New Englang Arms breakopen 45-70?
09-18-2004, 07:39 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: NW Ohio , 5 min from Ottawa National / Magee Marsh
Posts: 2,051
RE: New Englang Arms breakopen 45-70?
I have 1. It is a no frills single shot that shoots good,plain looking but well made . I have used it on WT deer and hogs . I also do a lot of plinking with cast bullets . It is rated for Ruger #1 loads , but because of its light weight these loads recoil is stout. Some use it for the long range shooting in cowboy action shoots.
The rifle can be fitted with extra rifle and shot gun barrels.
The rifle can be fitted with extra rifle and shot gun barrels.
09-18-2004, 08:54 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location:
Posts: 1,290
RE: New Englang Arms breakopen 45-70?
On days when I have been forgetfull with heavy loads, big bores will knock your scope into your head. Never happens to me in a stand shooting postion, but sometimes when I am benching.....
Dumb biscuit forgets to stock weld some times!
Just try to get a scope with decent scope relief and try to remember to put your stock to your cheek the same time every time. Some 45 70 loads out there are pretty stout.
Dumb biscuit forgets to stock weld some times!
Just try to get a scope with decent scope relief and try to remember to put your stock to your cheek the same time every time. Some 45 70 loads out there are pretty stout.
09-19-2004, 04:18 PM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wall SD USA & Jamestown ND
Posts: 11,474
RE: New Englang Arms breakopen 45-70?
They are a fine rifle. You can mount a scope on it but you should go with a scope with plenty of eye relief. Most Luepolds have 4 inches which is enough. I have a Luepold M8 4X scope on mine and it never gets me. Another excellent scope would be the Simmons Aetec. It has five inches of eye relief and is tough as hell. They will last many years. My NEF 45-70 will shoot 2 inch groups at 100 yards. I am sure it will do better as I work up loads. A very mild nice load to shoot in the rifle is 13.0 grains of Unique. I don't think I spelled that right but my mind went blank. That behind the 405 grain lead flat nose bullet. Shoots about 1150 fps and is very consistant and accurate. I have five NEF long guns right now.
09-21-2004, 02:02 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Oakland OR USA
Posts: 2,929
RE: New Englang Arms breakopen 45-70?
I have the Buffalo Classic with the 32" barrel and when I started to handload for it I called the Tech @ NEF and he said not to use the Ruger #1 loads in it . The short barrel might be different but I would check first just to be safe before using the Ruger #1 loads . Not a bad rifle for $195. which is what I paid for mine / It came with the peep sights .
09-21-2004, 11:53 AM
#10
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wall SD USA & Jamestown ND
Posts: 11,474
RE: New Englang Arms breakopen 45-70?
Mine is the Handi. It seems short because there is no action between the barrel and the stock. You can add the longer barrel to the handi and a lot of people do that don't like the stock on the BC. If you hand load they say not to surpass the loads listed for the Marlin and Winchester lever guns. There is no need on this earth to load it any hotter as a fellow in Africa shot through two Cape Buffalo with the Marlin Lever gun with the same loads that you can shoot in the Handi Rifle. That would seem to be about as stout a load as one would ever need. He killed both buffalo as the bullet passed through the first buff and clear through the second one as well. A friend of mine killed two American bison with one shot with his Marlin as well. He told the guide that there was a cow behind the bull he was about to shoot at but the guide told him to shoot anyway not believing that it would shoot through the bull. WRONG!!!
