I've had several 45-70 conversions that I ended up selling to friends. I still have an H&R stainless ultrahunter conversion that I carry occasionally. It's light, short, all weather and easy to handle. I've never shot it past 200 although it would do it no problem. If I was planning to shoot 200 and beyond, I would carry one of my customs. Not because it can't do it but because the light loads that are safe in it leave me wanting a heavier projectile and more velocity at those longer ranges. The max load I would shoot in a conversion would be a 250gr projectile at approx 2500 fps.
Weight. Velocity. Drop at 200
250 startup. 2500fps. 5"
275 Aeromax 3000fps. 2.8"
300 Aeromax 2900fps 3.2"
I'm a Savage guy. ALL of the customs I have built for myself are Savage. The gun in the pic below is a short action Savage with a boyds stock pillar bedded and accutrigger set to 2 pounds. The barrel is an EABCO Savage accuracy barrel 26" chambered in 450 Marlin. The chamber was bored and threaded for a Hankins LRMP ignition system. The bolt head for modules is from Arrowhead (you don't have to have it but it sure keeps your module in place). You can use the recoil lug and nut from the action donor gun or buy new ones from Arrowhead. I named this gun "Black Betty". WGK liked it so well, he ended up buying it from me. With a gun like this, you can shoot a 275gr projectile at approx 3000 fps or a 300gr at 2800 to 2900 fps. Shooting a high bc bullet like the Pittman Aeromax, will reduce your drops at range. See above specs.
Hankins ignition system $162.50
Barrel. $300.00
Chamber plug. $100.00
Bolt head for modules. $ 90.00
Donor action/gun
Stock of your choice
10 lb
View attachment 205196
The next gun is a Savage RBRP model 12 target action. It has a solid bottom and 3 action screws. It comes with the target version of the accutrigger. It is also large shank which makes it superior to a Remington 700 in the strength category as it has a larger tenon. The stock is an HS Precision with aluminum bedding block that most likely will not need to be bedded. The barrel is a match grade cut rifled 40 cal barrel from Rock Creek Barrels the started life as a 408 cheytac blank. The barrel is 20" long. It shoots a 300gr Pittman Aeromax at 2750 fps. Her name is "Shorty Forty" She is a laser.
You can buy a Savage prefit in your desired length and caliber with ignition system and brake for less than $1000.00
(Personal preference, I don't like a brake on a hunting rifle for 2 reasons. Loud for shooter and must use a funnel to load the gun) You can always use a thread protector.
Stock is right at $400.00
Action is $600.00
Can be assembled in no time with a barrel nut wrench.
11 lb (one day I'm gonna drive the barrel out to bug holes for a little weight loss fluting job)
View attachment 205206
We could go further as I have a bench 40 with a 28" Rock Creek barrel with no barrel nut on a Savage short action pillar bedded in a Boyd's target stock. It shoots a 300, 325, or 350gr projectile well over 3000 fps. At 1000 yards it performs along side a 338 lapua magnum ballistically. At 14.5 lb You don't need anything like that.
All the above can be done with a Remington 700 except the bolt head pictured below.
View attachment 205207
