I finally broke out my 45-70 with crescent shaped steel butt plate and all. I have one thing to say, after 6 shots, I didn't want anymore. I have got to add some kind of rubber relief to this thing. I am nicknaming it "THE PUNISHER".

Hey, whenever you get tired of ot let me know. Thats on rifle I have wanted for an awfully long time. I would love to have one. I think theyre about the prettiest rifle going.

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MattM

I have a 85 in 45-90 with a crescent butt and I use a pad from beartooth products it,s a slip over neoprene pad with different inserts from 1/4" to 5/8" thickness and it forms to the plate nicely. The 1/2" pad tames the 45-90 AND mine is called old mule-lee. They are about 16.00$

boomer, I will be getting me one before I take it back to the range. Thanks for the tip.

Matt, I don't have the ability of letting rifles go once I have purchased them. I will live under a bridge before I sell them. But you have impecable taste in rifles. It's not an old one, its one of the Winchester Limited Series.

What sort of loads are you shooting out of it? My Browning 1885 is quite light and has a
metal crescent butt plate. It's no problem shooting 405gr loads over a case full of Goex Cartridge, all day long. I wouldn't want to shoot heavy smokeless loads out of it though

Chris.

these were 325gr Hornady Leverevolution Smokeless according to box 2050fps, according to shoulder faster.

I found the crescent butt plate on my .45-90 Winchester 1885 Limited was rather challenging for more than a few shots. Like others, I've used a slip-on pad over it, but eventually I purchased a Browning Creedmore butt stock w/ shotgun butt plate (and added a Limbsaver slip-on recoil pad over it as well). Even in a 12 lb gun, 500 grain bullets are "noticeable"!

BP seems to NOT kick as hard as smokeless loads in my BPCR but then it has the shotgun type butt. I shoot 535gr Postell bullets with 59gr FFg. A PAST strap on shoulder pad is said to work well too, never have tried one myself tho.

red pepper......really nice looking rifle there....

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IRISH BIRD DOG
NRA Endowment Member
2nd Amendment Supporter

Some of my smokeless loads were far more potent than expected - exceeding the velocity levels of my manual. My first loads were sending 500 gr bullets out at 1880 fps (that's bottom end .458 Mag), and that was a mid-range load! I'm now shooting Hornady 325 gr. FTX bullets over 40 grains of 5744. A superbly accurate combination with much more modest recoil. Surprisingly, this jacketed bullet gives me accuracy far beyond the best of any lead bullet/load combo I've tried, and that's in a BPCR barrel!

I will have to pick me up a pound of this and assemble a few rounds but only after this bruise goes away. Most of the soreness is about gone, just discoloration left.

I would bet that you were bench shooting.
I found that shooting a 458 ruger no. 1 with a metal butt plate was no big deal when shooting 500 grain Barnes bullets loaded to the max as long as I was standing and shooting.
I shot it from the bench a couple of times and even though it didn't bother me when I was shooting, the next day my shoulder was torn up.

Step away from the bench and I'll bet you find the recoil a lot better.
I know that it's true with my 45-70 sharps with hot loads also. Fun to shoot until you start trying to shoot a bunch from the bench.

exactly right in your assumption. The bruise that came up is about 2" to the right of the base of my right arm.

I will be putting mine up for sale, 17 rounds fired advise if interested. cruft

I have never understood why one would think that something along the lines of a 45-70 needs to be a hyper velocity type round. Millions of bullfalo were killed at extreme ranges with the 405 slug going about 1200 fps.

I have the Browning 1895 in 45-70. I shoot nothing but BP or a 4198 equilent load, pushing a cast 405 grn bullet about 1200 fps. Its mild shooting and accurate.

I have other guns if I feel the need for velocity. Velocity isnt accuracy. An accurate rounds dosnt have to be fast, we just need to know its trejectory and how to judge wind for that round. Its about fundlmentals not speed, Its hard to concentrate on fundelmentals if you are getting the crap kicked out of you.

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Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School Oct '78
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

Well you're right but with a modern built gun you don't know what load and what velocity will shoot best in it just like with modern rounds. I think that hot loads are why some guys can't get their gun to shoot where it should. Modern cartridges included. You have to shoot what the gun wants.
I am actually going to try changing to black powder loads for my sharps, and of course my trapdoor is black powder only and only a fool would try and push the loads in that one.
Would love to try an 1885 also!