 1X36 inch twist. The only change I've made is to shorten the stock to match the original at 13&7/8 inches. My gunsmith did the work and one can not tell it from the factory job. Much easier to shoulder when wearing hunting clothes. I use a Lawrence open rear with the block steel front. All that is needed in our northern woods. A great choice for a hunting rifle. If you want one place the order, you will not be disappointed!
George Babits
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by George Babits »

I have a 50-70 Infantry Rifle too and really like it although I've never hunted with it. Mine is a Farmngdale production with the slow twist. I drilled and tapped the tang for a MVA sight. Shoots great with the Lyman 515141 and 67 grains of FFg.

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Amigo
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Amigo »

If I were to buy one I would go with the 24inch barrel length and the shotgun style butt with the checkered steel butt plate.The shotgun butt would help with recoil and the 24 inch barrel would give a little better sighting plain .I think that would make an ideal hunting carbine ,I was thinking on doing a 1863 carbine that way
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Amigo
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Amigo »

If I were to buy one I would go with the 24inch barrel length and the shotgun style butt with the checkered steel butt plate.The shotgun butt would help with recoil and the 24 inch barrel would give a little better sighting plain .I think that would make an ideal hunting carbine ,I was thinking on doing a 1863 carbine that way
Always aim to be careful and always be careful
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bobw
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by bobw »

I'd do the rifle in 45-70 or 50-70 but the carbine only 50-70. Bobw
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Cabinfever35
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Cabinfever35 »

Hi guys thanks for reply’s back. Yes the 1874 Military carbine is the one I’m interested in. I was thinking the 22” barrel in the 50-70 Pack Harden metal finish no patch box and no saddle bar and ring. But extra fancy wood. I don’t know what twist rate to get and I know that it is what bullet I choose to load for it. That’s my second ?? Mold selection for it. I want this rifle to be a Elk hunting rifle and just go out and have fun with. When I was a kid my father took me and family to Ft. Laramie Wy. for there annual 4th of July celebration we went through the whole sight. We went to an officers quarters there was a rack of carbines all standing vertically I ask what kind of guns are those and the curator said 50-70 government. Ever since I wanted one. So 50 years later here I am asking Santa ( aka the wife ) for one. :D

Thanks Bart
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bobw
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by bobw »

1 in 36 twist for originalweight bullets of around 450 grains . Lyman makes the #515141 grease groove mold to replicate that. For what it's worth I would stick to std grade wood for a military carbine. Bobw
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Dennis Armistead
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Dennis Armistead »

I would go with the 1-36" twist also. I have the Lyman 515141 mould but couldn't get it to work out to well in my Shiloh chamber. My mould drops them at .512 and I couldn't get them to chamber without sizing them down to .510 which was deforming the nose on my 40:1 lead. I tried the RCBS 50-515 mould, sized them to .510 and had great results, I also like the wider meplat of the RCBS bullet. I did have to reduce my powder to 60 gr's. but for a hunting round out to 200 yards that's plenty of pass through power on Elk or whatever in North America. I also am a fan of plain wood. Lighter and stronger.
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Luke
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Luke »

Slow twist, standard wood, pack harden action. Just like they came out of Hartford in 74.
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Luke
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Luke »

And this is an off hand gun, get the military butt.
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Cabinfever35
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Cabinfever35 »

Great advice guys thanks. I will order 1:36” twist with standard grade wood. The money that is saved can be spent on molds, dies and brass. Military buttplate I like but the Traditional steel might lessen the recoil some one thinks. :)


Bart
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Dennis Armistead
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Dennis Armistead »

Bart, for what it's worth, I have two hunting rifles one with the shot gun butt and one with the military butt and for ease of shooting and handling the military butt is the way to go. Recoil of the 50-70 is mild with standard loads that it was designed for. My rifle has the patch box and sling ring which in my opinion is the classic design of the military style carbine. But you should get what you want.
Dennis
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Luke
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Re: 1874 Military 50-70

Post by Luke »

For the kind of shooting you'll do with a .50-70 carbine the Military butt (IMHO) looks right, feels right, carry's right. I shoot a .50-70 carbine in combat matchs, some 20 rounds rapid fire off hand, and find the military butt quite comfortable.

I also have a .50-70 business rifle with the steel shotgun butt, and for target work off sticks or prone it's better, but for off hand shooting much prefer the military carbine. The .50-70-450 also has a relatively gentle recoil impulse. It's a great combination for a field gun.
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