Best Choice For A .45 Target Rifle

[nkbj]

My idea on a target rifle (700 yds worth) A pretty Renegade stock with a 1-17 twist Rice barrel/Lee Shaver Long range venier shooting 80 gr 1 1/2 F OE pushing a 530 gr Elliptical paper patched rocket , and the almost 12LBs is mandatory to staying at the bench you sat on /Ed

My .45 heavy is a peep sighted left hand TC New Englander refit with a .458 bore diameter (.470 groove) to use various 45-70 molds.

 

[frankie]

Pedersoli Gibbs. Have you thought of that. Expensive but worth the money

 

[nkbj]

Yo Frankie.
Yeah, thought about getting a Gibbs once upon a time but back then decided on a New Englander reworked to .458 bore (.470 groove) instead.
For this project what I'm aiming for is a fairly light weight handy handling rifle, something that handles about like the example of a .22RF.
Not looking for a deer rifle though a piece set up for .45 minies will certainly handle bunnies to bambis if it's loaded with round ball. The Spanish made .45 "Kentucky" I shot in the mid 70's would do anything asked of it, especially when I was in the woods, hungry and needed something to flavor the rice.

 

[Bad Karma]

Yo Frankie.
Yeah, thought about getting a Gibbs once upon a time but back then decided on a New Englander reworked to .458 bore (.470 groove) instead.
For this project what I'm aiming for is a fairly light weight handy handling rifle, something that handles about like the example of a .22RF.
Not looking for a deer rifle though a piece set up for .45 minies will certainly handle bunnies to bambis if it's loaded with round ball. The Spanish made .45 "Kentucky" I shot in the mid 70's would do anything asked of it, especially when I was in the woods, hungry and needed something to flavor the rice.

I have two of the Gibbs rifles, the full size Pedersoli and the 7/8 sized navy arms as well as the New Englander in 40 and 45. For woods carry I much prefer the New Englander/High Plains Sporter…

 

[nkbj]

Ooo, what did you end up with for rifling in the New Englanders?

 

[Bad Karma]

Ooo, what did you end up with for rifling in the New Englanders?

.450/.458 1 in 18” and .400/.408 1 in 14” these rates were suggested by Bobby Hoyt.

 

[longcruise]

@Bad Karma

Did you get those lined or were they small caliber that he bored out?

 

[TGJaeger]

.450/.458 1 in 18” and .400/.408 1 in 14” these rates were suggested by Bobby Hoyt.

I’m curious just like longcruise! Did you have a liner put into something or did Bobby make up something for you?

 

[Bad Karma]

@Bad Karma

Did you get those lined or were they small caliber that he bored out?

He lined them both. As I understand it he uses one liner size and once it’s in place, bores and reams it to the desired bore dimension before cutting the rifling. I did the Lee Shaver break in procedure with both of them and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

 

[frankie]

He lined them both. As I understand it he uses one liner size and once it’s in place, bores and reams it to the desired bore dimension before cutting the rifling. I did the Lee Shaver break in procedure with both of them and I couldn’t be happier with the results.

I just got my 45 1-18 lined from bobby Hoyt. I haven't shot it yet. I hope it isn't as accurate as my Pedersoli Gibbs, because I spent a lot on the Gibbs. lol I also ordered a Alexander Henry from Rod England in a 45 1-18 twist.

 

[Bad Karma]

I just got my 45 1-18 lined from bobby Hoyt. I haven't shot it yet. I hope it isn't as accurate as my Pedersoli Gibbs, because I spent a lot on the Gibbs. lol I also ordered a Alexander Henry from Rod England in a 45 1-18 twist.

So far the Hoyt relines don’t challenge the Gibbs in my case. They are an excellent hunting platform. Different horses for different courses so to speak…

 

[Urban Coyote]

I'm fortunate to own some pretty decent roundball guns, custom. This being said I happened into an early .45 T/C Hawken that has turned out to be pretty darn good roundball shooter. I've a Lyman molds for a Maxi type projectile and a hollow base Minie type bullet but I can't recall experimenting with either. Both of these would use quite a bit of lead compared to a roundball. With its removable barrel clean up is a breeze.

 

[longcruise]

So far the Hoyt relines don’t challenge the Gibbs in my case. They are an excellent hunting platform. Different horses for different courses so to speak…

Yes, an excellent hunting platform. That throws a light on what I consider a deficiency in our colorado regs. I think the regs should allow any caliber 40 and up for all big game with the only restriction being a realistic minimum projectile weight.

 

[Bad Karma]

Yes, an excellent hunting platform. That throws a light on what I consider a deficiency in our colorado regs. I think the regs should allow any caliber 40 and up for all big game with the only restriction being a realistic minimum projectile weight.

Absolutely… specify 300 grain minimum or something. The 40, shooting a 300 grain flat point will anchor anything we can hunt in Colorado. it’s almost as if the only traditional muzzleloaders they considered were shooting round ball…

 

[nkbj]

Got a .40 (16" twist) when we lived on the Gulf Coast.
A thousand miles north they say it's not big enough.
Unless the same powder and bullet are inside a piece of brass instead of steel.
Duh.

So if I get a little percussion rifle refit to between .44 and .45 bore diameter it would be approved for use with round ball but a .43 bore with an inch and half long bullet and a hundred grains of powder would not.
(giggle)

 

[Uncle Miltie]

The Pedersoli Missouri River Hawken is a fine rifle and can be had with a .45 caliber 1/24" twist.

 

[Widows Son]

Pecatonica Rifle supply has a nice looking kit:

English Rigby Sporting Rifle, Pecatonica River Long Rifle Supply

However one would still need to spend several hundreds more on target sights