doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Ruger #3

Just got alike new #3 in 45/70.What might be a nice rechamber for this gun to make it different than all the rest.Also my understanding that the #1 butt stock is a quick swap on a #3.

Will,

The of all guns, the Ruger's will take truly hot 45-70 reloads. Built like a tank in that regard. "To stand out" is tough. You can just ream the chamber and come up with quite a few. Here is one possible list...
45-90
45-110
45-120
450 Ackley Magnum
450 Alaskan
450 Marlin
450 Nitro Express
450 Smith
450 Watts Magnum
457 WWG Magnum
458 Lott
458 Winchester
458 SOCOM
458x1-1/2" Barnes
458x2" American
450 Ackley Magnum
450 Assegai
450 Number 2 Nitro Express
450 Rigby Rimless
450 Black Powder Express
450 Nitro Express
450 Nitro Express 3-1/4"
460 Weatherby
577-450 Martini-Henry

Personally, I would go for the 450 Nitro Exp. 3 1/4". Not for any particular reason except it is such a "traditional" big game round.

Pete

Will,

I suggest that the .45-70 is quite versatile already. It can be shot bone-crunching heavy, or tin-can plinker mild. Brass is readily available and reasonably priced. There is a wide selection of bullets, both cast and jacketed. Especially, the cast ones are great fun, economical, and in some designs and alloys can shoot thru most biological entities on this planet.

I would suggest shooting it a bit with the available load spectrum, before cutting steel. I like 'exotic' or 'quixotic' calibers as well as anyone. However, I have found that many of those virtues and rewards looked for in off the beaten road cartridges were already extant in everyday stuff, off the shelf.
That's my own anti rifle-loonie thesis, if you will.;~`)

and, yes, last I checked, No 1 butts fit No 3's. Much more comfortable to shoot, too. Whup some hottter commecial loadings from Buffalo Bore thru that carbine stocked firearm, and you'll note the diff, right off. In fact, in .45-70 loads, Ireckon you can get all the Amusement park shoulder ride that anyone would want -- LOL ;~`)

Happy shooting, Amigo Will.

John

Thanks folks.John I love the 45/70 and itended up being my bear gun and round in Alaska in a Marlin L/A. Used 350gn. Hornady round nose at 1880 fps. Gave the gun and all the ammo and reloader to a dear friend from the forum.
Pete I will look into the the 450 nitro express and Alaskan round.At 60 I'm not sure my picking up and moveing days are over and I'm thinking Sitka just might be a nice place to live for a few years.

The No. 3 is a very nice rifle but a .45-70 in a Ruger No. 3 will kick the shit out of you, and it would be even worse with those on Pete's list. A friend, who is 6'6", had one and the recoil was so heavy that he sold it.
The No. 1 stock will fit but the lever clearance at the pistol grip is tight.

Nothing wrong with a .45-70, but it needs to be in a heavier gun.

I have one in .30-40 Krag that is one sweet shooting little carbine.

Don I'm sure its a trumper. I shot one of the American Arms deringers from Waco in 45/70 once.Luckly I was much younger and still had my cow milking grip or who knows where it might have flown to.I'm thinking I wil for now just shoot the 45/70 Hornady L/A ammo.

I have had 3 #3's...30/40 45/70 and 223. They are good guns. I tried to load the 45/70 super heavy, it Broke 2 stocks, got a nasty from Ruger saying no no we wont fix it agin...They DO kick the crap out of you with heavy loads.....I have killed my last 3 elk with a 45/70 2 with a Sharps and one with a Marlin LA..Love that cartridge........Off on Friday morning to shoot one more in Colorado..

You should try the .30-40 on your Elk hunt. It will thump an Elk with the best of cartridges if you do your part.

With all the new rounds invented in the last 100 years we see the 100+ year old rounds still can take any game to be found in the world.

Amigo, screw on a .375 barrel 24" long with either 1x12 or 1x14 twist and have it chambered for the 375 nitro express 2.5 cartridge
with the rim. I think you can rework the hornady 405 winchester brass by cutting it down to 2 1/2". Can shoot a 270 grain bullet at 1900feet per second. Will definitely be different, try and locate one of the winchester rear barrel mounted sights like they installed on the .375 and 458 caliber rifles. Course if you are plinking you could use the speer 235 grain bullet or since its a .375 rifle cast your own bullets with weights up to 300grains and have fun. I have/had a ruger #3 in 45/70 that I had converted to a cast bullet rifle in 30-30 wcf. Way to heavy for hunting but its fun at the range. Ix14 twist should be able to handle the 300 grain bullest and should be a good stopper. Fairly low pressure about 31,000 or in that area. Brass should last. Frank