Which caliber is best 40-70 or 40-90

Troll · Post by **Troll** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 1:22 pm

Im a small framed guy 6-0" 175 lbs. So I'm staying away from 45 or 50 caliber. Also the balistic coefficients for 40 appears better with heavy bullets. Out of the following catridges which is better for 500 to 800 yard target shooting:
40-70 SS
40-70 BN
40-90 BN

All opinions and insight are welcome.

Ted Kramer · Post by **Ted Kramer** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 1:58 pm

The only of the three you mention I have any experience with is the 40-70ss and I have used it in gong shoots out to 750 yards and it performed well for me. My rifle has a 1-18" pitch barrel and I use a 415gr bullet and it shot well right from the start so I never tried any heavier or lighter bullets. Some say the 40-90 is a bugger to get to shoot, but then that's what the experts (or as Kenny W. says, "x-spurts") told me about the 40-70ss too. I might add here that in my 12.5lb rifle the recoil from the 40-70ss is very easy to take. Have fun choosing!

Ted K

MLV · Post by **MLV** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 3:53 pm

I've only original and Shiloh rifles chambered for all three. My pick is the .40-70SS, of which I've owned at least six. I have two of them still.

BuckeyeShooter · Post by **BuckeyeShooter** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 4:58 pm

Good question. I asked about the 40-70SS in another post and never got a reply. After reading your book Shooting Buffalo Rifles MLV I was really leaning towards having my third Shiloh chambered for 40-70SS. I want it to be strictly for silhouette and was wondering if that was the way to go. Sounds like it will work.

Josh A. · Post by **Josh A.** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 9:18 pm

Yeah, but can you make your 40-70ss do this?

http://groups.msn.com/BPCR/texassharpsp ... hotoID=515

Josh

AL Rittenhouse · Post by **AL Rittenhouse** » Fri Jan 23, 2004 10:49 pm

Troll
I once owned a 40-90bn and sold the gun to Kenny W. I was never able to get the gun to shoot consistently. I know nothing of the other calibers except to say that a friend of mine owns a 40-70ss and I would like to have one someday myself. It looks like a lot of fun Al.

Troll · Post by **Troll** » Sat Jan 24, 2004 6:34 am

OK... the consensus is the 40-70 SS. So what twist works best for this round?

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » Sun Jan 25, 2004 5:26 pm

Troll,
The 40-70SS can reach out to 1000 yards with 69 grains of 1.5 Swiss. I have seen it done last spring.
The twist in the 40 calibers at Shiloh is 1:16, but you could always inquire about a faster twist. If your shooting is only to 800 yards, then the 1:16 twist will do just fine, unless you have visions of shooting a 450-500 grain bullet.
Keep on hav'n fun!
MikeT