Seneca

[bigirons]

Is there anyone on here shooting a 45 Seneca? I'd be interested in knowing what shoots good for you. Looking at a used one in mint condition,like new really.Very pretty little gun but I don't like the twist nor the short barrel but I could live with it if is shot real good.

 

[Rifleman1776]

I shoot one but with a Douglas barrel.
The factory barrel will shoot just fine with the right load. But if you don't like it, you don't like it.
I don't know anything about you, but an adult male usually finds the Seneca too light for them. It is a fine woman/youth rifle.
The one I shoot will be modified for a heavier 'hang' or be replaced. Right now, kinda like trying to point a feather.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I think the Seneca is better in 32 or 36 caliber. In 45 caliber try 70 grains of 2F Goex with a patched round ball. First you need to find a seneca, then you can worry about changing the caliber to what ya want. If it's priced right, buy it. Have a 32 or 36 cal barrel built and sell the orginal barrel.

 

[ohio ramrod]

Seneca's and Cherokee's in 45 both shoot well with 40-45 grain loads. Rember they are light rifles. :idunno:

 

70 grains is awfully stout for that little pea shooter. You are liable to be looking for a new stock.
Mark

 

[Rat Trapper]

70 grains of 2F is the test load that TC uses to check for accuracy on Seneca 45 cal rifles. I do agree not to go higher, but I never had any problems with 70 grains in my 45 cal barrel. TC does list higher loads for the Seneca in their loading data.

 

[Rifleman1776]

70 grains of 2F is the test load that TC uses to check for accuracy on Seneca 45 cal rifles. I do agree not to go higher, but I never had any problems with 70 grains in my 45 cal barrel. TC does list higher loads for the Seneca in their loading data.

I have no doubt larger charges would not be harmful in the Seneca. However, heavy charges are not necessary. This ain't (or shouldn't be) a Grizzly killer gun. They will kill deer quite nicely with about a 65 gr. charge as my wife has done with hers.

 

[ryoung14]

Seneca's and Cherokee's in 45 both shoot well with 40-45 grain loads. Rember they are light rifles. :idunno:

^^THIS is what I would try.

Never shot a .45 Seneca, but my .36 is an easy-loading, accurate dream to shoot with 15 to 20 grain loads and is great for small game. It gets down right surly (fouling problems in spades)if I even go as high as the TC 30 grain starting load.

It'll handle the heavier loads, sure. But it turns a sweetheart into a b***h.

.45 is an in-between caliber for me. A little small for big game, too big for small. Best use of a .45 Seneca, for me anyhow, would be to buy it in anticipation of finding a good .36 barrel for it. It's an excellent and classy small-game rifle...and they're not making any more.