I love my light little Ruger 3 in 45-70 ... but my shoulder doesn't like even medium loads ... and i can't ask my wife or grandkids to pretend it is fun to shoot those bone-crushers . i might mention it is the only gun from which i have ever developed a flinch after the first shot . ma deuce was a lot more gentle ...
...and the recent groundhog shoot got me wondering if i could shoot a 70 score with a "" cap pistol "" power load in a 45-70 ... i love those big holes .
... so i have decided to accept the mission ( impossible ? ) of developing a wimpy plinking load for it ...the goal is 70 on the groundhog ... but i would settle for popcans at 50 feet .... and recoil about that of my 22 hornet ... ( g ) ..
input would be greatly appreciated . crazy ideas, warnings, dire predictions .. results of EZE-PEZE... ...all welcome .
so far i am starting with hornady round ball ( 0.457-8 ) ... mainly because i have several hundred ) .. and i had great luck with a 44 mag rifle with round ball at 50 feet .. .. ( 36 twist tho ) ...
so far ... 3 inches at 50 feet with 3 gr trap 100... then small paper wad and then ball rammed to tight fit over the paper wad ( seated in bottom of case ) . the bang is about right, and no balls stuck in bore ( important to check after each shot with these popper loads ) .... but i have unburned powder in barrel , so will try more wadding/filler .. needs better ignition ... also might try bullseye although * trap 100 * is very fast . ( 3 gr in my makarov ) .
... and yes, a 45 ball puts an impressive hole in a pepsi can !! now i just need a load to hit one . if the balls fail i will next try a 220 gr. round point . hey if red ryder can do it, how hard can it be ??
ken