Heading out for NE in a little bit. Will go at least to Dubuque, tonight. Slim
I don't have a Martini-Henry carbine, either ... but this is an approximation of the downloaded carbine cartridge, which is much more pleasant to shoot in the rifle than the full rifle load ...and also happens to comply with the GAF bullet weight and velocity limits for rifles of .50 caliber or less ... If you will be at the GAF Muster, by any chance, look me up and I can let you compare shooting this "carbine load" with the full-spec rifle load, as i will have a number of the latter along for the long-range rifle event.(As you may be aware, the original U.S. .45-70 military cartridges were produced in both a "rifle load" with a 500 grain bullet and a "carbine load" with the 405 grain bullet, but the heavier bullet load was not pleasnt to shoot even in the rifles, and the load was fairly soon standardized with the lighter bullet ...)
Is it un-manly to admit that I wish the carbine load for a .45-70 were even lighter? Because I wish that every time I shoot a carbine.
Not if you admit you are a worn out old phart.Don't waterfowl hunt anymore and was thinking the other day I ought to give my H&R 10 gauge to my nephew.Dang, used to load a couple boxes of 8's and go shoot targets with it, really poofs them but do I want to abuse myself that bad anymore?
I have no problem sharing my experiences and methods ... I will turn 70 this fall, so gotta pass on the lore before it is too late!
I ain't worn out yet! Dagnabit! Close but not yet!
My 50/70 are lite, 48 grains APP, 385 grain bullet.Brian
Extry lite load for my Extry short trapdoor: A Big Lube PRS 260 grain bullet, (drops .457"), a .460 1/2" Circle Fly wad, and 45 grains FFG.
More like a "rat fart" really.