Magnum Research 45/70 revolver - Buy or not?

teleshooter · January 4, 2013, 07:27 PM

Listen Guys, I have the chance to buy a Magnum research 45/70 revolver from a good friend. It's no sacrifice price, but it's a couple hundred under the new price ($850). I can't really justify any practical use other than the "cool" factor. I could put a scope and call it a deer revolver, but I already have a .44 Redhawk for that. If money were no object I'd scoop it up, but there are other guns I can't live without! What would you do?
I added a photo, or tried to anyway.

Kreyzhorse · January 4, 2013, 08:05 PM

Since you already have a deer handgun, I'd pass. I love the 45-70 round, but I can't imagine it is something that I would enjoy shooting more than once and I like recoil. I just can't see that gun being any thing less than painful.

Gdawgs · January 4, 2013, 09:26 PM

Just to clarify, can you get it for $650 or $850? MSRP is $1,050, but you can get them for much less than that. I paid $820 for mine new. So if the $850 is what you'd be paying, I'd pass on it.

As far as the 45/70 goes, it would be a fun caliber. Mine is in 460 and it is a handful, but tolerable. I have not shot the 45/70 but it is supposed to have significantly less recoil than the 460's, 500's, etc.

Deja vu · January 5, 2013, 01:30 AM

I have one. Mine is the 10 inch barrel. I have cylinders for both the 450 marlin and the 45-70 for it.

If you hand load you can get pretty much any kind of power you want from it. I have loaded some 300 grain bullets down to about 600FPS and the recoil is very small. I have also loaded some 325 grain bullets up to 1800 FPS. I also have shot some 500 grain bullets at about 900 FPS.

If you already have a large hunting revolver I would get some thing else. If you dont then the 45-70 is a fine choice. If you hand load (I highly recommend it) the 45-70 is in the same league as the 450 marlin. If you shoot factory ammo the gun will be very pleasant to shoot.

Redhawk5.5+P+ · January 5, 2013, 04:04 AM

Quote:

If money were no object I'd scoop it up, but there are other guns I can't live without!

Well?

$500 is the most I'd pay if I were you, tell him to put it on the market.

jimaw2 · January 7, 2013, 08:58 PM

had one, loved it. very accurate, good balance. even heavy loads did not buck more than my 629.

TMD · January 7, 2013, 09:17 PM

For that kind of money you can get a real cannon like the .460 or .500 mags.

jason_iowa · January 7, 2013, 09:59 PM

I don't own one but I have shot my uncles several times. It is quite enjoyable to shoot IMO. The recoil is not as bad as you might imagine. Selecting the right round could have a lot to do with that though. The BFR is a quality gun.

Redhawk5.5+P+ · January 8, 2013, 03:58 AM

TMD

Quote:

For that kind of money you can get a real cannon like the .460 or .500 mags.

That does sound more logical for me, the 460 would be my choice.

January 4, 2013, 08:05 PM	#2
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 10,815	Since you already have a deer handgun, I'd pass. I love the 45-70 round, but I can't imagine it is something that I would enjoy shooting more than once and I like recoil. I just can't see that gun being any thing less than painful. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

January 5, 2013, 01:30 AM	#4
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 1,750	I have one. Mine is the 10 inch barrel. I have cylinders for both the 450 marlin and the 45-70 for it. If you hand load you can get pretty much any kind of power you want from it. I have loaded some 300 grain bullets down to about 600FPS and the recoil is very small. I have also loaded some 325 grain bullets up to 1800 FPS. I also have shot some 500 grain bullets at about 900 FPS. If you already have a large hunting revolver I would get some thing else. If you dont then the 45-70 is a fine choice. If you hand load (I highly recommend it) the 45-70 is in the same league as the 450 marlin. If you shoot factory ammo the gun will be very pleasant to shoot. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 21 of my guns are 45/70 govt 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple

January 4, 2013, 09:26 PM	#3
Gdawgs Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2009 Location: Hutchinson, MN Posts: 453	Just to clarify, can you get it for $650 or $850? MSRP is $1,050, but you can get them for much less than that. I paid $820 for mine new. So if the $850 is what you'd be paying, I'd pass on it. As far as the 45/70 goes, it would be a fun caliber. Mine is in 460 and it is a handful, but tolerable. I have not shot the 45/70 but it is supposed to have significantly less recoil than the 460's, 500's, etc.

January 7, 2013, 08:58 PM	#6
jimaw2 Member Join Date: October 2, 2008 Location: n california Posts: 80	had one, loved it. very accurate, good balance. even heavy loads did not buck more than my 629.

January 7, 2013, 09:17 PM	#7
TMD Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 421	For that kind of money you can get a real cannon like the .460 or .500 mags.

January 7, 2013, 09:59 PM	#8
jason_iowa Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Posts: 569	I don't own one but I have shot my uncles several times. It is quite enjoyable to shoot IMO. The recoil is not as bad as you might imagine. Selecting the right round could have a lot to do with that though. The BFR is a quality gun.