45-70 or 40-65 and why?

[Kurt]

Heck Don I have a bunch of Ridgid pipe wrenches from 12" to 36" that will unscrew and screw a new barrel on a 77 action very easy.

[Don McDowell]

Yeh I know a "gunsmith" that got a new crescent wrench and vice grips from Harbor Freight.

[jackrabbit]

However it happened, from here it looks like Heaven intervened on your behalf.

That is a fact! This blind, stumbling hog found the best acorn in the whole forest!!

Divine intervention is the only logical explanation.

[Trigger1212]

Ok Boys, Focus, FOCUS!

Back on task, 45-70 or 40-65 and W-H-Y...

W

[stevewhr]

Trigger, it seems a shame to limit yourself to just one cartridge/rifle. No law on the books that says you can't have more than one. The 45-70 is just easy to operate, the 40-65 is too. For ranges beyond say 600 yards, the .45 probably has an edge. There is no easy answer and no really wrong answer. Now as to Cody, he married WAY over his head. He and his prove there really is a God.

[Don McDowell]

40-65, because you already have a 45-70, and you apparently don't want a real sharps cartridge the 40-70 ...

Not going to bring up just how the guardian angels really had their eye on Cody, and how far above his paygrade he ended up marrying..

[Trigger1212]

Gents,

I'm getting some answers stating get an x but the suggestions are not being backed up by reasons as to why you would choose that caliber. As stated at the beginning I'm looking at the 45-70 or the 40-65 Winchester. While others may be historically/period/or Sharps "correct", ain't interested! I'm just beginning this ride, keeping it simple as possible and the 45-70 and 40-65 are my self-imposed options.

Having said that I thought I would use the search function on the site to pull up info on the 40-65. Could not do it as it kept saying the "numbers 40 and 65 are too common, please add words. Tried 40-65 Winchester, 40-65 loads etc., nothing worked. The system breaks down the numbers and ignores the hyphen so it only sees the number 40 and 65, not 40-65. Anyone have suggestions as to how to do a meaningful search on the 40-65 on this site?

Thanks!

Wade

[semtav]

Gents,

The system breaks down the numbers and ignores the hyphen so it only sees the number 40 and 65, not 40-65. Anyone have suggestions as to how to do a meaningful search on the 40-65 on this site?

Thanks!

Wade

Go to Yahoo, type in : shiloh rifle forums 40-65

[John Bly]

I have both calibers in Shiloh 1874 rifles. My go to rifle for silhouette is the 40/65. My reasons are that it uses less lead, less powder and has less recoil and it shoots well. I shot my best 40 shot score with the 45/70 and my best 60 shot score with the 40/65. I have won matches with each so both rifles are competitive. The 40/65 weighs 11 lbs and the 45/70 weighs 12 lbs. I have a new 45/70 that is just over 11 lbs that I have not shot in competition yet. Who knows it may be the best of the lot. I ordered the 40/65 just the way I wanted it. The other two were bought as previously owned rifles. That may be one of the reasons it is my favorite but not the sole reason. Both calibers were easy to get shooting well.

I have shot the 45/70 in long range up to 1000 yards but never the 40/65 at that distance. I got beat by a 40/65 so they can be used successfully at 1000 yards. The 40/65 does well at mid-range. I have won with it at mid range and I have a few 2nd place finishes.

I say go for the 40/65. Yes, you'll need to buy molds, dies, brass, etc with the 40/65 but the cost is little compared to the cost of the rifle. Get a Brooks or BACO mold with a reduced front band, Starline brass, a Lyman neck sizing die and a SAECO competition seating die and you'll be making good ammo right from the start.

[Hanz]

Gents,

The system breaks down the numbers and ignores the hyphen so it only sees the number 40 and 65, not 40-65. Anyone have suggestions as to how to do a meaningful search on the 40-65 on this site?

Thanks!

Wade

Go to Yahoo, type in : shiloh rifle forums 40-65

Yes, and here's a link to Google's results for "shiloh rifle forums 40-65":

https://www.google.com/search?num=20&ne ... gPGdcWqTW4

[LazyM]

Here's my take...

When I was looking at starting this game, I, too, looked at the various calibers and configurations out there. I believed then, and it continues to hold true to date, that I would only purchase one rifle for this game. There exists only so much financial resources! I chose the 45-70. Here is why...

1) it is of sufficient caliber and case capacity to shoot out to 1000 yards or so. This was important as I was shooting at Alliance, NE and the bear target is 960 yards (if I remember correctly)

2) there is a ton of loading information, shooting results, etc. on this forum as well as other places for the 45-70. Maybe more so than any other caliber? maybe?

3) reloading equipment (dies, etc.) were readily available for this cartridge.

These were the main reasons I went with the 45-70. Never regretted it. One additional item of thought is the fact that the 45-70 is also still used in production rifles (Ruger, etc.) and you could always use your reloading equipment should you go that route. In the context we're talking here, not sure this has much weight, but it's there.

As always...just my 2 cents.

B.

[hepburn]

Wade: Where are you located ? Are you aware of the many places to shoot here in MI ? There is MR at Cadillac, LR at Camp Grayling and silhouette at Alma. You can find contacts & schedules on the website michrpa.org under competitions & results. Please consider visiting Alma as a place to start your quest.
If you want to keep it simple there is only 1 answer--45/70 It will do it all---remember it was developed for the US Army. You are already set up--all that is needed is more brass. Do not know what moulds you have but it could be done with just 2 Lymans ---the 385 and 500 govt style. They were the better of their day and still work. You could also select the Postell 530 gr. That 500 grain may not look sexy but is a very stable and accurate design. I have never found rifle that didn't like it with 65 gr. 3F. With that load it will shoot through a Buffalo. For hunting or longer ranges there is no substitute for bullet weight. You CAN load a 45/70 down by using lighter bullet. The 385 govt works well for chickens & pigs --use 500 gr for everything else. Yes the 40/65 works well for most use but hunting & LR the 45/70 has stood the test of time because it WORKS !
I would order the 77 with a round 30" barrel in standard 45/70 chamber. (I will shoot PP if you decide later) The 30' will balance well for offhand and still give good sight radius. Since you also want to hunt --I would go with single trigger . Nothing wrong with good single---use extra cost for something else.
Get the 45/70 and it will be your ONE gun that does it all. my 3 cents ----Ron Walters

[hepburnman]

I have both calibers; a Hepburn in 45-70 and a Highwall in 40-65. I have had very good results with both in BPCRS. I switched to the 40-65 because I was developing a flinch with the 45-70. At the end of a match with the 45 I would feel beat up even using a shoulder pad (steel butt plate). Shooting the 45 off-hand with the shoulder pad felt awkward because of the increased LOP and would then not use the pad and suffer the shoulder soreness. If you are purchasing a new rifle in 45 maybe reduce the LOP to compensate for the use of the pad or get it with a recoil pad installed. I can shoot a 60 shot match with the 40-65 (has installed recoil pad) and feel like I haven't shot a match at all. With the reduced-band Money or other bullets you can easily get 70 gr of powder in a case for good HP. Just my opinion.

[SSShooter]

Get the 45/70 and it will be your ONE gun that does it all. my 3 cents ----Ron Walters

Ron. Have you told Barb all this?

The 40-65 will do everything that a 45-70 will do and leave you feeling better after its all over. Especially a 60-shot match (or several in a row, like Raton - the real 'iron-man' award should go to the shooter with the highest score after its all over when shooting a 45-90 or larger - perhaps an 'iron shoulder' award would be more appropriate). That said, get a 38-50 and save another $100/annum on loading supplies and even less recoil.

[Kurt]

Now Glenn you just leave Barb be. Barb does just fine with what ever she is doing and using
Kurt