WHAT THE HECK? derringer 45 70? most powerful handgun?

9mm · June 6, 2011, 11:41 PM

Just saw it for the first time

derringer chambered in 45 70. Is the 45-70 more powerful than the S&W 500? I know the 45-70 is a rifle round. The other barrel is for 45 colt/410. But still......... 45 70 in a SA only handgun lol.

Lost Sheep · June 7, 2011, 01:23 AM

Good riddle.

It depends. They can be close. A peek at Wikipedia can start you down the road to an answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45-70
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.500_S%26W_Magnum

In each case, velocity and power figures are on the right-hand side about one-third of the way down the page.

The 45-70 will suffer from the shortness of the barrel, as the published figures are for a 24" barrel. You basically waste two inches of action length (the 45-70 cartridge is 2.5" long) when you use a firearm with so short a barrel in front of such a long cartridge.

(See www.ballisticsbytheinch.com)

You have gotten my curious now. Let us know what you find, please.

Lost Sheep

justjim75 · June 7, 2011, 01:02 PM

it's called the m4 alaskan survival gun. here's a guy shooting it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P34v983P2j4 looks like a novelty piece because you could have the .500 or .454 casull for the close to the same size. (super redhawk alaskan?)

Carne Frio · June 7, 2011, 01:22 PM

Maadi-Griffon 50BMG

http://airbornecombatengineer.typepa...adi_griff.html

9mm · June 7, 2011, 01:24 PM

^ at least that has a pistol grip big enough to hold it lol.

darkgael · June 7, 2011, 03:54 PM

Most powerful? I doubt whether a .45-70 fired from a derringer is efficient enough to be as powerful as it is noisy.
Pete

microman · June 7, 2011, 03:58 PM

All I know is I won't be shooting this. I tried the .45LC in
a derringer and that was enough

ripnbst · June 7, 2011, 03:59 PM

Holy muzzle flash batman.

SRH78 · June 7, 2011, 04:04 PM

Not only does the 45-70 take up much of the barrel due to its length but it is a relatively low pressure round and needs a longer barrel to gain much velocity. A 454 would be much more effective from a short barrel.

SRH78 · June 7, 2011, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Holy muzzle flash batman.

^^^ This

Stevie-Ray · June 7, 2011, 05:04 PM

In normal factory loadings the .500 Mag eclipses the .45-70 Govt, in some cases by quite a bit. But in handloading, I don't think the .500 can be made as powerful as the stoutest loads in .45-70. At any rate, I don't want to try either of them out of a handgun; I have a T/C Contender in .45-70 that I don't even shoot anymore.

Boberama · June 7, 2011, 05:29 PM

Just from estimations I have done, I think with a 300 gr bullet at 1850 fps you could expect 1000 fps or slightly more.
It's going to burn at least part of it's powder, even if it wastes most of it.

But you could get the same or better from many pistol rounds in that barrel.

Deja vu · June 7, 2011, 07:36 PM

A buddy of mine a work has one... It is painful on a whole new level for recoil.

I love the 45/70 I have 2 lever action marlins and a BFR.

I still want one just because it would be funny to watch others shoot it.

TXGunNut · June 7, 2011, 07:58 PM

Can't shoot it around here, all that unburned powder would catch the lawn on fire. Mebbe I could water first.

g.willikers · June 9, 2011, 01:56 PM

What was really impressive in the youtube video, was the dog in the cage in the background.
All that noise didn't even get a reaction from it.

JerryM · June 9, 2011, 02:31 PM

I would not shoot it, unless a bear was upon me, and I had no place to run. But then I would not have the gun.

Regards,
Jerry

willr · June 9, 2011, 03:24 PM

Saw one a couple of years ago. Also saw the bandaged hand of a man who had fired it.

willr

Lokpyrite · June 10, 2011, 12:15 AM

I called the folks that make it, 900 bucks

June 6, 2011, 11:41 PM	#1
9mm Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2011 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 2,834	WHAT THE HECK? derringer 45 70? most powerful handgun? Just saw it for the first time derringer chambered in 45 70. Is the 45-70 more powerful than the S&W 500? I know the 45-70 is a rifle round. The other barrel is for 45 colt/410. But still......... 45 70 in a SA only handgun lol.

June 7, 2011, 03:54 PM	#6
darkgael Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2006 Location: Homes in Brooklyn, NY and in Pennsylvania. Posts: 5,473	most Most powerful? I doubt whether a .45-70 fired from a derringer is efficient enough to be as powerful as it is noisy. Pete __________________ “Auto racing, bull fighting, and mountain climbing are the only real sports ... all others are games.” Ernest Hemingway ... NRA Life Member

June 7, 2011, 05:04 PM	#11
Stevie-Ray Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: The shores of Lake Huron Posts: 4,783	In normal factory loadings the .500 Mag eclipses the .45-70 Govt, in some cases by quite a bit. But in handloading, I don't think the .500 can be made as powerful as the stoutest loads in .45-70. At any rate, I don't want to try either of them out of a handgun; I have a T/C Contender in .45-70 that I don't even shoot anymore. __________________ Stevie-Ray Join the NRA/ILA I am the weapon; my gun is a tool. It's regrettable that with some people those descriptors are reversed.

June 7, 2011, 05:29 PM	#12
Boberama Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2010 Posts: 189	Just from estimations I have done, I think with a 300 gr bullet at 1850 fps you could expect 1000 fps or slightly more. It's going to burn at least part of it's powder, even if it wastes most of it. But you could get the same or better from many pistol rounds in that barrel. __________________ I just try to be really, really honest with people when I think that they suck. - Santana Lopez, Glee

June 7, 2011, 07:36 PM	#13
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	A buddy of mine a work has one... It is painful on a whole new level for recoil. I love the 45/70 I have 2 lever action marlins and a BFR. I still want one just because it would be funny to watch others shoot it. __________________ 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 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

June 7, 2011, 01:23 AM	#2
Lost Sheep Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2009 Location: Anchorage Alaska Posts: 3,341	Good riddle. It depends. They can be close. A peek at Wikipedia can start you down the road to an answer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.45-70 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.500_S%26W_Magnum In each case, velocity and power figures are on the right-hand side about one-third of the way down the page. The 45-70 will suffer from the shortness of the barrel, as the published figures are for a 24" barrel. You basically waste two inches of action length (the 45-70 cartridge is 2.5" long) when you use a firearm with so short a barrel in front of such a long cartridge. (See www.ballisticsbytheinch.com) You have gotten my curious now. Let us know what you find, please. Lost Sheep

June 7, 2011, 01:02 PM	#3
justjim75 Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2011 Posts: 182	it's called the m4 alaskan survival gun. here's a guy shooting it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P34v983P2j4 looks like a novelty piece because you could have the .500 or .454 casull for the close to the same size. (super redhawk alaskan?)

June 7, 2011, 01:22 PM	#4
Carne Frio Senior Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: Near Fairbanks Alaska Posts: 829	Maadi-Griffon 50BMG http://airbornecombatengineer.typepa...adi_griff.html

June 7, 2011, 01:24 PM	#5
9mm Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2011 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 2,834	^ at least that has a pistol grip big enough to hold it lol.

June 7, 2011, 03:58 PM	#7
microman Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2011 Posts: 428	All I know is I won't be shooting this. I tried the .45LC in a derringer and that was enough

June 7, 2011, 03:59 PM	#8
ripnbst Senior Member Join Date: November 24, 2010 Location: Spring, TX Posts: 1,552	Holy muzzle flash batman.

June 7, 2011, 04:04 PM	#9
SRH78 Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2011 Location: Texas Posts: 517	Not only does the 45-70 take up much of the barrel due to its length but it is a relatively low pressure round and needs a longer barrel to gain much velocity. A 454 would be much more effective from a short barrel.

June 7, 2011, 07:58 PM	#14
TXGunNut Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2010 Location: If you have to ask... Posts: 2,860	Can't shoot it around here, all that unburned powder would catch the lawn on fire. Mebbe I could water first. __________________ Life Member NRA, TSRA Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call Lonesome Dove My favorite recipes start out with a handful of used wheelweights.

June 9, 2011, 01:56 PM	#15
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	What was really impressive in the youtube video, was the dog in the cage in the background. All that noise didn't even get a reaction from it. __________________ Walt Kelly, alias Pogo, sez: “Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent.”

June 9, 2011, 02:31 PM	#16
JerryM Senior Member Join Date: April 4, 1999 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,889	I would not shoot it, unless a bear was upon me, and I had no place to run. But then I would not have the gun. Regards, Jerry __________________ Ecclesiastes 12:13 ¶Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

June 9, 2011, 03:24 PM	#17
willr Senior Member Join Date: July 23, 2006 Posts: 356	Saw one a couple of years ago. Also saw the bandaged hand of a man who had fired it. willr

June 10, 2011, 12:15 AM	#18
Lokpyrite Senior Member Join Date: November 12, 2009 Posts: 367	I called the folks that make it, 900 bucks __________________ The more people I meet the more I'm beginning to root for the zombies.