Ruger Forum

duck325 · June 3rd, 2012, 07:12 AM

I am craveing a #3 in 45-70, but I read alot about poor accuracy inherent of this model. I realize that each individual firearm has its own degree of accuracy. I wonder what kind of accuracy I can really expect from a box stock #3.

BlkHawk73 · June 3rd, 2012, 07:21 AM

All you need is "minute-of-game".

duck325 · June 3rd, 2012, 07:28 AM

I sincerly agree. But if the rifle in my hands is a #3 in 45-70 and my game is say a gopher thats been digging holes under the footing of my barn. And say I'm a hundred yards away, and my aim is true. Should I expect to hit that gopher on every shot?

four70nitro · June 3rd, 2012, 07:51 AM

The No.3's I've owned and shot were consistent 1-3 inch groups at 100 yards depending on the load used and the nut behind the trigger....

I don't know if you'd hit the gopher every shot or not, but you'd be close enough to scare him into moving on to greener pastures

four70nitro · June 3rd, 2012, 07:53 AM

That said - the No.1/3 will never be competitive in the benchrest game, but they weren't designed to be.....

BlkHawk73 · June 3rd, 2012, 07:57 AM

I agree with nitro. It's a fine gun for what it's intended to be. Now for a gopher at 100yds, I'd be thinking there's much more suitable rifles.

duck325 · June 3rd, 2012, 11:48 AM

Dont get me wrong, I would not be buying a 45-70 of any kind to routinley hunt small varmints, but I do expect to hit what I correctley aim at. I am just trying to decide if the #3 in 45-70 has the type of accuracy I can count on in a pinch. It would be used at 150 yards or closer on deer, moose, bear and the occasional gopher.

Frank V · June 3rd, 2012, 12:04 PM

I used to have a #3 in .30-30 Krag. It would consistantly shoot 1" groups @100yds off the bench. I did remove the front barrel band & that helped the consistancy of the group. I also had one in .223, that shot under an inch consistantly. I think it'll shoot well. As with almost all rifles it may take some playing around with loads to discover what it really likes, but that's part of the fun of shooting.

I wouldn't worry a great deal about the accuracy! I think the #3 is an accurate rifle The recoil might be heavy though, I've shot the .45-70 in the #1 & it's not that bad, but in the lighter #3 & with the drop in their stocks, it might be heavy with heavy loads.
Good luck, I think you'll like the #3.
Frank

Hans13 · June 3rd, 2012, 12:37 PM

I'm fairly certain that it was a Guns & Ammo magazine article that I read on the 45-70 that you can actually load rounds for squirrel. It should work for those pesky gophers too haha. It was something along the lines of a .45 ball for black powder with a (yes 1) grain of Unique. Don't quote me on this. I don't reload so I have no experience with this load.
Myself I just put a garden hose up to their hole turn it on full-blast and wait with a ball bat for gophers.

North country gal · June 3rd, 2012, 04:41 PM

I've always wanted one of those, but have had several people who have shot them tell me that the No3 in 45-70 is a nasty kicker, thanks to its light weight, curved steel butt plate and carbine stock. I have not shot one, though, so can't say this for a fact and, of course, felt recoil is a very subjective thing. Might want to shoot one, first, before you buy, though.

R1895 · June 4th, 2012, 06:49 AM

My .45-70 #3 will consistently hit clay pigeons at 100 yds off of shooting sticks using peep-sights (when I'm on my game) and that's plenty good enough for me.

It's true, the light weight and shape of the stock & butt plate makes the #3 less comfortable to shoot than a #1, which only becomes more and more noticeable as the powder level and or bullet weight is increased. I use a very accurate and tolerable load in mine that's just fine for the whitetails & black bear where I live and at the distances I'm likely to encounter them. Plenty good out to 150 yds w/my sights and aging eyes to be sure.

The load I use if your interested:

W-W brass
CCI-200 primer
39.0 grains of IMR 4198
300gr Hornady H.P.
Velocity approx. 1,700fps

Accurate, capable and very easy on the body with the #3.

four70nitro · June 4th, 2012, 07:25 AM

With ammo loaded to trap-door pressure levels the 45-70 can be quite pleasant to shoot, even in a No.3 -- if you load heavy stuff the No. 3 has a way of making if feel much worse than it really is. If you want to use the high pressure stuff you are much better off putting a No. 1 buttstock on your No. 3 or just buy a No. 1 to begin with.